Club Team

The People Behind the Passion

Meet the Team

Our team is built on dedication, experience, and a shared love for racing. From riders and coaches to support staff and event coordinators, every member plays a vital role in driving success on and off the course. Together, we work to inspire, support, and push boundaries while fostering a strong racing community united by grit, determination, and teamwork.

Join The Journey

Whether you're racing for a podium, a personal best, or simply the finish line, you'll always have teammates in your corner.

True Grit Racing on Instagram

@true.grit.racing
True Grit Racing

@true.grit.racing

True Grit Racing Gravel team Racing the world’s biggest gravel events 🌍 Follow our race season & rider journeys Apply below to join our team
  • We have our first Woman in the Club Racer Team officially onboard! We are excited to announce that Anna will be leading the charge for our women’s club racers! 

Anna, from Cleveland, Ohio, has been riding for just three years and has quickly made her mark in the gravel scene. She has competed at Unbound, Coast to Coast (MI), and numerous local events, most recently finishing 2nd overall female at Magnolia Gravel Galore.

A two-time breast cancer survivor, Anna brings grit, resilience, and a competitive spirit to every event. She’s passionate about growing women’s participation in gravel and encouraging more girls to get on bikes. She feels most at home with dirt under her tires, mud on her face, and a challenge ahead. After a serious crash nearly ended her cycling career last year, she was back on the bike as soon as she was cleared. Her first question to the paramedics after the crash? “Is my bike okay?”

#womenincycling 
#gravel 
#gravelracer
#gravelwomen
  • It took us longer than we thought, and we are very grateful for all the applications we received (apologies if I did not get back to every person), it’s never easy figuring this all out to give our team the best possible chance of success while also selecting folks that are aligned on our values etc.

We are really excited about 2027 and between our Pro and Age Group Racer women, we will be on a lot of podiums and at a LOT of races! 

2027 can’t start soon enough! 🔥 

#gravel #gravelrace #womenincycling #gravelwomen
  • We are very excited to announce our final Female Pro Racer for 2027!! 

Kate started cycling in 2023 after growing up swimming and transitioning to ultrarunning in her 20s. She quickly progressed from Cat 5 to Cat 2 in 2025, then joined a domestic elite team for several nationally recognized road races in 2026.

Kate began riding gravel in 2026 and quickly realized it was right up her alley. She loves the constant grind and longer distances and decided to make the gravel switch for the 2027 season. 

Welcome to the team Kate!! 2027 is going to be awesome! 

#gravelrace 
#womenincycling 
#womengravel 
#gravel
  • We are excited to announce our first Club Racer for 2027!

Matt is originally from New York where he was part of the central park crit racing scene. 

For the last 6 years, he’s been living in Vermont where he’s found his passion for gravel racing. He’s raced at Unbound 200, The Rad, UCI races and will be at Big Sugar this October. In 2027 he’s targeting Gravel Worlds 300 and a UCI Gravel World Champions qualifier slot. At 6’3”, he’s built for big watts for long efforts. 

During the off season, Matt keeps his endurance engine burning with nordic skiing and spends his recovery days future minded building a race van that he says is “almost done”.

Welcome to the team Matt!!
#gravel #gravelrace #truegritracing
  • With our Pro and Age group teams pretty much stacked for 2027, we’re shifting our focus to filling the 8 slots on our Club racer team. Please see the website for details and apply there. 
#gravel #gravelrace #truegritracing #gravelcyclist
  • Our 2027 Men’s Pro roster is officially complete. 🔥

For 2027, Trey Shepard and Kyle Kalish will take on the Men’s Pro field, while Jacob Schneller will represent True Grit Racing in the U23/Pro ranks as one of the emerging young talents in American gravel.

Trey brings experience racing against deep professional fields. Kyle adds a strong road and gravel background and has already represented Team USA in the Elite Men’s field at the 2025 UCI Gravel World Championships. 

At just 21 - Jacob is already proving he belongs at this level. He raced the 2026 Life Time Grand Prix U23 field, finishing 8th at UNBOUND Gravel, only seven minutes off the win in an incredibly competitive field. 

Look for these guys next year as we take on the insanely competitive Lifetime Series in addition to all Major US gravel races. 

