Podcasts about alula

Rio Ferdinand is a former professional footballer, television pundit, and entrepreneur, widely regarded as one of the greatest defenders of his generation.Over a stellar career spanning nearly two decades, he rose to prominence at Manchester United, where he won six Premier League titles, a UEFA Champions League, and numerous domestic honours. As a key figure for the England national team, Ferdinand earned 81 caps, representing his country at the highest level.Since retiring from football, he has successfully transitioned into broadcasting and business, becoming a respected voice in football analysis and a passionate advocate for mental health awareness and social justice.This episode was filmed in AlUla, Saudi Arabia, where Rio visited to launch Curate — a luxury concierge, experience, and guest management company. Through Curate, Rio aims to showcase the Kingdom as he sees it: shaped by the incredible experiences he's had and driven by a deep passion for sharing Saudi Arabia's rich culture with the world.

Cette semaine, je reçois Sophie Véronneau, comportementaliste canin et communicatrice animale extraordinaire.Et si nos chiens étaient bien plus que de simples compagnons? Sophie nous explique comment nos animaux agissent comme miroirs de notre état intérieur et peuvent nous aider à évoluer spirituellement. De la réactivité en laisse qui reflète notre peur du jugement au chien qui détruit un cadre de porte pour nous signaler une émotion refoulée, découvrez comment transformer votre relation avec votre animal en véritable chemin de croissance personnelle. Sophie partage aussi sa fascinante pratique de communication animale, qui permet d'établir un dialogue profond entre l'âme de l'animal et celle de l'humain. Un épisode touchant qui vous fera voir votre compagnon à quatre pattes sous un tout nouveau jour!Pour connecter avec Sophie:https://www.socomplice.com/Suivre Vanessa et l'école de la vie sur Instagram:https://www.instagram.com/vanpailong/https://www.instagram.com/_ecoledelavie/S'abonner à l'infolettre:https://vanpilon.myflodesk.comContribuer à l'École de la vie via BuyMeACoffee (MERCI EN MAJUSCULES!)buymeacoffee.com/ecoledelavieMerci au KOOL Club pour l'enregistrement!https://www.koolclub.ca/Captation: Laurent EmondChanson d'ouverture: "Rise Up" de Alula

Sara Favriau est avant tout sculpteuse : une cabane, une pirogue, un arc, un arbre… sont des éléments qui font partie de son vocabulaire formel et conceptuel, et portent leur propre dramaturgie.L'artiste interroge à la fois l'œuvre et son écosystème ; sa circularité comme un arbre-pirogue qui traverse une mer, pour retrouver une forêt. Elle convoque des formes, des symboles et des procédés de nature populaire pour les transposer. Le bois est l'un de ses matériaux de prédilection, qu'il soit envisagé à une macro ou micro-échelle. Sara Favriau est diplômée des Beaux-Arts de Paris (atelier Penone) en 2007. Elle est représentée par la Galerie Maubert où elle présente actuellement l'exposition L'aveu musclé.Conversation avec Audrey IllouzLauréate du Prix des Amis du Palais de Tokyo 2015, Sara Favriau y présente en 2016 l'exposition La redite en somme, ne s'amuse pas de sa répétition singulière. En 2017, elle expose au Château de Chaumont, à Independent Brussels et effectue une résidence en partenariat avec le ministère de la Culture et le CNEAI. En 2018, elle participe à la première Biennale de Bangkok Beyond Bliss en tant qu'invitée d'honneur. En 2019, elle effectue la résidence French Los Angeles Exchange (FLAX) et participe à la première Biennale de Rabat. En 2020 commence une collaboration sur le temps long avec l'INRAe et des biologistes de l'Unité des Forêts Méditerranéenne. Elle est invitée à la Villa Noailles pour le Festival International de la Mode où elle expose une installation d'arbres sculptés issus d'une parcelle de forêt à côté de Marseille étudiée par l'INRAe . En 2021, un arbre-pirogue traverse la mer Méditerranée, depuis les salins des Pesquiers à Hyères, vers la Fondation Carmignac sur l'Ile de Porquerolles. En 2021/2022, elle effectue une résidence de la Royal Commission RCU and French Agency Afalula, opérée par Manifesto, à AlUla en Arabie Saoudite.Son travail est présent dans de nombreuses collections publiques : FMAC (collection de la ville de Paris), FDAC Essonne, FRAC Normandie Caen, FRAC Centre, MAC VAL (installation pérenne), BAB (Bangkok Art Biennale).Amphithéâtre des LogesJeudi 6 février 2025Crédit photo : © Anaïs Veignant

Bridgid Eversole and Justin Mutter of Alula, Leanne Pettit Clement and Caroline Worra of Charlottesville Opera & Matthias John of Matthias John Realty joined Alex Urpí & Xavier Urpí On “Today y Mañana!” “Today y Mañana” airs every Thursday at 10:15 am on The I Love CVille Network! “Today y Mañana” is presented by Emergent Financial Services, LLC, Charlottesville Opera and Matthias John Realty, with Forward Adelante.

Welcome to Bosom to Booty! Where we dissect an album from start to finish, head to toe, bosom to booty. Every week I will choose one album by an artist I admire or want to shed more light on. I will dive into the iconic work of bigger names like Erykah Badu and Yoko Ono to lesser-known artists like Roger Fakhr and Overweight Pooch. I'll explore the artist's background, why I chose the particular album, and hand-pick chosen tracks that encompass the album. This show is meant to bring back listening to music the way the artist intended. Listeners are forced to slow down and enjoy an artist's work as a curated, complete entity while simultaneously being exposed to new and old genres!

Before the modern city of Alula rose to prominence, its natural springs and water systems were at the heart of its existence. For centuries, Alula's oasis has been a critical stop on the Incense Road, connecting cultures and trading routes across the Arabian Peninsula. Water, both from the sky and the earth, has sustained life here, and its management has shaped both the landscape and the people. In this episode, we step back in time and explore the ancient wells, oases, and water systems that have supported Alula for millennia. We'll see how the inhabitants of this region once relied on camels and complex water systems to survive in the desert, and witness a reenactment that celebrates the founding of the ancient city of Tayma. Along the way, we'll discover how Alula's connection to water continues to influence its art, culture, and life today. Recorded on location in immersive surround sound, this episode transports you directly to the heart of Alula, where history, nature, and culture come together in perfect harmony. Thank you to everyone who featured in this episode: Abdur Razzak, our Rawi (guide) through the old town of Alula Local artisans from Madrasat Addeera Local performers and dancers in the Ancient Kingdoms Festival of Tayma Our local guide Laura Alho PLAN YOUR ALULA TRIP:  Our On Location episodes are designed so that you can experience everything you hear. Check out the links above, or find out more at ExperienceAlula.com FOLLOW ARMCHAIR EXPLORER:  Instagram: @armchairexplorerpodcast Facebook: @armchairexplorerpodcast Website: armchair-explorer.com Follow us on your favorite podcast platform to never miss an episode. Review us, and you'll be blessed with good travel karma.  CREDITS This series was produced by Armchair Productions, the audio experts for the travel industry. Aaron Millar wrote and hosted the series. Jason Paton did the field recording and produced the show, along with Aaron Millar. Find our other shows at armchair-productions.com. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Suid-Afrika se Henk Lategan het sy algehele voorsprong by die Dakar-veldren in Saoedi-Arabië behou, nadat hy tweede in fase vier geëindig het. Sneltrajek vier word ook as ‘n marathon-sneltrajek beskryf. Die deelnemers het van Al Henakiyah af na die noordelike stad Alula 415 km gejaag. Ooppadgedeeltes van altesaam 173 km was ook kafgedraf voordat die deelnemers sonder hul diensspanne in 'n spesiale tentkamp oornag. Verskeie omwentelinge onder die topdeelnemers het voorgekom met pap bande wat grootliks die resultate van die Marathon-sneltrajek bepaal het – soos Giniel de Villiers kan getuig.

Connaissez-vousle Human Design? Pour moi, le HumanDesign, c'est comme recevoir le "manuel d'utilisation" de soi-même(enfin!). Il s'agit d'unsystème de compréhension de soi puissant et transformateur, afin de mieuxconnaître nos forces, surmonter nos défis et de vivre en accord avec notrevraie nature. Pour mieuxcomprendre tout ça, je rencontre Karine d'Atypiquement Parfaite, une spécialiste passionnée qui aborde ce système avec autant de rigueur scientifique que d'ouverture d'esprit (oui, oui, c'est possible!). Maman de trois enfants aux neurodiversités variées, Karine a développé une approche nuancée de ce système qui mélange astrologie, physique quantique et chakras (oui oui, tout ça!). Elle nous explique comment comprendre notre "design" peut nous aider à mieux naviguer la vie, et cesser de juger les gens qui fonctionnent différemment de nous.  L'épisode démystifie les centres énergétiques, les profils, et même pourquoi certains d'entre nous sont épuisés après un party de Noël. Karine démonte les clichés Instagram sur le Human Design et nous rappelle qu'on n'a pas besoin de porter un capuchon 24/7 juste parce que notre "environnement est caverne". Un épisode riche qui nous rappelle qu'il y a autant de façons d'être humain que d'humains sur Terre... et que c'est parfait comme ça!

On this week's Select, we have Saudi selector Haffs, one of the most promising talents who has been dominating the Kingdom's dance music scene over the past few years. She has played at major festivals and venues in Saudi the likes of SoundStorm, XP Music Futures and Beast House. Inspired by the unsullied human-earth connection and the serene tranquillity found in the historical oasis of AlUla, Haffs' select set is a harmonious synergy of deep, melodic house and organic oriental rhythms. The set features a melodic intro of dreamy piano notes, transitioning into atmospheric and tribal sounds interspersed with soft vocals of that ebb and flow, resembling the natural reverb of the desert's mountains. The set features tunes by a slew of international producers such as Storm, Heart Pieces, Qallin and Dreamland.

