{"id":48385,"date":"2025-10-07T13:13:04","date_gmt":"2025-10-07T12:13:04","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.merlincycles.com\/blog\/?p=48385"},"modified":"2025-10-07T15:30:05","modified_gmt":"2025-10-07T14:30:05","slug":"merlin-cycles-rivington-brewing-co-gravel-team-are-hitting-the-world-stage","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.merlincycles.com\/blog\/merlin-cycles-rivington-brewing-co-gravel-team-are-hitting-the-world-stage\/","title":{"rendered":"Merlin Cycles Rivington Brewing Co. Racing Team Are Hitting the World Stage"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"1024\" data-src=\"https:\/\/www.merlincycles.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/IMG_7829-1024x1024.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-48393 lazyload\" data-srcset=\"https:\/\/www.merlincycles.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/IMG_7829-1024x1024.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/www.merlincycles.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/IMG_7829-768x768.jpg 768w, https:\/\/www.merlincycles.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/IMG_7829-150x150.jpg 150w, https:\/\/www.merlincycles.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/IMG_7829-1536x1536.jpg 1536w, https:\/\/www.merlincycles.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/IMG_7829-2048x2048.jpg 2048w\" data-sizes=\"(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" src=\"data:image\/svg+xml;base64,PHN2ZyB3aWR0aD0iMSIgaGVpZ2h0PSIxIiB4bWxucz0iaHR0cDovL3d3dy53My5vcmcvMjAwMC9zdmciPjwvc3ZnPg==\" style=\"--smush-placeholder-width: 1024px; --smush-placeholder-aspect-ratio: 1024\/1024;\" \/><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p>Five of our team riders are heading to the Gravel World Championships in the Netherlands this weekend, but how have they qualified and what can we expect?<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-the-team\"><strong>The Team<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\"><img decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"683\" data-src=\"https:\/\/www.merlincycles.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/IMG_1763-1024x683-1.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-48394 lazyload\" data-srcset=\"https:\/\/www.merlincycles.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/IMG_1763-1024x683-1.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/www.merlincycles.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/IMG_1763-1024x683-1-768x512.jpg 768w\" data-sizes=\"(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" src=\"data:image\/svg+xml;base64,PHN2ZyB3aWR0aD0iMSIgaGVpZ2h0PSIxIiB4bWxucz0iaHR0cDovL3d3dy53My5vcmcvMjAwMC9zdmciPjwvc3ZnPg==\" style=\"--smush-placeholder-width: 1024px; --smush-placeholder-aspect-ratio: 1024\/683;\" \/><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p>Merlin Cycles Rivington Brewing Co. Racing Team was officially set up earlier this year with support from <a href=\"https:\/\/www.merlincycles.com\/\">Merlin Cycles<\/a>, <a href=\"https:\/\/www.rivingtonbrewing.co.uk\/\">Rivington Brewing Co<\/a>, <a href=\"https:\/\/ldl.lighting\">LDL Lighting<\/a>, <a href=\"https:\/\/www.merlincycles.com\/brand\/kalas\/\">Kalas<\/a>, <a href=\"https:\/\/www.merlincycles.com\/brand\/abus-helmets\/\">Abus<\/a> and <a href=\"https:\/\/www.merlincycles.com\/brand\/abus-helmets\/\">Styrkr<\/a>. and started the season with a few goals in mind. For our gravel riders, it was to reach the worlds which has since been achieved by four of our riders.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<hr class=\"wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity\"\/>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-the-course\">The Course<\/h2>\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\">\n<figure class=\"aligncenter size-full\"><img decoding=\"async\" width=\"376\" height=\"490\" data-src=\"https:\/\/www.merlincycles.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/Capture.png\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-48405 lazyload\" src=\"data:image\/svg+xml;base64,PHN2ZyB3aWR0aD0iMSIgaGVpZ2h0PSIxIiB4bWxucz0iaHR0cDovL3d3dy53My5vcmcvMjAwMC9zdmciPjwvc3ZnPg==\" style=\"--smush-placeholder-width: 376px; --smush-placeholder-aspect-ratio: 376\/490;\" \/><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n<p>Starting in Beek in the Netherlands and finishing in Maastricht, Andy, Si and Tony are set to undergo 130 KM of riding on Saturday while Isac and Paul take on the longer 180km route on Sunday.