Ted King opens up about his comeback to competitive cycling at 41, balancing elite training with family life, and how he's learned to pursue performance without losing himself in the obsessive mindset that defines the World Tour. He also shares the health scare that nearly ended his career—a pulmonary embolism he diagnosed himself—and how he's made peace with the uncertainty that comes with being an athlete.
Key Takeaways
- You don't need three weeks of altitude acclimatization to race Unbound competitively—old-fashioned hard work and smart training still win races at the highest amateur level.
- Having a coach creates organizational clarity in your household, allowing you to compartmentalize training time, family time, and work commitments rather than letting fitness slip to the back burner.
- Gravel racing has fundamentally changed from a chill, accessible activity to a serious competitive sport, which is inevitable once prize money and prestige arrive—but this means lost camaraderie and sportsmanship at the feed zones.
- A pulmonary embolism is potentially life-threatening but manageable with proper medical management; being transparent about health setbacks helps others facing similar issues feel less alone.
- Experience racing at the World Tour level gives you perspective to pursue comeback goals without falling into the 1% of 1% rabbit hole—you can push hard while knowing when to pump the brakes.
Expert Quotes
"I could take this giant step in that direction but then be able to pump the brakes given my experience and given my age and knowing that I can't and don't want to go that final step to go the 1% of the one% of the 1%."
"The punchline with that being it is been very impressive how many people have reached out and said hey I had a pulmonary embolism also and what am I supposed to do...because I think because a lot of people just jump to the conclusion of you're on blood thinners you need to live the most bubble wrapped life that you could possibly live."
"The spirit of gravel can't die because the spirit is the essence of it—the essence has changed from this very vibe breezy lifestyle side of gravel to a racy atmosphere, and it just has a different type of spirit."