“I'm dangling 250-feet above a canyon, and I'm about to get dropped. This is what AlUla is all about. It's got desert treasures, it's got 200,000 years of history, but it's also got adventure. And we're going to start ours by soaring through the air. Are you ready? Let's do this …” Aaron Millar, host  In this series, we're going to take you on a journey into the heart of one of the most ancient kingdoms on Earth. Located in the northwestern corner of Saudi Arabia, Alula is an oasis in the desert layered in 200,000 years of human history.  But, until recently, it was closed to outsiders, and to this day only a handful of visitors have ever been. In this immersive documentary, recorded on location, we'll take you to the heart of one of the great wonders of Arabia and give you a glimpse of what it feels like to be there for real. Each episode in the series explores the destination through the lens of a different element: the heritage of Earth, the community of Water … and today, the adventure of Air.  Highlights include: Flying over the UNESCO world heritage site of Hegra in a hot air balloon – only a handful of people have ever visited this ancient city. Even less have seen it from the sky.  Climbing via ferrata to the top of a 250-foot canyon and then screaming all the way down. Off-roading on sand dunes through one of the most deserts in the world. Stargazing with Bedouins and hearing their legends of the stars, which they used as a map to guide them through one of the most inhospitable places on Earth. FIND OUT MORE Our on-location Immersion documentaries are designed so that you can experience everything we did in this episode. Find out more at ExperienceAlula.com. Check out @experiencealula on Instagram, Facebook and X for more inspiration and ideas. CONNECT WITH US If you enjoy the show, please subscribe on whatever podcast player you're reading this on right now. Go on, do it. It means you get to choose what episodes you listen to, rather than the algorithm guess (wrongly) and kick us off your feed.  Following the show on socials will definitely maybe bring you good travel karma! Instagram: @armchairexplorerpodcast  Facebook: @armchairexplorerpodcast Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In this episode of STR Daily, powered by Boostly, we dive into the tech leapfrog moment that's transforming the travel industry. As new technologies revolutionize hotels, destinations, and user experiences, we look at standout cases like The Annex in Toronto and Alula in Saudi Arabia. We also explore Tripadvisor's ongoing evaluation of strategic alternatives, potential expansions, and the growth of its experiences and dining segments. Join us for the latest insights on how travel is adapting to a rapidly evolving tech landscape. Are you new and want to start your own hospitality business? Join our ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Facebook group⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Follow Boostly and join the discussion: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠YouTube⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠LinkedIn⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Facebook⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Want to know more about us? Visit our ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠website⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Stay informed and ahead of the curve with the latest insights and analysis

For more on Saudi Arabia and AlUla, visit www.visitsaudi.com and www.experiencealula.com New BBC Series - Arabian Adventures: Secrets of the NabateansAuthor:Walking with NomadsAdventures in MoroccoMorocco to TimbuktuDodging ElephantsWeb:www.alicemorrison.co.uk  Podcast: Alice in wAnderlandX: aliceoutthere1TikTok: aliceoutthere1Instagram: aliceoutthere1            Fbook: Alice Hunter Morrison AdventuresYouTube: Alice Morrison 

At the start of every month, host Aaron Millar and producer Jason Paton preview what's coming up on Armchair Explorer, play their favorite clips, and reveal the stories they're most excited to share. A cross between a highlight reel, an interview, and two people telling travel tales down the pub, our Pathways episodes are your guide to choosing your adventures with us. October episodes: ADVENTURE: Wildlife film makers Jim and Jamie Dutcher spend six years living with a pack of wolves in the Sawtooth Mountains of Idaho. IMMERSION: We go on location to the Arabian deserts of AlUla in search of adventure and find out what it feels like to crash land a hot air balloon. IMMERSION: Discover the Golden Age of Hollywood in Palm Springs, California: shag houses, Mr. Tiki and Sinatra's favorite haunt. ADVENTURE:  We join best-selling author and activist Peter Heller on board an eco-pirate ship as they battle illegal Japanese whalers in the Southern Ocean. BUCKET LIST: Host Aaron Millar takes us on a 100-mile pub crawl along the South Downs of England. IMMERSION: Thanksgiving Special all about food: sacred corn, fish boils, and pizza farms. *** If you enjoy the show, please subscribe on whatever podcast player you're reading this on right now. Go on, do it. It means you get to choose what episodes you listen to, rather than the algorithm guess (wrongly) and kick us off your feed.  Following the show on socials will definitely maybe bring you good travel karma! Facebook: @armchairexplorerpodcast Instagram: @armchairexplorerpodcast  Armchair Explorer is produced by Armchair Productions. Aaron Millar and Jason Paton presented the show, Charles Tyrie did the audio editing and sound design. Our theme music is by the artist Sweet Chap. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

“… it's incredible to get that picture of watching the caravans arrive on the horizon, and you don't know what they're going hold. You don't know what mysteries. People with strange languages, different clothes, and different smells. And they set up around the fire at night and play music you've never heard before; tell stories you've never heard before …” In this series, we're going to take you on a journey into the heart of one of the most ancient kingdoms on Earth. Located in the northwestern corner of Saudi Arabia, Alula is an oasis in the desert layered in 200,000 years of human history.  But, until recently, it was closed to outsiders, and to this day only a handful of visitors have ever been. In this immersive documentary, recorded on location, we'll take you to the heart of one of the great wonders of Arabia and give you a glimpse of what it feels like to be there for real. Highlights include: Exploring the ancient city of Hegra. Built by the same people who built Petra in Jordan, Hegra is every bit as spectacular but only visited by a handful of intrepid travelers. Visiting Jebel Ikmah, a library of ancient inscriptions carved into stone that reveal life in the desert more than 2,000 years ago. Riding Arabian horses to petroglyphs in the desert (and nearly falling off). Meeting a herd of overly friendly camels, with a taste for microphones. Learning from rawis, local storytellers, about the history of the incense road, a vast trading route, which passed through Alula, and changed the face of Arabia forever. FIND OUT MORE Our on-location Immersion documentaries are designed so that you can experience everything we did in this episode. Find out more at ExperienceAlula.com. Check out @experiencealula on Instagram, Facebook and X for more inspiration and ideas. CONNECT WITH US If you enjoy the show, please subscribe on whatever podcast player you're reading this on right now. Go on, do it. It means you get to choose what episodes you listen to, rather than the algorithm guess (wrongly) and kick us off your feed.  Following the show on socials will definitely maybe bring you good travel karma! Instagram: @armchairexplorerpodcast  Facebook: @armchairexplorerpodcast Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

At the start of every month, host Aaron Millar and producer Jason Paton preview what's coming up on Armchair Explorer, play their favorite clips, and reveal the stories they're most excited to share. A cross between a highlight reel, an interview, and two people telling travel tales down the pub, our Pathways episodes are your guide to choosing your adventures with us. October episodes: ADVENTURE: National Geographic photographer and mountaineer Cory Richards takes us on a journey to the top of the Himalayas in search of The Color of Everything. DISCOVERY: We go on location to the ancient city of Alula to uncover the history hidden in the Earth CONNECTION: We speak with Jenny Hunter from the Adventurists about the time she drove a $1,000 car from London to Mongolia and the importance of getting lost. IMMERSION: We send an Aussie to a rodeo in South Dakota and chaos ensues. INSIGHT: Halloween Special – Aaron goes to a seance in the London Tombs and strange things occur. BUCKET LIST: Halloween Special – we take the world's scariest whisky tour inside America's most notorious prison. If you enjoy the show, please subscribe on whatever podcast player you're reading this on right now. Go on, do it. It means you get to choose what episodes you listen to, rather than the algorithm guess (wrongly) and kick us off your feed. Following the show on socials will definitely maybe bring you good travel karma! Facebook: @armchairexplorerpodcast Instagram: @armchairexplorerpodcast Armchair Explorer is produced by Armchair Productions. Aaron Millar and Jason Paton presented the show, Charles Tyrie did the audio editing and sound design. Our theme music is by the artist Sweet Chap. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The deserts of Saudi Arabia are still holding on to many ancient secrets, hidden inside burial tombs and mysterious monumental structures called mustatils. Dr Hugh Thomas is on an archaeological mission to solve some of these mysteries.Hugh Thomas is an archaeologist who is fascinated by ancient mortuary practices and the secrets still hidden in the deserts of Saudi Arabia.In the north west of the country, thousands of mysterious rectangular structures, built in the fifth millennium, are still standing.They are monumental structures, up to 600m long, built from walls of rock and best viewed from the sky, where the chambers in which ritualistic killings took place, are clear. But who or what exactly motivated these ancient architects to build such things is not yet clear.And crisscrossing the landscape around them are kilometres of pathways called 'funerary avenues' -- routes carved out by people and herds, punctuated by burial tombs that look like jewellery from the air.This episode of Conversations explores ancient history, deep time, epic discoveries, the Middle East, Saudi Arabia, death and archaeology.

With the buzz of the Tour de France Femmes avec Zwift very much alive Rebecca Charlton is joined by more special guests this month to talk all things women's cycling. Her co-host this time is Olympian Lucy Martin. Having ridden at the highest level Lucy is now Communications Director of Jayco AlUla and Liv AlUla Jayco World Tour teams. We discuss her career, her role now, the progression of women into top roles in the sport and review the UCI Road World Championships which Lucy has commentated on seven times. We have an inspirational interview with Moroj Adi, the first Saudi woman to sign for a World Tour team. Finally we are joined by Shawn Clarke to look ahead at the world championships. So settle down with a coffee and enjoy! 

Stijn Lagrand is on a hot streak lately. He and his team won $40,000 in the Alula 8 hour race back in February. He then took first at the Spartan Beast in Zandvoort, and most recently took home the short course and the long course wins at the OCR Euro Champs in Hungary. We'll chat about those events plus his thoughts on race rules and how strict marshalling can be frustrating for athletes. Plus, we'll talk the idea of letting athletes practice obstacles beforehand and how that could make races fairer and more exciting. We'll also touch on possibly competing in the Trifecta World Championships and seeing how he does against the best Spartan racers in the world. Then I am rejoined by Bryan from House Darling for a deeper dive into S2 E6 of House of the Dragon and House That Dragons Built. Use code 2024-ORM for all Tough Mudder and Spartan Races for 20 percent off. Support Us On Patreon for LOTS MORE behind the scenes. You can listen to the podcast here. Follow Stijn All other Obstacle Racing Media Links. Intro  Music – Paul B. Outro Music – Brian Revels.

Saudi Arabia is a controversial place - one that for years was closed off to westerners without a special invite. But that all changed in 2019 with the announcement of a new tourist visa and a huge investment in infrastructure - beginning with the north-western oasis city of Alula. So far, most travellers have been Instagram influencers, keen to get 'that' shot of Elephant Rock or the infinity pool at Habitas. But Wander Woman Phoebe Smith is determined to skew the surface glitz, head off piste and dig deeper to discover if tourism really has made a difference to the local women who live there. Following in the footsteps of her late grandmother, who journeyed to Saudi in 1987, her guide is the diary her granny kept, a constant source of comparison between then and now. Never afraid to ask questions, probe deeper and seek answers, Phoebe asks - is tourism helping the women of Saudi to break trail?Also coming up:How you can enjoy a stress-free visit to Saudi Arabia; meet the woman working as part of a team to bring back the Arabian leopard; discover how best to dress to comfortably go from souk to sand; 10 reasons to consider a visit to Alula; hear about TV historian Bettany Hughes' love of all things Nabatean; Wander Woman of the Month – the first British born Muslim woman who made a pilgrimage to Mecca – Zainab Cobbold (aka Lady Evelyn Murray). www.Phoebe-Smith.com; @PhoebeRSmith

Mandy Sinclair gets a read of the ancient Saudi Arabian city of AlUla by visiting its public library. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Lawrence Eta, Vice President, Digital and Analytics for the Royal Commission for AlUla & Author of “Bridging Worlds: A Journey of Technology, Leadership, and Public Service” joins the show to discuss how his personal and professional journey influenced his new book. We also talk about his strategy to align to Saudi Arabia's Vision 2030, his thoughts on how technology will be most impactful in government and in society at large, and how he would approach building a digitally-focused city from the ground up.