#gravel #gravelracing #truegritracing #gravelracer
@treyshepard1 
@kylekalish 
@jacob.schneller by
  • Our 2027 Women’s Age Group roster is officially complete! 🔥

At True Grit Racing, we’re committed to supporting women’s racing and building a team where men and women are represented equally and given the same opportunities.

Laura, Heather, Chavon and Julie are proven competitors and legitimate podium threats, with wins and podiums in their divisions at some of the biggest gravel races in the country.

We’re incredibly excited to see what these four can accomplish together in 2027
#womenincycling #gravel #gravelracing #truegritracing 
@heather_wajer 
@gritgraceandgratitude 
@chavon.r 
@spincess_co
  • Gravel family - help us out please. We need a photographer for some sponsor obligations at @bigsugarclassic 

Please let us know if you know someone that is up for it.

#gravel #gravelrace #truegritracing #livwatches 

@livwatches
  • BIG NEWS: True Grit Racing x ABUS for 2027! 
We are thrilled to announce that True Grit Racing is officially partnering with ABUS for the 2027 season! When every second counts and the terrain throws everything at you, we choose to protect our heads with the gold standard in cycling safety and performance.

Throughout this season, our team will be testing and racing in the absolute pinnacle of ABUS engineering: the GameChanger 2.0 and the AirBreaker 2.0.

The GameChanger 2.0: For those high-speed gravel days where aerodynamics are everything. With the innovative AeroBlade structure and Forced Air Cooling technology, this helmet minimizes drag while keeping us cool under pressure, even when the pace heats up. It’s the ultimate choice for the flat-out, high-wattage race days.

The AirBreaker 2.0: When the course gets vertical and the temperatures rise, this is our go-to. It’s a masterclass in ultralight performance. Designed for elite ventilation and unparalleled comfort, it feels like a tailwind in helmet form. Whether we’re tackling long climbs or technical endurance events, the AirBreaker keeps us focused and cool from start to finish.

We’re proud to bring ABUS’s legacy of German engineering and uncompromising protection to the gravel circuit this year. Huge thanks to the team at @abus_cycling_usa for trusting us to put their gear to the test.

Let’s get after it. 2027, we’re ready.
#TrueGritRacing #abushelmets #GameChanger2 #AirBreaker #GravelRacing
  • We are working hard to secure the best of the best for our team in 2027! We are really excited about this one! Having a brand put their trust in us to partner and show off their products is a big deal!
#cyclinghelmet #gravelracing #gravelrace #gravelracer

@2g_heck
We have our first Woman in the Club Racer Team officially onboard! We are excited to announce that Anna will be leading the charge for our women’s club racers! 

Anna, from Cleveland, Ohio, has been riding for just three years and has quickly made her mark in the gravel scene. She has competed at Unbound, Coast to Coast (MI), and numerous local events, most recently finishing 2nd overall female at Magnolia Gravel Galore.

A two-time breast cancer survivor, Anna brings grit, resilience, and a competitive spirit to every event. She’s passionate about growing women’s participation in gravel and encouraging more girls to get on bikes. She feels most at home with dirt under her tires, mud on her face, and a challenge ahead. After a serious crash nearly ended her cycling career last year, she was back on the bike as soon as she was cleared. Her first question to the paramedics after the crash? “Is my bike okay?”

#womenincycling 
#gravel 
#gravelracer
#gravelwomen
We have our first Woman in the Club Racer Team officially onboard! We are excited to announce that Anna will be leading the charge for our women’s club racers! Anna, from Cleveland, Ohio, has been riding for just three years and has quickly made her mark in the gravel scene. She has competed at Unbound, Coast to Coast (MI), and numerous local events, most recently finishing 2nd overall female at Magnolia Gravel Galore. A two-time breast cancer survivor, Anna brings grit, resilience, and a competitive spirit to every event. She’s passionate about growing women’s participation in gravel and encouraging more girls to get on bikes. She feels most at home with dirt under her tires, mud on her face, and a challenge ahead. After a serious crash nearly ended her cycling career last year, she was back on the bike as soon as she was cleared. Her first question to the paramedics after the crash? “Is my bike okay?” #womenincycling #gravel #gravelracer #gravelwomen
2 weeks ago
View on Instagram |
1/10
It took us longer than we thought, and we are very grateful for all the applications we received (apologies if I did not get back to every person), it’s never easy figuring this all out to give our team the best possible chance of success while also selecting folks that are aligned on our values etc.

