'Gravel is a wild west mentality, largely there are no rules' – as the oldest racer at Sea Otter, Ted King has seen it all

Ted King, the veteran American cyclist and former WorldTour professional, is set to compete as the oldest rider at the Sea Otter Classic gravel race in California. At 43, King brings a wealth of experience across multiple cycling disciplines to a field largely composed of younger competitors. The Sea Otter event, known for its festival atmosphere and diverse race formats, marks the start of the Life Time Grand Prix series and features King alongside his wife Laura, who will also be the oldest competitor in the elite women's gravel race. Having transitioned from a successful road racing career with teams like Cervélo and Cannondale, King has witnessed gravel cycling evolve from a loosely defined niche into a rapidly developing discipline. He recalls the early days around 2016 when gravel was not even firmly established as a category, often described simply as mixed or varied terrain riding. Since then, the sport has grown significantly, driven by industry investment and technological advances such as disc brakes, tubeless tyres, and purpose-built gravel bikes. King highlights the unique "wild west" nature of gravel racing, where few formal rules exist and riders can compete on a wide range of equipment, from homemade bikes to cutting-edge machines. This openness has fostered innovation and attracted a deep pool of talent, including former pros and emerging young riders. King appreciates the autonomy gravel offers compared to road racing, where team tactics and hierarchies often dictate a rider’s role. Gravel allows him to craft his own race programme and enjoy a more independent approach to competition. Despite stepping away from the WorldTour a decade ago, King has maintained and even improved his fitness, recently engaging a coach to sharpen his training. His current performance metrics, such as Functional Threshold Power (FTP) and VO2 Max, surpass those recorded during his professional road career. King attributes this progress to better nutrition, recovery, and a more scientific approach to training, underscoring his continued commitment to competing at a high level in gravel racing.