The Mettleset is back, We have an amazing array of guests lined up, and kicking off this new era is a guest who is simply remarkable. Moroj Adil is Saudi Arabia's first pro cyclist and you'd be forgiven for not knowing her name yet as she only started cycling two years ago. Yes, that is right, from not knowing how to ride a bike, to being on the Liv Alula Jayco Continental team, her story is one that needs to be heard and what's most exciting is that it's just getting started. In this episode, we chat through

Viaggio ad AlUla, fra archeologia, progetti di arte e design contemporaneo e lussuosi resort. Per la Nutella 60 anni di dolcezza, successi e qualche polemica. Nella versione Weekend di Start parliamo anche di come risolvere i disturbi legati al sonno. Con due appuntamenti da non perdere per i prossimi giorni

Viaggio ad AlUla, fra archeologia, progetti di arte e design contemporaneo e lussuosi resort. Per la Nutella 60 anni di dolcezza, successi e qualche polemica. Nella versione Weekend di Start parliamo anche di come risolvere i disturbi legati al sonno. Con due appuntamenti da non perdere per i prossimi giorni.

Archaeology is always seen as a field pursuit and for the most part, it is. However the interpretations of archaeology should be accessible to all. Our guests today, Dr. Alessandro Sebastiani and Dr. Laura Morabito presented their thoughts on accessibility in archaeology at the World Archaeology Summit in Alula, Saudi Arabia in September 2023. They discuss things like 3D reconstruction and VR as tools to bring people to archaeological sites and research without physically bringing them there.Contact Chris WebsterTwitter: @archeowebbyEmail: chris@archaeologypodcastnetwork.com Paul ZimmermanTwitter: @lugalEmail: paul@lugal.comArchPodNet APN Website: https://www.archpodnet.com APN on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/archpodnet APN on Twitter: https://www.twitter.com/archpodnet APN on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/archpodnet Tee Public Store: https://www.teepublic.com/stores/archaeology-podcast-network?ref_id=5724Affiliates Motion: https://www.archpodnet.com/motion Liquid I.V.Ready to shop better hydration, use my special link https://zen.ai/thearchaeologypodnetworkfeed to save 20% off anything you order.

Archaeology is always seen as a field pursuit and for the most part, it is. However the interpretations of archaeology should be accessible to all. Our guests today, Dr. Alessandro Sebastiani and Dr. Laura Morabito presented their thoughts on accessibility in archaeology at the World Archaeology Summit in Alula, Saudi Arabia in September 2023. They discuss things like 3D reconstruction and VR as tools to bring people to archaeological sites and research without physically bringing them there.Contact Chris WebsterTwitter: @archeowebbyEmail: chris@archaeologypodcastnetwork.com Paul ZimmermanTwitter: @lugalEmail: paul@lugal.comArchPodNet APN Website: https://www.archpodnet.com APN on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/archpodnet APN on Twitter: https://www.twitter.com/archpodnet APN on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/archpodnet Tee Public Store: https://www.teepublic.com/stores/archaeology-podcast-network?ref_id=5724Affiliates Motion: https://www.archpodnet.com/motion Liquid I.V.Ready to shop better hydration, use my special link https://zen.ai/thearchaeotechpod to save 20% off anything you order.

Archaeology is always seen as a field pursuit and for the most part, it is. However the interpretations of archaeology should be accessible to all. Our guests today, Dr. Alessandro Sebastiani and Dr. Laura Morabito presented their thoughts on accessibility in archaeology at the World Archaeology Summit in AlUla, Saudi Arabia in September 2023. They discuss things like 3D reconstruction and VR as tools to bring people to archaeological sites and research without physically bringing them there.Contact Chris Websterchris@archaeologypodcastnetwork.com Rachel Rodenrachel@unraveleddesigns.comRachelUnraveled (Instagram)ArchPodNet APN Website: https://www.archpodnet.com APN on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/archpodnet APN on Twitter: https://www.twitter.com/archpodnet APN on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/archpodnet Tee Public Store: https://www.teepublic.com/stores/archaeology-podcast-network?ref_id=5724Affiliates Motion: https://www.archpodnet.com/motion Liquid I.V.Ready to shop better hydration, use my special link https://zen.ai/thearchaeologypodnetworkfeed to save 20% off anything you order.

Archaeology is always seen as a field pursuit and for the most part, it is. However the interpretations of archaeology should be accessible to all. Our guests today, Dr. Alessandro Sebastiani and Dr. Laura Morabito presented their thoughts on accessibility in archaeology at the World Archaeology Summit in AlUla, Saudi Arabia in September 2023. They discuss things like 3D reconstruction and VR as tools to bring people to archaeological sites and research without physically bringing them there.Contact Chris Websterchris@archaeologypodcastnetwork.com Rachel Rodenrachel@unraveleddesigns.comRachelUnraveled (Instagram)ArchPodNet APN Website: https://www.archpodnet.com APN on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/archpodnet APN on Twitter: https://www.twitter.com/archpodnet APN on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/archpodnet Tee Public Store: https://www.teepublic.com/stores/archaeology-podcast-network?ref_id=5724Affiliates Motion: https://www.archpodnet.com/motion Liquid I.V.Ready to shop better hydration, use my special link https://zen.ai/thearchaeologyshow1 to save 20% off anything you order.

Philip Jones, chief tourism officer for the Royal Commission for AlUla, talks with Alan Fine of Insider Travel Report about the authenticity and uniqueness of AlUla, and discusses the development of tourism there, upcoming luxury hotels and an emphasis on sustainability. Jones also introduces a new marketing campaign dubbed "Forever Revitalizing." For more information, visit www.ExperienceALULA.com. If interested, the original video of this podcast can be found on the Insider Travel Report Youtube channel or by searching for the podcast's title on Youtube.

Veejay is back to talk about his Alula performance, GOV Games, an update on Spartan payments, potential OCR retirement, and more. Today's show is sponsored by: Endeavor Team Challenge The event takes place in areas selected for their beautiful and challenging terrain. Competitors enjoy scenic panoramas as they move up mountains, rappel down cliffs, and paddle across beautiful alpine reservoirs. Teams work together to accomplish more than they thought possible, and they do it in a safe, professional, and friendly competitive environment. Register now and get 20% OFF for this year's event hosted in Bear Valley, California, in the Stanislaus National Forest. Enter ORM20 at checkout between now and April 15th, 2024. Follow this week's guests: Veejay Jones Support Us On Patreon for LOTS MORE behind the scenes. All other Obstacle Racing Media Links. Intro  Music – Paul B. Outro Music – Brian Revels and John Wesley Harding.

Faisal Sheiriff, influencer and entrepreneur, lives in Saudi Arabia with his fashion designer wife and two children. He was born in the US to a diplomat father and an anthropologist mother and has travelled to 50 countries. We discuss Saudi's changes and international tourism, living in Jeddah by the sea, beach days, coffee shops, large family gatherings, Cristiano Ronaldo, F1, tennis & golf, the bustling old markets in Jeddah and Riyadh, the dream-world desert landscapes of Alula and wanting to be the person that trawls ancient world markets and shipping back the antique artefacts but actually coming home with a fridge magnet. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

We have been wanting to have Alisa Petrova on the show for a while now with us first reaching out to her back in December 2022 to talk about the Spartan World Championships that year!  Her being 9 hours ahead of us made it pretty difficult to plan a good time to record but it was worth recording at 5am our time to finally have her on the show! Alisa talks about how she wasn't medically allowed to engage in sports at a young age but eventually got into speed walking and later became involved with Hero Race. In more recent years she has continued to prove herself to be a podium threat at many championship events including the Spartan World Championships. Within the past month she took on a new challenge in the form of an ultra by competing and winning Tough Mudder Infinity in AlUla.  We discuss the barriers of fueling, pacing, and dealing with poor race day communications at the event.  Also, her experience at the Government Games in Dubai this year! 0:00 – 6:35 – Intro 6:35 – 16:00 – Quick News 16:00 – 16:40 – Content Preface 16:40 - 51:46 - Alisa Petrova Interview 51:46 - End – Outro Next episode is planned to be with Paul LaChance who recently ran his 200th Spartan Race at the age of 82! ____ News Stories: Switch Away from Google Podcasts before April Buck Furpees: New England OCR Expo Fundraiser on March 9th 2024 New England OCR Expo on April 20th (use code "obstacles" for $5 off) Come Do a Deka Mile with Us at Underdog Fitness on April 7th Tough Mudder before World's Toughest Mudder Additional World's Toughest Mudder Changes  Giles Comments on World's Toughest Mudder Changes Hradec Nad Moravici Psartan Sprint and Super Podiums Ibaraki Spartan Sprint Podiums Batangas Spartan Sprint Podiums Winter Nuts Challenge Podiums Deka Fit Knoxville Men Podium Houston Spartan Beast Podiums Hurdle Hula Secret Link B Hole Secret Link Rich Prank Secret Link Tapping Pens Secret Link Racist Gary Secret Link ____ Related Episodes: 257. World's Toughest Mudder! (Part 4: Katie Knight and Mark Batres)! 270. Ida Mathilde Steensgaard on Jacksonville Spartans, Savage Florida, and More! 302. Nicole Mericle on the OCR Dream Team, Injury Recovery, Returning to Racing, and More! 308. World's Toughest Mudder with Mark Gaudet and First Woman to Hit 100 Miles Kris Rugloski! 316. Ulrikke Evensen on Spartan World Championships, World's Toughest Mudder, and More! ____ The OCR Report Patreon Supporters: Jason Dupree, Kim DeVoss, Samantha Thompson, Matt Puntin, Dave Claxton, Brad Kiehl, Charlotte Engelman, Erin Grindstaff, Hank Stefano, Arlene Stefano, Laura Ritter, Steven Ritter, Sofia Harnedy, Kenny West, Cheryl Miller, Jessica Johnson, Scott "The Fayne" Knowles, Anna Landry, Nick Ryker, Christopher Hoover, Kevin Gregory Jr., Evan Eirich, Ashley Reis, Brent George, Justin Manning, Wendell Lagosh, Logan Nagle, Angela Bowers, Asa Coddington, Thomas Petersen, Seth Rinderknecht and Bonnie Wilson. Sponsored Athletes: Javier Escobar, Kelly Sullivan, Ryan Brizzolara, and Joshua Reid! Support us on Patreon for exclusive content and access to our Facebook group Check out our Threadless Shop Use coupon code "adventure" for 15% off MudGear products Use coupon code "ocrreport20" for 20% off Caterpy products Like us on Facebook: Obstacle Running Adventures Follow our podcast on Instagram: @ObstacleRunningAdventures Write us an email: obstaclerunningadventures@gmail.com Subscribe on Youtube: Obstacle Running Adventures Intro music - "Streaker" by: Straight Up Outro music - "Iron Paw" by: Dubbest

