Midfield Report No. 15 | Kylee Hanel
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Kylie Hanel, a 21-year-old U23 gravel racer from Portland, Oregon, is making waves in the gravel world after winning the U23 Lifetime Grand Prix race at Sea Otter—her first-ever gravel race and first Lifetime Grand Prix event. Despite being banned from gravel racing until age 18 by her dad, she found her footing through local cycling teams and a pivotal moment when Tour de France legend Chris Horner told her she had potential. Now riding for Cervelo in gravel and Aegis Leaders of Enchantment on the road, Kylie balances college (online business administration with a sports management minor), elite racing, and a growing sponsorship portfolio. Her Sea Otter win came after a crash during recon, forcing her to race blind, yet she still managed a 22nd-place finish overall in elite women and a dominant U23 victory. She’s now laser-focused on the U23 Grand Prix, with upcoming races at Levi’s Gran Fondo and Tour of the Gila before Unbound Gravel, where she’ll race in her own corral. Kylie’s story is one of resilience, strategic flexibility, and a deep belief that how you win matters as much as winning at all costs—she’s quick to share bottles and help others cross the line, not just chase personal glory. Her journey underscores a growing shift in women’s cycling: young athletes like Kylie are no longer just chasing podiums, but building sustainable careers through dual team commitments, smart sponsorship choices, and a focus on long-term development.
Kylie Hanel won her first U23 Lifetime Grand Prix race at Sea Otter despite crashing during course recon and racing blind, finishing 22nd overall in elite women.
She’s balancing college (online business administration) with elite racing, proving that academic flexibility and remote learning can support athletic ambition.
Kylie rides for two separate teams—Aegis Leaders of Enchantment on road and Cervelo for gravel—showing how dual sponsorship models are enabling young athletes to pursue multiple disciplines.
Her coach emphasizes rest as a performance tool, a lesson learned after stress fractures from overtraining in running.
She believes 'how you win' matters as much as winning—she’s known for sharing bottles and helping others cross the finish line, not just chasing personal victory.
…and 3 more takeaways available in PodZeus
Welcome to the Midfield Report & Sponsor Intro
Amanda Sheik introduces the 15th episode of Groadio's Midfield Report, welcoming Kylie Hanel as a guest. The episode is sponsored by Cycle Limited, an online bike retailer that owns and preps its inventory for quality and transparency.
Kylie's Sea Otter Victory & U23 Grand Prix Lead
“I was with the front bunch until the climb on the first lap. And then Emma Langley, someone from Speedblock and I like we all we worked our way back to the group.”
From Soccer to Gravel: Kylie's Athletic Journey
Kylie shares her background—playing soccer and basketball until age 12, then discovering cycling through her dad. She began racing locally with the DIALED team and found her passion in gravel after being banned until age 18.
The Turning Point: Chris Horner’s Mentorship
“He pulled me aside at the end of the trip and said, you know, Kylie, you could be like, you have potential.”
Dual Team Commitments: Road vs. Gravel
Kylie explains her dual team setup: Aegis Leaders of Enchantment for road racing and Cervelo for gravel. She clarifies that while teammates, they race independently due to funding constraints.
“I mean, there have been multiple races where I've given people my extra bottle and these people who have crossed the finish line before me. Because I personally, I don't want to win because someone else wasn't at their best.”
“He pulled me aside at the end of the trip and said, you know, Kylie, you could be like, you have potential.”
“themselves. I'm like, guys, you can't just say if something's coming up. They would just... Anyway, it's not like Rhodes. Rhodes, you communicate. They did not.”
Host
Guest
kylie hanel
person
amanda sheik
person
cervelo
brand
sea otter classic
other
cycle limited
brand
lauren stevens
person
aegis leaders of enchantment
other
unbound gravel
other
michael engelman
person
chris horner
person
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