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<hr class=\"wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity\"\/>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-andy\">Andy<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"1024\" data-src=\"https:\/\/www.merlincycles.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/Andy-Helmet-2-1024x1024.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-48399 lazyload\" data-srcset=\"https:\/\/www.merlincycles.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/Andy-Helmet-2-1024x1024.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/www.merlincycles.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/Andy-Helmet-2-768x768.jpg 768w, https:\/\/www.merlincycles.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/Andy-Helmet-2-150x150.jpg 150w, https:\/\/www.merlincycles.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/Andy-Helmet-2-1536x1536.jpg 1536w, https:\/\/www.merlincycles.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/Andy-Helmet-2.jpg 2000w\" data-sizes=\"(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" src=\"data:image\/svg+xml;base64,PHN2ZyB3aWR0aD0iMSIgaGVpZ2h0PSIxIiB4bWxucz0iaHR0cDovL3d3dy53My5vcmcvMjAwMC9zdmciPjwvc3ZnPg==\" style=\"--smush-placeholder-width: 1024px; --smush-placeholder-aspect-ratio: 1024\/1024;\" \/><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p>Andy, who is Managing Director at Merlin, made it to the top 25% of riders at Graen Cymru this September. In the 50-54 class, he hopes to make it into the top 50, but is most looking forward to watching Paul and Isac take on the longer course on Sunday.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-isac\">Isac<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"1024\" data-src=\"https:\/\/www.merlincycles.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/Isac-Helmet-2-1-1024x1024.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-48400 lazyload\" data-srcset=\"https:\/\/www.merlincycles.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/Isac-Helmet-2-1-1024x1024.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/www.merlincycles.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/Isac-Helmet-2-1-768x768.jpg 768w, https:\/\/www.merlincycles.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/Isac-Helmet-2-1-150x150.jpg 150w, https:\/\/www.merlincycles.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/Isac-Helmet-2-1-1536x1536.jpg 1536w, https:\/\/www.merlincycles.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/Isac-Helmet-2-1.jpg 2000w\" data-sizes=\"(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" src=\"data:image\/svg+xml;base64,PHN2ZyB3aWR0aD0iMSIgaGVpZ2h0PSIxIiB4bWxucz0iaHR0cDovL3d3dy53My5vcmcvMjAwMC9zdmciPjwvc3ZnPg==\" style=\"--smush-placeholder-width: 1024px; --smush-placeholder-aspect-ratio: 1024\/1024;\" \/><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p>Isac will be racing in the 19-34 category this weekend and is most happy about having qualified for the race &#8211; &#8216;My goal for 2025 was to qualify, so I&#8217;m proud to be on the start sheet. A top-50 would would finish off my season nicely.&#8217;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-paul\">Paul  <\/h2>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"1024\" data-src=\"https:\/\/www.merlincycles.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/Paul-Helmet-2-1-1024x1024.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-48397 lazyload\" data-srcset=\"https:\/\/www.merlincycles.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/Paul-Helmet-2-1-1024x1024.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/www.merlincycles.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/Paul-Helmet-2-1-768x768.jpg 768w, https:\/\/www.merlincycles.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/Paul-Helmet-2-1-150x150.jpg 150w, https:\/\/www.merlincycles.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/Paul-Helmet-2-1-1536x1536.jpg 1536w, https:\/\/www.merlincycles.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/Paul-Helmet-2-1.jpg 2000w\" data-sizes=\"(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" src=\"data:image\/svg+xml;base64,PHN2ZyB3aWR0aD0iMSIgaGVpZ2h0PSIxIiB4bWxucz0iaHR0cDovL3d3dy53My5vcmcvMjAwMC9zdmciPjwvc3ZnPg==\" style=\"--smush-placeholder-width: 1024px; --smush-placeholder-aspect-ratio: 1024\/1024;\" \/><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p>Paul is also one of our general managers here at Merlin and achieved his qualifying spot in May this year at Gralloch, Scotland. This weekend he will be competing in the 40-45 category and is prioritising enjoyment over results heading into the race.