Jersey Story: Green, like the forest.

Because the forest is where everything slows down. It’s where the noise fades, and you’re left with something real. Out there, you can breathe again. You can think. You can feel. You can reconnect with the part of yourself that life, addiction, or struggle may have tried to take away.

Nature doesn’t judge. It doesn’t rush you. It simply invites you back.

This jersey carries that meaning. It represents healing. Growth. The quiet, powerful process of coming back to yourself. Every ride becomes a reminder that no matter how far you’ve drifted, there is always a way back.

Why gravel? Because gravel is freedom.

It’s the road less defined, the space between structure and chaos. There’s no perfect line, no single way to ride it. You choose your pace. You choose your path. You decide how the story unfolds.

That’s what makes it so powerful. It mirrors life. It mirrors recovery.

Some days you’re pushing the edge. Other days you’re just trying to keep moving forward, and both matter. There’s always another turn, another climb, another chance to begin again.

Gravel gives us the space to explore, to reflect, and to create something meaningful out of the miles.

And for the OpiCure Foundation, it’s more than terrain, it’s a platform. A place where stories are told, lives are rebuilt, and hope is proven, again and again, to still exist.

Country: Netherlands

Jersey Story: I got into cycling thanks to my uncle who had a bike shop specialized in race and MTB; Van Der Velden Wielersport. Unfortunately he passed away a few years ago, but always have been an big inspiration for me with his passion for cycling and travel.

One of my friends Iris Slappendel who worked in the shop as well, was wearing one of his old jerseys from the 90s this winter what got me thinking. We gave it a modern twist but still with the retro style! ;)

Why gravel? Most of my life I have been doing road racing but when I moved to Girona I got into gravel. Thanks to one of TCS’s customers & guide Peter Gaskill, who lent me out his gravel bike.

There was this local gravel race called The Traka that was organizing his first ever event. I was working at The Service Course that partnered up with the Traka. I washed most of the participants bikes because it was pouring raining. I thought next year I will take the day off and do the race myself 😅 and so the year after I started the Traka 200, punctured out for second place, but it began to roll from there.

Jersey Story: This first jersey took me almost two years to get right. Not because gradients are difficult, but because this one had to achieve something specific for the years to come: always staying on point with fashion and color trends. I built this gradient from a black-and-white project, then added color afterwards.

The ultimate goal of SIGNAL is to evolve with the shades and colors of what’s in fashion, and what’s not.

This jersey isn’t a 2026 edition. It’s a long-term, recognizable pattern designed to evolve over time.

Why gravel? Gravel is a better place for personal expression; art and performance mixed.

More than that, it corresponds more to my way of being as an athlete. Long and painful stuff is what I like. Not that I couldn’t find that in road, but I like having it for myself in gravel.

Age: 29
Country: Denmark

Jersey Story: There are two stories behind my jersey.

My first ever jersey was not a cycling jersey but a ballet tricot when I was just six years old. The colour of the tricot was baby pink, just like my Castelli racing jersey. I wanted to connect with that feeling I had with ballet at that time — like I just couldn’t not dance. Cause that’s how I feel about cycling now, and that’s why I race my bike.

Secondly, I worked on farms around Europe for a few years, where I fell deeper in love with nature and got a better understanding of why trees are so fundamental for our very existence.

Why gravel? I did my first ever gravel race in the off season of 2022 on a leased bike, that I had just tested once before the race. It was the most beautiful race I had ever done through Danish forests and a spark was lit.

I think gravel combines the brutality of cycling with nature in a way that’s hard to put into words. I guess it’s where I feel most free, wild and unstoppable.

Jersey Story: My jersey design is inspired by nature and the terrain I spend so much time riding through. I went with a green topographic camouflage look because I wanted something that felt connected to the environment around me.

Gravel racing has taken me through forests, mountains, farm roads, deserts, and places I never would have experienced otherwise, and I wanted that to be reflected in the jersey.

