Tom Danielson's Unified, Mixed-Gender Team Strategy Helped Cinch Cycling Team Put Privateers On The Back Foot At 2021 UNBOUND

Michael speaks to Tom Danielson at the Alma check point 68 miles into the 2021 UNBOUND Gravel. Tom Danielson directs the new Cinch Cycling program. At the time of the interview, Flavia Oliveria and Lauren de Crescenzo had just passed through the checkpoint with a substantial gap on the rest of the women's field.

Danielson explains that despite the team's mixed-gender roster, De Crescenzo was the team leader, and it was everybody's job to set her up for success.

Oliveria, a Brazilian rider with a top ten finish in the 2016 Olympics led the women's field in the early stages of the race before handing the lead off to Crescenzo, who would go on to win the race over privateer and defending champion Amity Rockwell.

The team tactics of Cinch paid off, giving Crescenzo an emotional victory.

The sport of gravel racing is still in its development, with most top stars opting to race as individuals, or privateers. The unified team mission which Cinch executed at UNBOUND put privateers on the back foot.