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-si\">Si<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"1024\" data-src=\"https:\/\/www.merlincycles.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/Si-Helmet-2-1024x1024.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-48401 lazyload\" data-srcset=\"https:\/\/www.merlincycles.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/Si-Helmet-2-1024x1024.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/www.merlincycles.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/Si-Helmet-2-768x768.jpg 768w, https:\/\/www.merlincycles.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/Si-Helmet-2-150x150.jpg 150w, https:\/\/www.merlincycles.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/Si-Helmet-2-1536x1536.jpg 1536w, https:\/\/www.merlincycles.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/Si-Helmet-2.jpg 2000w\" data-sizes=\"(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" src=\"data:image\/svg+xml;base64,PHN2ZyB3aWR0aD0iMSIgaGVpZ2h0PSIxIiB4bWxucz0iaHR0cDovL3d3dy53My5vcmcvMjAwMC9zdmciPjwvc3ZnPg==\" style=\"--smush-placeholder-width: 1024px; --smush-placeholder-aspect-ratio: 1024\/1024;\" \/><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p>Si will be competing in the 55-59 category this weekend after qualifying in Turnhout Belgium in March this year. He&#8217;s hoping to finishing at the &#8216;pointy-end&#8217; of the race.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-tony\">Tony<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"1024\" data-src=\"https:\/\/www.merlincycles.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/Tony-Helmet-2-1024x1024.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-48402 lazyload\" data-srcset=\"https:\/\/www.merlincycles.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/Tony-Helmet-2-1024x1024.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/www.merlincycles.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/Tony-Helmet-2-768x768.jpg 768w, https:\/\/www.merlincycles.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/Tony-Helmet-2-150x150.jpg 150w, https:\/\/www.merlincycles.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/Tony-Helmet-2-1536x1536.jpg 1536w, https:\/\/www.merlincycles.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/Tony-Helmet-2.jpg 2000w\" data-sizes=\"(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" src=\"data:image\/svg+xml;base64,PHN2ZyB3aWR0aD0iMSIgaGVpZ2h0PSIxIiB4bWxucz0iaHR0cDovL3d3dy53My5vcmcvMjAwMC9zdmciPjwvc3ZnPg==\" style=\"--smush-placeholder-width: 1024px; --smush-placeholder-aspect-ratio: 1024\/1024;\" \/><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p>Similar to Si, Tony also claimed his qualifying spot in Turnhout Belgium. In the 50-54 category, he will be taking on the 130km route on Saturday. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<hr class=\"wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity\"\/>\n\n\n\n<p>We wish them the best of luck come the weekend. To find out more about what the Team gets up to click <a href=\"https:\/\/www.merlincycles.com\/blog\/\">here<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-embed is-type-rich is-provider-instagram wp-block-embed-instagram\"><div class=\"wp-block-embed__wrapper\">\n<blockquote class=\"instagram-media\" data-instgrm-captioned data-instgrm-permalink=\"https:\/\/www.instagram.com\/p\/DPgIPbPCEa7\/?utm_source=ig_embed&amp;utm_campaign=loading\" data-instgrm-version=\"14\" style=\" background:#FFF; border:0; border-radius:3px; box-shadow:0 0 1px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.5),0 1px 10px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.15); margin: 1px; max-width:658px; min-width:326px; padding:0; width:99.375%; width:-webkit-calc(100% - 2px); width:calc(100% - 2px);\"><div style=\"padding:16px;\"> <a href=\"https:\/\/www.instagram.com\/p\/DPgIPbPCEa7\/?utm_source=ig_embed&amp;utm_campaign=loading\" style=\" background:#FFFFFF; line-height:0; padding:0 0; text-align:center; text-decoration:none; width:100%;\" target=\"_blank\"> <div style=\" display: flex; 