We are really excited about 2027 and between our Pro and Age Group Racer women, we will be on a lot of podiums and at a LOT of races! 

2027 can’t start soon enough! 🔥 

#gravel #gravelrace #womenincycling #gravelwomen
It took us longer than we thought, and we are very grateful for all the applications we received (apologies if I did not get back to every person), it’s never easy figuring this all out to give our team the best possible chance of success while also selecting folks that are aligned on our values etc. We are really excited about 2027 and between our Pro and Age Group Racer women, we will be on a lot of podiums and at a LOT of races! 2027 can’t start soon enough! 🔥 #gravel #gravelrace #womenincycling #gravelwomen
2 weeks ago
View on Instagram |
2/10
We are very excited to announce our final Female Pro Racer for 2027!! 

Kate started cycling in 2023 after growing up swimming and transitioning to ultrarunning in her 20s. She quickly progressed from Cat 5 to Cat 2 in 2025, then joined a domestic elite team for several nationally recognized road races in 2026.

Kate began riding gravel in 2026 and quickly realized it was right up her alley. She loves the constant grind and longer distances and decided to make the gravel switch for the 2027 season. 

Welcome to the team Kate!! 2027 is going to be awesome! 

#gravelrace 
#womenincycling 
#womengravel 
#gravel
We are very excited to announce our final Female Pro Racer for 2027!! Kate started cycling in 2023 after growing up swimming and transitioning to ultrarunning in her 20s. She quickly progressed from Cat 5 to Cat 2 in 2025, then joined a domestic elite team for several nationally recognized road races in 2026. Kate began riding gravel in 2026 and quickly realized it was right up her alley. She loves the constant grind and longer distances and decided to make the gravel switch for the 2027 season. Welcome to the team Kate!! 2027 is going to be awesome! #gravelrace #womenincycling #womengravel #gravel
2 weeks ago
View on Instagram |
3/10
We are excited to announce our first Club Racer for 2027!

Matt is originally from New York where he was part of the central park crit racing scene. 

For the last 6 years, he’s been living in Vermont where he’s found his passion for gravel racing. He’s raced at Unbound 200, The Rad, UCI races and will be at Big Sugar this October. In 2027 he’s targeting Gravel Worlds 300 and a UCI Gravel World Champions qualifier slot. At 6’3”, he’s built for big watts for long efforts. 

During the off season, Matt keeps his endurance engine burning with nordic skiing and spends his recovery days future minded building a race van that he says is “almost done”.

Welcome to the team Matt!!
#gravel #gravelrace #truegritracing
We are excited to announce our first Club Racer for 2027! Matt is originally from New York where he was part of the central park crit racing scene. For the last 6 years, he’s been living in Vermont where he’s found his passion for gravel racing. He’s raced at Unbound 200, The Rad, UCI races and will be at Big Sugar this October. In 2027 he’s targeting Gravel Worlds 300 and a UCI Gravel World Champions qualifier slot. At 6’3”, he’s built for big watts for long efforts. During the off season, Matt keeps his endurance engine burning with nordic skiing and spends his recovery days future minded building a race van that he says is “almost done”. Welcome to the team Matt!! #gravel #gravelrace #truegritracing
3 weeks ago
View on Instagram |
4/10
With our Pro and Age group teams pretty much stacked for 2027, we’re shifting our focus to filling the 8 slots on our Club racer team. Please see the website for details and apply there. 
#gravel #gravelrace #truegritracing #gravelcyclist
With our Pro and Age group teams pretty much stacked for 2027, we’re shifting our focus to filling the 8 slots on our Club racer team. Please see the website for details and apply there. #gravel #gravelrace #truegritracing #gravelcyclist
3 weeks ago
View on Instagram |
5/10
Our 2027 Men’s Pro roster is officially complete. 🔥

For 2027, Trey Shepard and Kyle Kalish will take on the Men’s Pro field, while Jacob Schneller will represent True Grit Racing in the U23/Pro ranks as one of the emerging young talents in American gravel.

Trey brings experience racing against deep professional fields. Kyle adds a strong road and gravel background and has already represented Team USA in the Elite Men’s field at the 2025 UCI Gravel World Championships. 