Evan "Ultra-OCR Man" Perperis shares his post-race experience at Alula Saudi Arabia for Tough Mudder Infinity, the biggest prize purse in OCR history.  Learn about the travel, culture, how his predictions panned out and if it looks like this will be a one time event.    The OCR Report article: https://theocrreport.com/the-experience-alula-saudi-arabia/ OCR Buddy Article: https://ocrbuddy.com/race-review-alula-tough-mudder-infinity-saudi-arabia/   BleggMits, books and more at Strength & Speed: www.TeamStrengthSpeed.com Order your supplements from The Feed at https://thefeed.cc/evanperperis  Use code Strength20 to save 20% from www.yolked.com Episode brought to you by MANSCAPED, use code ULTRAOCR to save 20% and get free shipping from www.manscaped.com Learn more about the pro team at www.ocrproteam.com Order your books and BleggMits from www.teamstrengthspeed.com Train with Tiga Tactics: https://www.tigatactics.training/?ref=6bea29 Tiga Tactics Podcast: https://tigatactics.podbean.com/ or find it on your favorite podcast app Music by Dino Sinos

On today's episode, we interview Dr. Rebecca Foote, the Director of Archaeology and Cultural Heritage Research for the Royal Commission for AlUla in Saudi Arabia (RCU). Rebecca's current role focuses on executing in-depth archaeological study unique in both geographical size and scale, assessing the rich and complex past of the AlUla region of northwest Saudi Arabia. Dr Foote develops archaeological surveys, excavations and research projects with national and international expert teams to expand understanding of AlUla's history and prehistory.Links Royal Commission for AlUlaContact Chris Websterchris@archaeologypodcastnetwork.com Rachel Rodenrachel@unraveleddesigns.comRachelUnraveled (Instagram)ArchPodNet APN Website: https://www.archpodnet.com APN on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/archpodnet APN on Twitter: https://www.twitter.com/archpodnet APN on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/archpodnet Tee Public Store: https://www.teepublic.com/stores/archaeology-podcast-network?ref_id=5724Affiliates Motion: https://www.archpodnet.com/motion Liquid I.V.Ready to shop better hydration, use my special link https://zen.ai/thearchaeologypodnetworkfeed to save 20% off anything you order.

On today's episode, we interview Dr. Rebecca Foote, the Director of Archaeology and Cultural Heritage Research for the Royal Commission for AlUla in Saudi Arabia (RCU). Rebecca's current role focuses on executing in-depth archaeological study unique in both geographical size and scale, assessing the rich and complex past of the AlUla region of northwest Saudi Arabia. Dr Foote develops archaeological surveys, excavations and research projects with national and international expert teams to expand understanding of AlUla's history and prehistory.Links Royal Commission for AlUlaContact Chris Websterchris@archaeologypodcastnetwork.com Rachel Rodenrachel@unraveleddesigns.comRachelUnraveled (Instagram)ArchPodNet APN Website: https://www.archpodnet.com APN on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/archpodnet APN on Twitter: https://www.twitter.com/archpodnet APN on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/archpodnet Tee Public Store: https://www.teepublic.com/stores/archaeology-podcast-network?ref_id=5724Affiliates Motion: https://www.archpodnet.com/motion Liquid I.V.Ready to shop better hydration, use my special link https://zen.ai/thearchaeologyshow1 to save 20% off anything you order.

Ian K is back to discuss news from the last week in OCR including Matt's lack of luggage in AlUla, Ian did a DEKA STRONG, Rugged Maniac closing its doors, and more. Terrapin Events sponsor today's episode. We are excited to promote Dirty Leprechaun on March 16th. Awesome local race plus a pancake breakfast! Follow Ian K at UKOCR. Support Us On Patreon for LOTS MORE behind the scenes. All other Obstacle Racing Media Links. Intro  Music – Paul B. Outro Music – Brian Revels and John Wesley Harding.

It finally happened. All the hype is over and the event is on. Listen as athletes settle in for Friday dinner, then we hear from tons of athletes from the finish line of this epic race. Full race results here - https://www.obstacleracingmedia.com/featured/alula-tough-mudder-infinity-results/ Support Us On Patreon for LOTS MORE behind the scenes. All other Obstacle Racing Media Links. Intro  Music – Paul B. Outro Music – Brian Revels and John Wesley Harding.

In this episode, Rich and Brakken discuss the start of a new OCR season in an unfamiliar format. Then, they are joined by Lauren Smith to draft for the final Hyrox Major of the 23/24 Season. Support RB on Patreon⁠⁠ ⁠https://www.patreon.com/racebrain⁠⁠⁠ 00:00 Intro 03:45 How the OCR Season looks different 10:00 What does prize money do for OCR? 14:20 Pros and Cons of TM AlUla 35:00 What we know of AlUla results 45:00 Spartan Jax Review 55:40 Hyrox Fort Lauderdale Results 1:03:55 Lauren Smith Joins the Show! 1:06:00 Implications of the final Hyrox Major 1:10:30 Hyrox DC Draft #hyrox #dekafit #spartanrace

The RB squad previews the most exciting OCR event this decade in this episode! Tune in to learn who the guys draft and who they think will do well at the 8-hour Tough Mudder AlUla. Support RB on Patreon⁠⁠ ⁠https://www.patreon.com/racebrain⁠⁠⁠

The Kabsa Boys sit down and discuss new Disney+ show on AlUla, Usher half-time performance, new College of Arts, Russian space nukes, OpenAi's Sora, protecting whistle blowers, the British "taking" history, Since 2087 new sneaker, and much more. ⁠Instagram⁠ ⁠YouTube⁠ ⁠Twitter

Veejay Jones and Natalie Miano join forces with host Matt B. Davis to share their insights on the upcoming $480,000 Tough Mudder Infinity event set for the 24th. As part of a four-person team, Veejay will be in the thick of the competition in AlUla, with Natalie on the sidelines cheering for her husband and WTM record holder, Mark Batres. The trio will offer their expert analysis on key contenders across the men's, women's, and team divisions. The full list of athletes heading to AlUla for the event can be accessed here: https://www.obstacleracingmedia.com/featured/tough-mudder-alula-infinity-participant-update/ Follow Veejay on Instagram. Follow Natalie on Instagram. Support Us On Patreon for LOTS MORE behind the scenes. All other Obstacle Racing Media Links. Intro  Music – Paul B. Outro Music – Brian Revels and John Wesley Harding.

Er werd veel gekoerst deze week. Alula, De ster van Besteeg en De ronde van Valencia zijn misschien nog niet de grootste koersen maar laten wel haarfijn zien wie er plannen hebben de komende maanden. Yates redde de meubels voor Jayco Alula in hun thuiskoers. Pedersen liet zien ook een klassement te kunnen rijden en de koude oorlog tussen Vlasov en McNutty bereikte een voorlopig hoogtepunt in Valencia.Extra speciale dank vandaag voor alle Vrienden van de Show, zonder jullie konden we deze show niet maken! Ook vriend worden? Ga dan naar www.derodelantaarnpodcast.nl.Zie het privacybeleid op https://art19.com/privacy en de privacyverklaring van Californië op https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Exclusive: Saudi mulls 100% foreign property ownership in Mecca, Medina: sourcesArrested for corruption: CEO of AlUla's Royal CommissionToday's Guest: Julie Mallon, Founder of Nurture to Sleep