I love how the layered greens and topographic-map patterns almost blend into the landscape. Honestly, part of me is hoping that if I attack during a race, no one will be able to see me because I disappear into the trees!

And green is my favorite color, so that definitely helped too. :)

Why gravel? After my nearly fatal TBI (traumatic brain injury) in 2016, I wasn’t sure what returning to cycling would look like, or if it would even be possible. Gravel felt like the safest way to re-enter the sport.

At the same time, the discipline itself was exploding in popularity, and I had a newfound strange affinity toward putting myself in painful situations for long time. There was something comforting about choosing pain on my own terms.

In gravel, the pain feels purposeful. You decide to line up for 200 miles, knowing it’s going to hurt, but you do it on your own terms.

But beyond the racing itself, I love the atmosphere around gravel. The community is unlike anything else in cycling. People are competitive, but they’re also supportive and welcoming.

Jersey Story: I wanted to design a jersey that, when I put it on, I couldn't help but smile. It's obnoxiously pink, obnoxiously loud, and perfectly Mérida.

I take my professional hype girl role very seriously and I wanted anyone riding past or beside me to know they aren't alone. So I placed "Hype Crew" on the left sleeve, and a Project Fearless heart with flames on my right — because, as cheesy as it sounds, I do wear my heart and emotions on my sleeve.

I'm also so proud of the work Project Fearless is doing, and sometimes when I need to dig deep during a race, I think about the fearless girls we work with and it gives me that extra boost to push hard.

In the inner collar I've hidden more Project Fearless goodness: "stay weird 🫶🏻 proud of you" — and one more hidden message taken directly from a cardboard sign one of the girls made. I scanned it in and we were able to print it directly into the inner back pocket, so it's still in her original handwriting: Be yourself.

Why gravel? Gravel is, for me, absolute freedom. With the right mindset (and tires) you can go anywhere, explore anything, and get out into nature. It's also a great way to tap in while tuning everything out.

The spicier the gravel, the more you have to switch your brain on and just let your body flow. I love that it's a constant dance between puzzling things out and pure intuition — aka the carbon fiber version of horse riding.

Country: Germany

Jersey Story: To me, being part of the cabal and living the spirit of gravel — all of it lowkey feels like a fever dream. A year ago, I never imagined to be here now, to ride with these sick people, to be part of the Castelli gang. Hence, with my jersey, I really wanted to pay tribute to this and show how proud and honored I am. And ofc I had to add some frisky Y2K symbols to make it all the more fun and colorful!

Why gravel? The very first bike I ever rode was a MTB and only after moving to Berlin roughly 10 years ago did I switch to a road bike. While it was fun in the beginning, it never gave me the same feeling I had compared to riding offroad.

It was actually my dad, who also taught me how to ride, that mentioned gravel biking at a time when it was still considered a niche, not even a trend yet. I gave it a shot and tl;dr here we are. Gravel feels like an open playground — it’s what you make it for yourself, it’s not bound to any rules or ideas others may have.

Country: Germany

Jersey Story: I want my jersey to represent power — willpower and physical strength — because both are essential to being a high-level gravel racer. I want to stand out in the peloton because I belong in the gravel world. No matter the results, every ride is part of my journey, and I want to share my story.

My motto is: never give up, keep on going. Your body is capable of more than you sometimes think — it’s the mental strength that makes the difference. But above all, success comes from the fun and passion you carry in your heart.

On top of that, I want my jersey to combine my two worlds: I am a gravel rider, but I am also on my way to becoming a sports and biology teacher. Balancing both isn’t easy, but this jersey is a symbol of strength — it will make it work.

Why gravel? For me, gravel means adventure and freedom while being in nature. It’s about exploring the world with my own power, getting lost in the flow, and experiencing total physical exhaustion — or simply enjoying an easy ride. It is incredibly diverse.

Switching from road to gravel gave me more freedom, a deeper connection to nature, and even more fun and enjoyment. With gravel, my passion for cycling grew even stronger and more intense. And the best part? You can go on bikepacking trips and share unforgettable experiences with friends. 😍