Laurens Ten Dam, a former WorldTour pro with 16 years racing at the highest level, sits down to discuss his philosophy of 'Live Slow, Ride Hard' and his unconventional transition from racing the Tour de France to building a gravel cycling movement in Europe and the US. From breaking his back in 2015 to discovering the grassroots joy of racing in California, Laurens shares how he reclaimed his love for cycling by stepping away from the rat race and into a life of adventure, good wine, and racing for the pure fun of it.
Key Takeaways
- The most sustainable approach to cycling—whether pro or amateur—requires finding a rhythm you can maintain long-term; burnout comes from perfectionism, not from living a balanced life with wine, good coffee, and time with family.
- 'Live Slow, Ride Hard' isn't just a motto—it's a framework for prioritizing what actually matters: pin a number and race hard when it's time, then enjoy the moment, the people, and the experience without obsessing over results.
- Gravel racing and events like Grasshopper and Unbound offer the camaraderie and adrenaline of professional cycling without the isolation, sacrifice, and mental toll that comes with chasing GC positions in Grand Tours.
- Intentionally scheduling personal time (like bike rides) in your calendar as a non-negotiable meeting is as important as any business commitment; it's not selfish, it's survival.
- The WorldTour's culture has shifted dramatically post-Team Sky, with newer generations adopting unsustainable levels of restriction around alcohol and rest; previous generations understood that 99% of training is 'soul rides,' not intervals.
Expert Quotes
"I was on the bike, I was resting the other three hours. That's still in the system of riding the bike and I still have to be competitive to race all those gravel races, but it's also part of my routine and it's also part of who I am."
"The thing is, when you become a pro, you have to make sure you find a way that you can do it at least for 10 or 12 or 15 years and not for like a few months. That's the thing."
"What if we go to the US next year already? I'm done with it. I want to go to the US and race bikes. I want to do those crits and do a road trip with my team and basically be like Phil Gaimon—racing for nothing but the love of it."