Erwin Verveken, former professional cyclocross rider and organizer of the UCI World Gravel Championships, discusses the history and growth of the UCI Gravel Series. He explains how the series was created to provide a more diverse and competitive experience for riders, and how it has quickly gained popularity and attracted top riders from around the world. Erwin also shares insights into the qualification process, the different types of gravel courses, and the future of gravel racing. Episode sponsor: Dynamic Cyclist (TheGravelRide for 15% off) Support the Podcast Join The Ridership  Automated Transcription, please excuse the typos: Key Takeaways: The UCI Gravel Series was created to provide a more diverse and competitive experience for riders, with a variety of courses and race formats. The series has quickly grown in popularity, attracting top riders from around the world and expanding to include more events each year. Gravel racing is a unique blend of road racing and off-road riding, with courses that can vary in technicality and terrain. The UCI Gravel World Championships allows both elite riders and amateurs to compete together, creating a unique and inclusive racing experience. The series is constantly evolving, with new events being added each year and plans to expand to more countries in the future. [TRANSCRIPT] [00:00:00] - ():  Craig Dalton (host): Erwin, welcome to the show. [00:00:02] - ():  Erwin Verveken: Thank you. Thank you. It's a pleasure of being here. [00:00:06] - ():  Craig Dalton (host): I'm excited to talk to you and learn more about the UCI World Gravel Championships and a little bit of the history there. But as always, I'd just love to start out with learning a little bit about you. I know you've got a, a strong history in the sport of cycling. So just a quick overview of how you got involved in the sport. **** - (): And then let's talk about how you got involved in. Kind of the event organizing side of the sport with UCI. [00:00:29] - ():  Erwin Verveken: Yeah. So I, I've been a pro rather mainly in cyclocross, uh, from 1995 till 2010. So a 16 year career in cyclocross, uh, uh, from the age of 22 to 38. And then when I retired from cycling in 2010, I started to work as a cyclocross and also a bit of model by coordinator at a lot. So lots of is a Belgian sports marketing company. **** - (): Um, uh, at that time we were, I wouldn't say small, but yeah, it's, it's, it's grown a lot in, in the last, uh, 15 years. Um, and so initially I was only doing. Cyclocross, uh, in winter and mountain bike in summer. And then gradually, uh, I got other projects and in 2011, we started to talk to the, to the UCI to, uh, well, to reform a bit, the, the masters road world championships. **** - (): So, um, yeah, everybody knows Ironman, Ironman, uh, and triathlon. You have to. Qualify somewhere in an arm and worldwide, uh, to get your ticket for the World Championships and, uh, well, the, the, the road Masters World Championships, uh, at the UCI, they were always organized in the same city in, in the same period for, for 20 years in Austria, uh, and there were some complaints of course, because the, the, yeah, always the same course, uh, the same type of riders, um, yeah, World Championships should move, uh, uh, you know, One day it should be a flat and fast race and then a race for climbers or for classical riders. **** - (): So we came with a proposal to reform it like in Ironman with the qualifier series, uh, which, which started in 2011 with seven qualifier events and then a world championships. And well, it moved from seven the next year to 20. And yeah, now for next year, it's. events. It's the biggest series we've ever had. **** - (): 2024. I mean, [00:02:26] - ():  Craig Dalton (host): curious, Erwin, when, when you expanded the qualification, the number of qualification races, did you end up expanding the number of athletes that could actually compete in the world championships for the masters? [00:02:38] - ():  Erwin Verveken: Yeah. Uh, so it has always been 25 percent per age group will qualify for the world championships. And so the results are major made up per age group. Um, and, and, uh, yeah. So from that, uh, point, uh, Uh, yeah. First year I think we had 700 drivers at the world championships. Uh, and then it grew to over a thousand thousands, 500, 2000. **** - (): And in the last few years, we are in between two and a half and 3000, which is still okay. Uh, one year we decided to lower the percentage of qualified rider from 25 to 20 because of safety. Uh, we, we got 3000 riders at the start of, uh. Of one single event on a day, uh, so the Grand Fonda World Championships, but then it was, uh, yeah, 2020, the COVID year, so, and, and, and afterwards, uh, yeah, it took some time for riders to start traveling again. **** - (): So we, we went back to 25%. And in that idea in 2019 at the end of the season in a debriefing with UCI, we proposed also to make up a similar series of gravel events. Gravel is big in the States. I think the first real gravel events date from 2005, 2006 or so. Um, and they, yeah, we saw in Europe and other continents, but mainly Europe, um, gravel has always been Uh, a bit more recreational, um, never competitive. **** - (): Um, and it's only, let's say the last five years that there's really competitive parallel events. Um, so, so yeah, and at the end of 2019, we proposed. A similar setup with the qualifier series, uh, leading up to a yearly world championships. Uh, which then, well, got postponed in 2020, 2021 because of COVID. Uh, so the, the, the first season was 2022 with 11 qualifier events. **** - (): Uh, and this year already 18. And next year 25. So yeah, it's growing very fast and especially the number of participants is growing very very fast. So um And and the big difference is in gravel in the gravel world cheers and also the gravel world championships also elite riders can participate. So Where the, the ground from the world series is mainly for masters and amateurs. **** - (): Uh, the gravel world series and the gravel world championships is, is for everybody. Uh, but still in the same concept where. In front there is a real battle amongst the best elite riders but in the back you as a recreational rider, you can also participate and if you're really fit and Keen and and also for the masters at a later age You can still qualify for the world championships and also right there together with well this year what for not more each? **** - (): Following they were all at the start So yeah, I can imagine if you if you start in the back end and you're just five minutes behind these riders Uh, at the start, uh, that it's an amazing feeling to, to be in the same race with all those top stars. [00:05:47] - ():  Craig Dalton (host): Yeah, yeah, that's I remember speaking to Bruce from the Highland Gravel Classic in Arkansas, who's the the one US gravel race that's part of the UCI series this year and the coming year in 2024. And I remember walking away from that conversation with that same feeling that Despite what some people in the United States may think about, you know, high performance gravel racing, and as it may detour from their vision of a community style gravel race as people who are around the sport and like other aspects of the sport, just being able to line up at a, at a UCI event with the names you just mentioned would be a thrill of a lifetime. [00:06:27] - ():  Erwin Verveken: Yeah. I think so. Um, of course, gravel in the States, uh, is, is, is much older and has much more tradition and, uh, your biggest events are, are still bigger than, than the UCI events. Uh, our biggest event this year was 1700 and probably next year we will go over 2000, but yeah, if you speak about the real classics, uh, unbound and, and, and, and, well, you have several of them. **** - (): They are more than double than our biggest race at the moment, but I think we still have potential to grow. Um, I see that, um, what, what really excites me is that after all these events and especially after the world championships, you all, you hear all these top stars telling, Hey, this was fun, huh? Wout van Aert had big trouble, a flat tire, a crash at the world championships, but he still continued because he liked it so much. **** - (): And he yeah. Enjoyed. Riding a gravel race. So yeah, he is, by the way, my neighbor because he's living in the same city as me even. Well, if you count in miles like you do in the States, it's a bit more than a mile from where I live. And he called me and told, Hey, I want to do a UCI gravel race because I want to do the world championships this year. **** - (): So all of a sudden he was there at the Belgian qualifier event in August and then six weeks later at the world championships and he really enjoyed it. So And that's the good thing. They are pure ambassadors, not only for cycling sports in general, but also for gravel because, uh, they have a lot of fun. **** - (): Um, Valverde was there, Moritz, he said, well, it's my first gravel race I ever did, world championships. I always liked. Going off road, uh, mountain bike, but in gravel there's much more speed, it's much more fun. And, and yeah, I want to do this more next year, especially because of course he's wearing the nice rainbow jersey. [00:08:26] - ():  Craig Dalton (host): That's right. Yeah. I think it's going to be interesting to see how within the European Peloton, if it follows the U S. You know, in, in the early days of gravel as professional athletes started moving over like Ted King, for example, would dabble in it. And then I think he told some of his ex pro tour friends that, Hey, this is fun. **** - (): Plus you started to see them being able to make a career out of it. And obviously the likes of Wout van Aert is not going to leave the pro tour anytime soon, but it is interesting to think about. Riders who are later in their career, who still have power in their legs and enthusiasm in their heart to start seeing European gravel racing as a way to extend their career in a way that maybe gives them a little bit more joy than they had racing in the pro peloton after all those [00:09:16] - ():  Erwin Verveken: Yeah. No, for sure. Um, I think there are two types of writers. You have the real top stars, like Rod van Aert, like Moritz and Demi Vollering. And I'm sure they will probably do one or two events a year when it fits in their program. But their focus will never be on gravel, uh, during the season, but well, the position of the gravel world championships at the end of the road season, uh, is ideal for them to end their season. **** - (): And I'm sure that, uh, one day, uh, probably also, uh, Pogacar will be there. He was already there at the first world championships last year. but wasn't allowed from his team to take part, but he was in the, in the VIP area at the finish line. The day after he won the Tour of Lombardia, so the last classic of the season, it was on Saturday and the gravel world championships were, well, nearby. **** - (): It's only a hundred kilometer away. So, and he really enjoyed it and he said, well, I want to do this race. But, yeah, it's still, um, there's still like the feeling of, okay, this is a dangerous sport, uh, uh, you can crash, you can, yeah, whatever, and it can jeopardize your next season, but as it's at the end of the season, I don't see really a point, uh, you see some, some crashes and, and, um, Yeah, that's, that's probably part of gravel, but it's not like a major crash. **** - (): It's always in small groups. Uh, gravel is, is, is not to be compared with, with mountain bike or cyclocross. It's a, it's, it's an off road discipline, but the type of event is much more road race. Um, and that's what we also also see in the last two years. I'm having my background in cyclocross and cyclocross is very big in Belgium, but the real gravel, I know the real cyclocross specialists, like the ones who do the full season of cyclocross. **** - (): Uh, and not focus on the road. Yeah. They usually, by the end of the race, the last hour, they, they, they lose contact with the, with, with, with the, the road is, um, uh, gravel is much more a road race than it will ever be, a cyclocross or a mountain bike. It's not technical at all. Um, and, and yeah, in my opinion, it's, it's, it's for the pure. **** - (): Road specialists from the, from the spring classic said that the ones who like, uh, party rebel, we're like tour of Flanders, uh, those type of guys. They are the ones who are the real gravel specialists. [00:11:41] - ():  Craig Dalton (host): Yeah. I think that makes sense. I think one thing that we've learned in racing gravel over these years is that anything can happen and it's your ability as a rider to deal with unpredictable situations. And to your point as a cyclocross racer. Every lap, there's an unpredictable situation that you have to deal with and you have to deal with nursing your bike and not being too hard on the equipment. **** - (): And there's certainly no, you know, there's no team car following you very quickly. Although in cyclocross, you can swap [00:12:09] - ():  Erwin Verveken: Yeah. You can switch bikes two times a lap. Um, and, and you can have it cleaned and everything. So, um, no, that's, that's, I think it makes. It's part of the story why it's, it's so popular because, uh, he lost 10 minutes at the world championships, but he still continued. And it's more like the epic, right? **** - (): Like you see in, uh, in Paris, uh, it's, it's kind of a survival race. Um, even though you have a lot of bad luck in the beginning, the race is never over. You can still continue. You can still make up and, and, and, uh, close gaps. And so. That feeling of, of, of, of like a real epic race in, in epic circumstances. At this moment, we, we had to ice the world championships in dry, in dry circumstances, but yeah, one day we'll also have them in, uh, in very wet circumstances, like you had, uh, I think unbound was this year in very muddy conditions. **** - (): So, and that will make it very epic. Uh, but to me it's, it's yeah, if you compare it with European. Cycling it's, it's, it's, it's, it's much more a copy of, uh, what Paris Roubaix is every year. [00:13:24] - ():  Craig Dalton (host): Yeah, yeah, I was going to ask you to the extent in which you, you were there and understand the run up when that first world championships event happened in the qualifiers. How are you thinking about the criteria for the course and course construction? Were there some constraints that the UCI put on the event to make it in the mold of what they were expecting? [00:13:47] - ():  Erwin Verveken: Well, the first year, first of all, um, because of COVID and, and, and yeah. Let's say COVID ended, but, uh, yeah, everybody was still afraid to set up a new event and even the World Championships, uh, beginning of 2022. We had a few candidates, uh, to run the World Championships, but, uh, one after another, they decided, okay, maybe it's too early. **** - (): Let's skip 2022, but we'll focus on 2023 or 2024. Um, So we found an organizer rather late in Italy, so Filippo Pozzato, the ex pro rider. He did a good job because it was like on a short period. He had to prepare the World Championships, but the World Championships were not the typical gravel race. I know from from this doing this series for sure. **** - (): Not the typical gravel race you have in the States. It was like a 50 50 road gravel race and even the gravel was like, yeah, it was flat. It was Um, yeah, to me a bit too much of a road race. Um, um, um, but yeah, it was all last minute. I think that the, uh, the organizer was awarded two months prior to the race. **** - (): Uh, then yeah, the full process of having courses approved, having them checked and then getting the necessary approvals from the different towns. Yeah, it took some time and there was not really. to, to, to, to make an update, um, um, which was done this year, this year. Uh, we had to switch organizer and it was also, uh, only, only two months before the world championships, but the course, which was presented was much better than the first edition, uh, in percentage was more off road, more gravel, but also much more exciting, uh, flats, uh, yeah. **** - (): Paved sections in between, but also a lot of elevation, um, and a very beautiful course, I think very different from what you have in the States. Um, if, if I see the images and the, and the videos from, from Unbound and the American races, yeah, they are. Even more road racing, uh, on gravel roads, um, yeah, in percentage, much more gravel roads, but it's less technical than what we see as gravel events in mainly Europe, which are, um, I wouldn't say they are not more towards mountain bike for sure or not, but they are, um, not wide open big boulevards where you can ride the truck. **** - (): Uh, it's always a smaller, uh, Uh, yeah, forest roads, farm roads. Um, it's, it's more technical. [00:16:38] - ():  Craig Dalton (host): Yeah. Yeah. I mean, I think there's a wide diversity of gravel racing in the United States. Obviously, to your point, the Unbound may be on sort of dirt roads [00:16:48] - ():  Erwin Verveken: Yeah. And that's maybe the image we have from, from American gravel racing. [00:16:51] - ():  Craig Dalton (host): Yeah, yeah, no, it's very interesting to hear you say that because if I'm thinking about like what you might see from an unbound or an SVT gravel, that would very much be the takeaway. **** - (): I would have as well that these are, you know, sort of road racing style open, you know, wide roads that give a lot of opportunity for moving around. Um, but if you dig into the gravel cycling world, there are a lot of events that really push The capabilities of the bikes and really create sections that have a huge impact on the race based on one's technical abilities. **** - (): So, you know, they might go into single track, they might go into mud, they might have river crossings, all the types of things that would really push both the rider's skill levels and equipment. [00:17:37] - ():  Erwin Verveken: Well, for, for the UCI, uh, two things, of course, when, when we started up the, the UCI Gravel Series and the Gravel World Championships. Um, one of the first things we decided is, uh, you have a few of, of, of, uh, of very long, uh, endurance races, uh, a month is, uh, 300 kilometers or even more than 200 miles. Um, [00:18:00] - ():  Craig Dalton (host): Yeah. 200 miles. Yeah, [00:18:01] - ():  Erwin Verveken: we decided to, with the UCI gravel world series to have like the typical, um, duration of a road race. **** - (): So five, six hours. Um, racing, not, not like unmount this, I guess, 10, 11 hours of racing. Uh, and that's what we are. We're not aiming for that. That's, that's like, yeah, a very big endurance race. Uh, our goal is to keep it in between 150 and 200 kilometers. Um, depending a bit on the elevation and on what is available. **** - (): Um, and then, uh, a second thing is so like single track. It is possible when there's no alternative, so to connect two sections, uh, with a small single track, uh, towards the end of the race. Yeah, it's not preferred, but if there's no other solution, then we allow it. But the big majority should be on wide open gravel roads where we can also ride a car. **** - (): That's the goal of the UCI Gravel World Series. [00:19:10] - ():  Craig Dalton (host): Yeah. I certainly noticed in the, in the race coverage this past year, and certainly commentary from both the men and women on the U S team that the narrowness of the roads. And you hear this refrain, even when road cyclists go over to Europe, it's just another world when you're trying to pack 200 people into these, through these narrow villages. **** - (): And certainly the other big thing that stood out in some of the video I saw was, Some of the, um, the 180 degree switchbacks on the roads and trails that the riders had to navigate and the, the chaos that ensued around that and how that impact the race. [00:19:47] - ():  Erwin Verveken: Yeah, well, I'm not sure about the 180 degree turns. Uh, you mean now in the last world championships? [00:19:55] - ():  Craig Dalton (host): Yeah. There was one scene that I saw the riders cutting across the, the earliest part of the corner to get around and join the group. [00:20:04] - ():  Erwin Verveken: Yeah, there were some. Uh, well, it's, it's a famous YouTube video from, from the law at the first half an hour of the, of the gravel world championships in the elite category. Yeah. I don't know. I think it's from an American rider who filmed it with his scope. [00:20:18] - ():  Craig Dalton (host): yeah. I think it's from Payson McKelvin. [00:20:21] - ():  Erwin Verveken: Um, yeah, it gives a good idea of the hectic in the start. **** - (): Uh, and of course, well, our, our, our courses are not fence. They are just marked with science and everybody has a GPS device on his bike. Um, so that's, yeah. I presume it's also the same in the States, so you don't have, uh, uh, tape, uh, to, to, to, to prevent riders from cutting corners. So, um, I think that's, that's the spirit of gravel. **** - (): So, um, yeah, it's only in the, in the first. 