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font-family:Arial,sans-serif; font-size:14px; font-style:normal; font-weight:550; line-height:18px;\">View this post on Instagram<\/div><\/div><div style=\"padding: 12.5% 0;\"><\/div> <div style=\"display: flex; flex-direction: row; margin-bottom: 14px; align-items: center;\"><div> <div style=\"background-color: #F4F4F4; border-radius: 50%; height: 12.5px; width: 12.5px; transform: translateX(0px) translateY(7px);\"><\/div> <div style=\"background-color: #F4F4F4; height: 12.5px; transform: rotate(-45deg) translateX(3px) translateY(1px); width: 12.5px; flex-grow: 0; margin-right: 14px; margin-left: 2px;\"><\/div> <div style=\"background-color: #F4F4F4; border-radius: 50%; height: 12.5px; width: 12.5px; transform: translateX(9px) translateY(-18px);\"><\/div><\/div><div style=\"margin-left: 8px;\"> <div style=\" background-color: #F4F4F4; border-radius: 50%; flex-grow: 0; height: 20px; width: 20px;\"><\/div> <div style=\" width: 0; height: 0; border-top: 2px solid transparent; border-left: 6px solid #f4f4f4; border-bottom: 2px solid transparent; transform: translateX(16px) translateY(-4px) rotate(30deg)\"><\/div><\/div><div style=\"margin-left: auto;\"> <div style=\" width: 0px; border-top: 8px solid #F4F4F4; border-right: 8px solid transparent; transform: translateY(16px);\"><\/div> <div style=\" background-color: #F4F4F4; flex-grow: 0; height: 12px; width: 16px; transform: translateY(-4px);\"><\/div> <div style=\" width: 0; height: 0; border-top: 8px solid #F4F4F4; border-left: 8px solid transparent; transform: translateY(-4px) translateX(8px);\"><\/div><\/div><\/div> <div style=\"display: flex; flex-direction: column; flex-grow: 1; justify-content: center; margin-bottom: 24px;\"> <div style=\" background-color: #F4F4F4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; margin-bottom: 6px; width: 224px;\"><\/div> <div style=\" background-color: #F4F4F4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; width: 144px;\"><\/div><\/div><\/a><p style=\" color:#c9c8cd; font-family:Arial,sans-serif; font-size:14px; line-height:17px; margin-bottom:0; margin-top:8px; overflow:hidden; padding:8px 0 7px; text-align:center; text-overflow:ellipsis; white-space:nowrap;\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.instagram.com\/p\/DPgIPbPCEa7\/?utm_source=ig_embed&amp;utm_campaign=loading\" style=\" color:#c9c8cd; font-family:Arial,sans-serif; font-size:14px; font-style:normal; font-weight:normal; line-height:17px; text-decoration:none;\" target=\"_blank\">A post shared by Merlin Cycles Rivington Brew Co Racing (@merlincycles_rivibrewco_racing)<\/a><\/p><\/div><\/blockquote><script async src=\"\/\/platform.instagram.com\/en_US\/embeds.js\"><\/script>\n<\/div><\/figure>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Five of our team riders are heading to the Gravel World Championships in the Netherlands this weekend, but how have they qualified and what can we expect? The Team Merlin Cycles Rivington Brewing Co. Racing Team was officially set up earlier this year with support from Merlin Cycles, Rivington Brewing Co, LDL Lighting, Kalas, Abus [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":23,"featured_media":48393,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_monsterinsights_skip_tracking":false,"_monsterinsights_sitenote_active":false,"_monsterinsights_sitenote_note":"","_monsterinsights_sitenote_category":0,"jetpack_post_was_ever_published":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_access":"","_jetpack_dont_email_post_to_subs":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_tier_id":0,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paywalled_content":false,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":"","jetpack_publicize_message":"","jetpack_publicize_feature_enabled":true,"jetpack_social_post_already_shared":true,"jetpack_social_options":{"image_generator_settings":{"template":"highway","default_image_id":0,"font":"","enabled":false},"version":2}},"categories":[7,4],"tags":[1817,276,166],"ppma_author":[4675],"class_list":["post-48385","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-merlin-athletes","category-news","tag-gravel-bike","tag-racing","tag-team-gb","author-lucas-smith"],"yoast_head":"<!-- This site is optimized with the Yoast SEO Premium plugin v27.4 (Yoast SEO v27.4) - https:\/\/yoast.com\/product\/yoast-seo-premium-wordpress\/ -->\n<title>Merlin Cycles Rivington Brewing Co. 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