10, 15 k in, uh, uh, in the course. Uh, but next year, because then we are ourselves, the organized, so the company I'm working for Goot, so is, uh, organizing the, the next world championships in Belgium. Um, yeah, it will hardly be impossible to, to cut corners there, uh, in the, in the first. **** - (): Part of the race and where it's possible. Yeah, we'll probably also try to prevent it Without making too much Yeah It's, it's, it's never the goal to make like a fenced cyclocross or mountain bike course. Um, that's, that's not our goal, but yeah, different type of racing. Uh, I've done, yeah, because I'm, I'm managing the, these, these races. **** - (): And, um, of course also ex pro rider. So I take my bike to a lot of these events and try to ride them. To get a good impression on the different type of events, uh, if I compare our events, um, uh, which are in the series, there's indeed a lot of different events. Uh, next year we will also, uh, organize the, the Belgian Gravel Championships, uh, which are. **** - (): Uh, very typical American style and Bond style, uh, gravel racing, which is very uncommon in Belgium. But yeah, in the north, there's like a section where, where we can have those kind of races. Uh, so. There's a bit of a difference, but, but yeah, uh, the good thing about gravel is that, uh, you can have very technical races, um, uh, but, but the majority are on wide open roads, fast, uh, uh, you don't need to be too technical. **** - (): If you see, um, more rich winning the world championships. Although I think he's very technical as a rider, as a roadie. Uh, but also Jasper Stavun winning the first European Championships. Um, I don't think he's very technical as a roadie. So, uh, yeah, it's, uh, it's something which, which can suit any, any, uh, any road specialist. [00:23:00] - ():  Craig Dalton (host): Gotcha. And when you think about the courses in the men's courses and the women's courses, as I understand it, they differed in distance. Can you talk a little bit about the logic behind that? [00:23:11] - ():  Erwin Verveken: Well, I know that in, in, in, in the States and also let's say in, in, in general in English speaking countries, it's also the same in Britain and in Australia. There's a, there's a big movement to have women and men having the same distance. If you see it cycling, uh, in history, and then I mean, from 50 years back, and even now, all disciplines, uh, being cyclocross, mountain bike, road, uh, women and men have different distances for the World Championships and World Cups. **** - (): Uh, you can be, it's worth a discussion. I know that, uh, in, in. The English speaking countries, there's more, uh, a vote to have them equal, but I don't think there's, well, gender equality doesn't mean that they have to have the, the same distance. I think the media attention should be the same and, and the price money should be the same, but, uh, the, the distance, uh, if you have, uh, the women racing over 260, 270 kilometers, the road world championships. **** - (): It would give a totally different dynamic and it would mean a much more individual race by the end of the race because then it's pure endurance. Well, for the man. Uh, yeah, it's it's another type of race, so I'm not really convinced if they should have, uh, the same distance for men and women. Um, [00:24:42] - ():  Craig Dalton (host): Are you thinking about it in terms of time? Are you shooting for a similar amount of time out there on the bike for [00:24:48] - ():  Erwin Verveken: no, not even time. Um, we did many surveys amongst the participants after the World Championships, uh, both in Gran Fondo and Gravel. And if you ask, uh, women if they prefer to have the same distance as men, probably Americans and, yeah, Australians, they would go for it. Yeah, the same distance, but it depends also a bit on what riders prefer. **** - (): Uh, everybody is, is, if you're somebody who has a great endurance, uh, you will pick the same distance as the man. If you're more explosive and you're more a tactic, uh, uh, yeah, a strong sprinter type of rider. You prefer a shorter course. So, but in general, we see that, uh, if we ask men, women directly, our participants, that the majority still prefers a shorter distance for, uh, for women. **** - (): Um, [00:25:41] - ():  Craig Dalton (host): Yeah. I mean, I think it's an interesting debate and I'm certainly not one to opine too strongly one way or the other, but I do imagine that you have more dynamic racing in the shorter distances [00:25:53] - ():  Erwin Verveken: that's what I'm. [00:25:54] - ():  Craig Dalton (host): people complaining with me about this. [00:25:56] - ():  Erwin Verveken: So I, I don't know, women on the road, for instance, the, uh, the road, World Championships now in Glasgow for women. I don't know, but I think there were 150, 160 and men were 260. In general, they're around that distance. But if you have the women also on the 260, well, it will be a pure endurance race. **** - (): And by the end, they will be, there's a big chance that there will be one. One by one. So, um, and then on the meet, I'm floating can start racing again because she's she's a super strong rider who survives everybody by the end of the race when it's a very hard race. Um, so, yeah, um, it's worth the discussion. **** - (): But if you ask the riders, I think the majority will still prefer to have a shorter distance for women because it's indeed another dynamic. [00:26:51] - ():  Craig Dalton (host): Yeah. When you think about, uh, and I do want to get into the master's element of this cause I think that's fascinating. And for our listeners who are non professional athletes, I think it's a great and interesting opportunity. But one final question at the elite level, how do you determine how many riders an individual country can bring to the event? [00:27:10] - ():  Erwin Verveken: Well, so the basic goal is that everybody should qualify. But, uh, in order to promote the first editions of the World Championships and, uh, yeah, to also have national teams and the federations involved, in 2022 and also this year, the UCI decided to grant 20 wildcards to every national federation. For riders, um, um, so in the past two years, now 2022, 2023, they could be used by any rider. **** - (): Uh, so also the Masters and, and, and, and the Age Group riders. Uh, for 2024, it will only be limited for the Elite category. And gradually, it's our goal to limit the number of wildcards. So riders should be really be encouraged to qualify. But on the other hand, first year we had Peter Sagan, we had Mathieu we had, uh, Greg van Auermaat all participating. **** - (): And without those wildcards, they wouldn't have been there. Uh, Pauline Ferrand Bréveau. This year Vollering, uh, Wout van Aert, uh, well, Wout qualified, but, uh, the other riders, Mohoritch, um, we were really happy with them at the start. So we want to keep a certain amount of, uh, of, of wildcards for the, for the top level riders. **** - (): And yeah, we'll see from year to year, uh, evaluate after every edition of the World Championships, if we have to stick to, uh, I don't know, maybe 10 wildcards, uh, maximum per country, or more wildcards for the bigger countries, uh, less wildcards for the smaller countries. But this year we also had riders from Guinea Bissau and from Barbados and, uh, yeah, like very exotic countries at the start. **** - (): Uh, and they wouldn't have been there without these wildcards, so, um. Yeah, I'm still in favor of having them, but maybe limit them a bit more. So the drivers really are encouraged to have to go to a qualifier. Yeah, [00:29:04] - ():  Craig Dalton (host): And you mentioned that that qualification, it sounds like it's standard across the board. If you finish at a UCI gravel world cup qualifier event in the top 25%, you've punched your tickets to go to the world championships. [00:29:17] - ():  Erwin Verveken: The only change next year is that, um. And the first two years, qualification was always per age group, but then we saw this year Verde. Yeah. He saw, uh, in the meantime, 42 years old. So he, he then had to qualify in the 40 to 44 age category and Okay. The, the two races he did were, were not the biggest one. **** - (): I think the, the one in, uh, the two in Spain, he won, were like five, 600 drivers at the start. So then it's still okay to to, to have him in the front. But well, as these events grow bigger and bigger, uh, we decided to also have the elite category as part of the qualifier series. So before every race, you have to choose, okay, I want to go and qualify for the world championships elite or for my age group. **** - (): Uh, so like a rider being 19 to 34 years old, if he chooses to sign up for the elite category, Of course, with an elite license, then he can only qualify for the elite category at the world championships. If he chooses to qualify or to sign up for the age groups, he can only qualify for his age group. Um, and that's what we decided this year to change. **** - (): Um, so that the elite category can also have older riders, uh, in their 30s, 35, 40 years old, like Valverde, like, uh, yeah, many of them will retire from road racing and like, uh, Jan Baklans, Nicky Terpstra, uh, yeah, probably also a lot of Americans who are over 35, but still want to race elite at a high level. **** - (): So, yeah. they didn't get the opportunity to race elite. [00:30:58] - ():  Craig Dalton (host): you'd, you'd may have mentioned this earlier, but just so I understand on race day are the amateur men lining up behind the elite men and starting kind of alongside them. [00:31:10] - ():  Erwin Verveken: at the qualifier events, uh, well, they're different options and we give a lot of freedom to the different organizers to set up or the setup of the start can either be man elite in front, followed by women elite. And then with a small interval, the age groups, uh, or we can have many leads followed by men age groups. **** - (): Let's say until the age of 50 and then the women elite with all with a small interval, but it depends a bit on the size of the field. And yeah, I think next year our biggest event will be over 2000. So then you have to make some. Rules to, to, to make a fair start and a fair reason. Uh, but we still give the opportunity, um, to riders without a license to qualify for the world championships in their age groups. **** - (): So it's only for the elite category that you need a license. If you want to race, uh, in the age groups, uh, you're 42 years old and you still want to do world championships. So you can go to a qualifier, take part, um, and then qualify for the world championships. And it's only. to sign up for the world championships that you need a year license, so not to qualify. [00:32:20] - ():  Craig Dalton (host): Gotcha. Gotcha. Yeah. Super exciting. Let's talk about the 2024 Trek UCI gravel world series calendar. You've expanded now to a total, is it a 26 events [00:32:31] - ():  Erwin Verveken: well there's uh in the 25 Qualifying for the 2024 World Championships and one was in October, uh, past the World Championships for the 2025 World Championships. So, uh, but yeah, we have been expanding with, uh, a lot of extra races. So if I look at the list, one extra in Austria, one extra in Italy. Um, I'm running off the list here now on my computer. **** - (): Uh, there's a new race in Kenya. There's a new race, a second year race in Germany, Switzerland, one in Wales in the UK. Um, and then by the end of the season, also a second new one in Spain. Um, and there will most likely be two. Uh, extra ones being added later, uh, which still are struggling with approvals. Uh, so yeah, there's, uh, there's, it's no secret that there's one candidate in Rwanda where the world championships on the road take place next now in 2025. **** - (): Um, and, and a second one in Switzerland, uh, they will most likely be added, uh, yeah, in the next few weeks. [00:33:48] - ():  Craig Dalton (host): when you, what does it take for an event to become part of the series and are these events typically events that have run in the past and then embrace the UCI series and come to you and say, yeah, I'd like to be part of it or are they events that happened from the ground up? With the sole intention of being a UCI qualifier. [00:34:07] - ():  Erwin Verveken: It's it's a mix. Um, we have existing events will have been run as a competitive event before we have, uh, fun events like, uh, leisure events like non competitive events with been switched to a competitive event. We have big organizers who have run professional road racing or Gran Fondo racing, like the race in Switzerland is run by the same team who has the UCI Gran Fondo for many years. **** - (): Um, yeah, so. New events will have all of a sudden started up, um, the second race in, in, uh, Germany, for instance, has run the motorbike marathon world championships five years ago or six years ago, 2017. Uh, so it's a mix. Yeah. Um, [00:34:59] - ():  Craig Dalton (host): And then, you know, obviously there's presumably an application process for the event to become part of the series. Do the events then need to take on that same kind of, uh, men will race by themselves. Women will race by themselves. The distance will be in it within certain parameters. Is that what the, how they have to adopt to the UCI landscape? [00:35:20] - ():  Erwin Verveken: yeah. Well, but as I told, we're not too difficult in these first years. We don't want to, the big criticism we had, uh, especially from, from, uh, from, from the States, uh, in the beginning is, well, you see, I will make it, uh, too much regulations and things like that. Um, well, we decided not to make, uh, any regulation. **** - (): So the bike is free, of course, no e bike, but, uh, If you want to raise a mountain bike, or a gravel bike, or a road bike, whatever bike you like, the perfect bike that fits best for that course is, is, is, is, is free to use. Uh, distance, well, there's a rule now, I think the minimum distance is 75k and the maximum 200. **** - (): Um, but for the rest, uh, there's no Regulation on tire width, uh, starting procedure is also quite flexible. Uh, we discuss it with every organizer, but, uh, yeah, we are pretty flexible in, in allowing things. [00:36:23] - ():  Craig Dalton (host): Gotcha. What are the things that, that struck me when I looked at the 2024 calendar? Was we still only have one event here in the United States? Is that intentional? Is it just [00:36:35] - ():  Erwin Verveken: no, no. Because [00:36:36] - ():  Craig Dalton (host): for events? And [00:36:39] - ():  Erwin Verveken: let's say that we would like to have, um, in the, the, the big traditional cycling countries in Europe, two events, like we have now. Two in Belgium, two in Holland, two in Germany, two in Switzerland, two in Italy, two in Spain, uh, only one in France, two in the uk. And then for the big countries like the, the States, Canada or Australia, uh, we can go up to three events. **** - (): And I've been in very good context with, with potential, uh, uh, yeah. Interested organizers who have started the process of, yeah. Um, yeah, uh, having different online meetings with me, but also of course. On their side, getting the approvals, um, and speaking to their sponsors. And we have been very close with one organizer, um, yeah, to finally become the second qualifier. **** - (): And I'm sure that in 2025, we will have at least two, probably even three events. Uh, and also in Canada, I'm in touch with a second Canadian event, uh, which is likely to sign. And which I had expected to sign already for 2024. But yeah, the, uh, it's also the same in, in, uh, in Grand Fonda racing. Um, It's, it's, it's more challenging for me to convince, uh, an American organizer to, to join, uh, the series. **** - (): Um, a part of it is because, well, they, um, there is like, um, let's say, uh, uh, a general criticism in everything which is related to regulations and to federations within the states. That's what I learned from my different contexts. Uh, people don't like to be. To regulate it, although I think we are quite flexible. **** - (): Um, uh, and, uh, another big thing is in Europe, there is, uh, yeah, for organizing and we're speaking about the financial part of the, of, of, of, of organizing an event is in, in, uh, in the States, there's not such a system of, of government funding. So in Europe, but also in Africa, we have three African events to in Australia, uh, people organizers apply for fundings with the city, the region or an entity from the government, which puts in money to promote events of a high level, but also because they generate a lot of tourism. **** - (): If I see that this year, the European Championships, we organized ourselves, uh, uh, on the 1st of October. Well, we had 1, 700 riders coming from, I don't know exactly 30 or 35 different countries, but they all stay in the hotel for a few nights because they want to do a record right a few days before they stay after they go and have dinner, they buy a souvenir, they rent a car. **** - (): So there's a lot of economic return for the region. And that system doesn't really exist in the, in the States, as far as I know, from, from my country. [00:39:45] - ():  Craig Dalton (host): Yeah. You know, it's true. I've talked about this on a number of occasions with different event organizers and it's, it is super interesting. Like there are some rural regions that are trying to reinvent themselves where you do get some of that interplay with the local city government and great deal of enthusiasm to bring riders in because having them. **** - (): Yeah. A thousand people and their families over a weekend is a great economic boom for those cities. And then in other cases, you have the exact opposite mentality, which is we don't want any more people coming here. We don't need athletes to come into our town. You know, particularly I live in the San Francisco Bay area [00:40:23] - ():  Erwin Verveken: which is really a pity. Um, I think. [00:40:27] - ():  Craig Dalton (host): very much [00:40:27] - ():  Erwin Verveken: Sports, sports in general, especially while I'm living in Belgium, which is probably the cycling country together with Italy and France, we have, uh, every little town has his own club and has at least a competitive rider and this, uh, yeah, uh, you have to drive maximum one hour to do a race on Saturday and Sunday, uh, in every discipline. **** - (): So that's, that's the good thing about, uh, well. living in a traditional cycling country, but also for organizers. Uh, excuse me. Um, so yeah, the, the, the fundings we have are necessary to set up big events and they are live on television. It's part of our culture. They generate, as I told you, a lot of. **** - (): Economic return, but not only economic return, it's also, yeah, promotion for the region if you have like a very nice, um, yeah, uh, area with, with a beautiful nature. It's a good promotion for, for, for the region to, to generate also other type of tourism. The race we now organized on the 1st of October, which will also fit us as a first, no, the next world championships next year in Belgium. **** - (): Yeah, it's, it's a, it's a national park. It's a big forest area. It's being promoted now through these kinds of events and the weeks before, but especially the weeks after. The European Championships we organized there. It was full of people, yeah, uh, hiking, uh, um, riding their bikes. And they also come and then, yeah, uh, it generates tourism and tourism means money for the region. **** - (): And, um, yeah, that's, that's the good thing about, uh, yeah, cycling in, in, in, in Belgium, for instance. [00:42:24] - ():  Craig Dalton (host): Yeah, yeah, if I was to sort of read the tea leaves, so to speak about the U. S. gravel cycling scene sentiment around the U. C. I. gravel world championships and the qualifier events, I would say, I. I'm reading a market change this year after the event, we sent some of our best athletes over there, there was good exposure. **** - (): Obviously we wish that the, the women's race was able to be televised, but I understand what happened there, but seeing the scene and seeing the camaraderie of the U S team, I believe has translated to a sort of a general uplifting of the UCI brand within gravel. And this idea that, you know, the racing is different. **** - (): It's, it's, it's different and unique in its own way. And the experience is quite powerful, you know, to go to a world level event where you're representing your country, whether it's at an elite level or at the master's level, it's just super exciting. And it's a feeling that compares differently to what it feels like to be at Unbound or SBT Gravel. **** - (): It's its own unique and special thing that I think more US riders are now aspiring to. [00:43:38] - ():  Erwin Verveken: No, I'm sure. So I'm not this. Well, uh, the biggest travel event worldwide and a long tradition and it's, it's, but it's still, uh, I guess a 90 or 95 percent based American event. Participants, uh, they come from many different countries, but The big majority is still American. If you're at the World Championships, you're, first of all, dressed in your national kit, which is fairly prestigious, it's very, yeah. **** - (): Riders are proud, and especially Americans are proud to wear their national colors. Uh, they ride in a team, they travel towards an event, uh, and then you're next shoulder to shoulder at the start grid, next to a British rider, an Italian, a Slovenian, a Belgian, uh, which creates a special atmosphere. Um, and yeah, the first year there was a lot of criticism on the course. **** - (): Um, I agree for a part of it. I was, I wasn't the best course. I was not also, also not a hundred percent convinced on the course this year. It was pure promotion for gravel. Uh, and, and The fact that, uh, yeah, also your best gravel rider, Keegan Swanson, was there. Yeah, it was also a good promotion for our world championships. **** - (): But, yeah, in the end, I'm sure that let him develop a bit longer in an international gravel scene. He'll probably, yeah, he can win the world championships for sure. And then he would be a great ambassador, uh, wearing the, the, the, the, the, the, the rainbow jersey also in the state. So, and our biggest goal is to still, because we have been in talks with USA Cycling to bring the, the World Championships, uh, to, to the States. **** - (): And there were some very interested, uh, organizers, uh, we were very close to a deal, uh, in the first year, but unfortunately, well, then, uh, they were a bit hesitating and, and decided to skip. For the next few years, but then given the very big explosion of gravel racing in Europe, all of a sudden, yeah, it was awarded until now, uh, 20, 28. **** - (): Uh, so it's, uh, uh, yeah, they missed an opportunity. Um, Yeah. [00:45:51] - ():  Craig Dalton (host): Have you, so we know that 2024 will be in Belgium. Have you announced where the roadmap goes in the subsequent years? [00:45:59] - ():  Erwin Verveken: 2025 is France, Nice. So the South of France, uh, 2026 is, is, uh, the seven event in Western Australia. Uh, which is now already part of the, of the, of the UCR gravel. We'll see is 2027 is again, the combined world championships of the UCR, which now took place in Glasgow this past August, and they will then also have gravel. **** - (): Which is again in France, so the Haut Savoie region, which is the Alps. It's, uh, if you see the mountain stages of the Tour de France, so that area, there will be a lot of climbing. Um, that's 2027, and then 2028 is Alula in Saudi Arabia. Uh, which is a big sports city, and they have a big and huge budget, uh, to promote cycling, and especially gravel is one of their key. **** - (): So, um, and then 2029, I know there's a lot of interest. Um, um, and, uh, yeah, hopefully one day I'm sure that if we have a very good candidate in the States, uh, the UCI would be very happy to, to, to have the world championships awarded to, to the States, uh, uh, because, well, in the end, the history of gravel racing is, is, is in, in the U S Midwestern. [00:47:18] - ():  Craig Dalton (host): Yeah. Yeah, absolutely. Erwin, thank you so much for the time. I appreciate learning more about UCI's approach and everything you're doing to promote the sport. Very much appreciate it. [00:47:28] - ():  Erwin Verveken: Well, it's a pleasure. It's, uh, also it was nice talking to an American audience. Uh, uh, so, uh, yeah, happy to, to explain what we are doing and what our plans are for the future years. [00:47:42] - ():  Craig Dalton (host): Amazing. Thanks again. [00:47:44] - ():  Erwin Verveken: Thank you.    

In the first episode of 2024 we look ahead to the next 12 months. The Art Newspaper's acting art market editor Tim Schneider peers into his crystal ball to tell us what we might expect from the coming 12 months in the art market. Then, Jane Morris, editor-at-large, Gareth Harris, chief contributing editor, and host Ben Luke select the biennials and exhibitions they are most looking forward to in 2024.Events discussed:60th Venice Biennale: Foreigners Everywhere, 20 April-24 November; Pierre Huyghe, Punta Della Dogana, Venice, 17 March-24 November; Julie Mehretu, Palazzo Grassi, Venice, 17 March-6 January; Willem de Kooning, Gallerie dell'Accademia, Venice, 16 April–15 September; Jean Cocteau, Peggy Guggenheim Collection, Venice, 13 April-16 September; Whitney Biennial: Whitney Museum of American Art, opens 20 March; PST Art: Art & Science Collide, 14 September-16 February; Istanbul Biennial, 14 September-17 November; Diriyah Contemporary Art Biennale 2024, Saudi Arabia, 20 February-24 May; Desert X 2024 AlUla, Saudi Arabia, 9 February-30 April; Frick Collection, New York, reopening late 2024; Grand Egyptian Museum, Giza, Egypt, dates tbc; IMAGINE!: 100 Years of International Surrealism, The Royal Museums of Fine Arts of Belgium, 21 February-21 July; Centre Pompidou, Paris, 4 September-6 January (travels to Hamburger Kunsthalle, Germany, Fundación Mapfré, Madrid, Philadelphia Museum of Art, US); Paris 1874: Inventing impressionism, Musée d'Orsay, 26 March-14 July; National Gallery of Art, Washington DC, 8 September-19 January; Van Gogh, National Gallery, London, 14 September-19 January; Matthew Wong, Vincent van Gogh, Van Gogh Museum, Amsterdam, 1 March-1 September; Caspar David Friedrich, Kunsthalle, Hamburg, Germany, until 1 April; Caspar David Friedrich, Alte Nationalgalerie, Berlin, 19 April-4 August; Caspar David Friedrich, Albertinum and Kupferstich-Kabinett, Dresden, Germany, 24 August-5 January; Arte Povera, Bourse de Commerce, Paris, 9 October-24 March; Brancusi, Centre Pompidou, Paris, 27 March-1 July; Comics, Centre Pompidou, Paris, 29 May-4 November; Yoko Ono, Tate Modern, London, 15 February-1 September 2024; Angelica Kauffman, Royal Academy, London, 1 March-30 June; Women Artists in Britain, Tate Britain, London, 16 May-13 October; Judy Chicago, Serpentine North, London, 22 May-1 September; Vanessa Bell, Courtauld Gallery, London, 25 May-6 October; Woven Histories: Textiles and Modern Abstraction, Los Angeles County Museum of Art, US, until 21 January; National Gallery of Art, Washington DC, 17 March-28 July; National Gallery of Canada, Ottawa, 25 October-2 March; The Museum of Modern Art, New York, dates tbc; Unravel: The Power and Politics of Textiles in Art, Barbican, London, 13 February-26 May 2024, Stedelijk Museum, Amsterdam, 14 September-5 January; The Harlem Renaissance, Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York, 25 February-28 July; Siena: the Rise of Painting, 1300-50, Metropolitan Museum, 13 October-26 January; Museum of Modern Art, New York, shows: Joan Jonas, 17 March-6 July, LaToya Ruby Frazier, 12 May-7 September, Käthe Kollwitz, 31 March-20 July; Kollwitz, Städel Museum, Frankfurt, Germany, 20 March-9 June; Käthe Kollwitz, SMK-National Gallery of Denmark, Copenhagen, 7 November-25 February; The Anxious Eye: German Expressionism and Its Legacy, National Gallery of Art, Washington DC, 11 February-27 May; Expressionists, Tate Modern, London, 25 April-20 October; Gabriele Münter: the Great Expressionist Woman Painter, Thyssen Bornemisza, Madrid, 12 November-9 February Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Internationally renowned Saudi artist Manal AlDowayan is midway through an ambitious public installation that will be shown in the Valley of Arts, in the desert of north-west Saudi Arabia. She has just returned from collecting stories and drawings from the inhabitants of AlUla, and is starting to transform them into her own artwork. Titled Oasis of Stories, the project pays tribute to the local people of AlUla. She will carve their drawings into her installation, just like their ancestors carved petroglyphs to tell their own stories thousands of years ago.Manal gives Melissa Gronlund a sense of the importance of storytelling and being a memory keeper in a changing society. She also talks about her early work challenging the restrictions on women in Saudi Arabia, such as I Am, which questioned the way women were only allowed to perform certain roles in Saudi society. Melissa hears how one of the country's most established artists is navigating Saudi Arabia's new cultural scene. Producers: Ashley Byrne, Melissa Gronlund and Danielle Manning A Made in Manchester production for BBC World Service

Nic Cartwright and Duncan D'Ewes from CaB Sports answer your questions about the 8-Hour Infinity in Alula in February. We talk payouts, clothing, food, accommodations, flights, course design, and more. Don't forget to Support Us On Patreon to help us continue bringing you exciting content. Links To Follow: The original AlUla article which includes additional links and FAQ can be found here. YouTube Channel: Explore more content on our ORM YouTube Channel for additional insights and behind-the-scenes footage. Listen: You can listen to the podcast here.

In this episode Patrick Broe and Benji Naesen preview Team Jayco AlUla. Our merch has dropped! Custom designs painstakingly crafted by Louemans on t-shirts, mugs and hats with all your favourite catchphrases from the podcast. Check it out at ⁠⁠https://shop.lanternerouge.com⁠⁠ If you enjoy and want to directly support LRCP, you can send us a donation here https://ko-fi.com/lanternerougecyclingpodcast

Monocle's Carlota Rebelo reports from the World Economic Forum's Urban Transformation Summit in Detroit. We hear about a new innovation district in Milan, Boston's 24-hour city ambitions and the master plan for AlUla in Saudi Arabia. Plus: creating pocket forests and mobility in San Diego.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Adjusting the flaps on an airplane's wing allows a pilot to control lift and drag — and the design of these flaps was inspired by the wings of birds. All flying birds have what's called an alula on each wing. At the center of the front edge of the wing is a structure covered with three to five feathers that functions much like a flap on an airplane's wing. The alula helps create lift and also prevents stall when a bird comes in for landing.More info and transcript at BirdNote.org. Want more BirdNote? Subscribe to our weekly newsletter. Sign up for BirdNote+ to get ad-free listening and other perks. BirdNote is a nonprofit. Your tax-deductible gift makes these shows possible.