At just 21 - Jacob is already proving he belongs at this level. He raced the 2026 Life Time Grand Prix U23 field, finishing 8th at UNBOUND Gravel, only seven minutes off the win in an incredibly competitive field. 

Look for these guys next year as we take on the insanely competitive Lifetime Series in addition to all Major US gravel races. 

#gravel #gravelracing #truegritracing #gravelracer
@treyshepard1 
@kylekalish 
@jacob.schneller by
Our 2027 Men’s Pro roster is officially complete. 🔥 For 2027, Trey Shepard and Kyle Kalish will take on the Men’s Pro field, while Jacob Schneller will represent True Grit Racing in the U23/Pro ranks as one of the emerging young talents in American gravel. Trey brings experience racing against deep professional fields. Kyle adds a strong road and gravel background and has already represented Team USA in the Elite Men’s field at the 2025 UCI Gravel World Championships. At just 21 - Jacob is already proving he belongs at this level. He raced the 2026 Life Time Grand Prix U23 field, finishing 8th at UNBOUND Gravel, only seven minutes off the win in an incredibly competitive field. Look for these guys next year as we take on the insanely competitive Lifetime Series in addition to all Major US gravel races. #gravel #gravelracing #truegritracing #gravelracer @treyshepard1 @kylekalish @jacob.schneller by
3 weeks ago
View on Instagram |
6/10
Our 2027 Women’s Age Group roster is officially complete! 🔥

At True Grit Racing, we’re committed to supporting women’s racing and building a team where men and women are represented equally and given the same opportunities.

Laura, Heather, Chavon and Julie are proven competitors and legitimate podium threats, with wins and podiums in their divisions at some of the biggest gravel races in the country.

We’re incredibly excited to see what these four can accomplish together in 2027
#womenincycling #gravel #gravelracing #truegritracing 
@heather_wajer 
@gritgraceandgratitude 
@chavon.r 
@spincess_co
Our 2027 Women’s Age Group roster is officially complete! 🔥 At True Grit Racing, we’re committed to supporting women’s racing and building a team where men and women are represented equally and given the same opportunities. Laura, Heather, Chavon and Julie are proven competitors and legitimate podium threats, with wins and podiums in their divisions at some of the biggest gravel races in the country. We’re incredibly excited to see what these four can accomplish together in 2027 #womenincycling #gravel #gravelracing #truegritracing @heather_wajer @gritgraceandgratitude @chavon.r @spincess_co
3 weeks ago
View on Instagram |
7/10
Gravel family - help us out please. We need a photographer for some sponsor obligations at @bigsugarclassic 

Please let us know if you know someone that is up for it.

#gravel #gravelrace #truegritracing #livwatches 

@livwatches
Gravel family - help us out please. We need a photographer for some sponsor obligations at @bigsugarclassic Please let us know if you know someone that is up for it. #gravel #gravelrace #truegritracing #livwatches @livwatches
4 weeks ago
View on Instagram |
8/10
BIG NEWS: True Grit Racing x ABUS for 2027! 
We are thrilled to announce that True Grit Racing is officially partnering with ABUS for the 2027 season! When every second counts and the terrain throws everything at you, we choose to protect our heads with the gold standard in cycling safety and performance.

Throughout this season, our team will be testing and racing in the absolute pinnacle of ABUS engineering: the GameChanger 2.0 and the AirBreaker 2.0.

The GameChanger 2.0: For those high-speed gravel days where aerodynamics are everything. With the innovative AeroBlade structure and Forced Air Cooling technology, this helmet minimizes drag while keeping us cool under pressure, even when the pace heats up. It’s the ultimate choice for the flat-out, high-wattage race days.

The AirBreaker 2.0: When the course gets vertical and the temperatures rise, this is our go-to. It’s a masterclass in ultralight performance. Designed for elite ventilation and unparalleled comfort, it feels like a tailwind in helmet form. Whether we’re tackling long climbs or technical endurance events, the AirBreaker keeps us focused and cool from start to finish.

We’re proud to bring ABUS’s legacy of German engineering and uncompromising protection to the gravel circuit this year. Huge thanks to the team at @abus_cycling_usa for trusting us to put their gear to the test.

Let’s get after it. 2027, we’re ready.
#TrueGritRacing #abushelmets #GameChanger2 #AirBreaker #GravelRacing
BIG NEWS: True Grit Racing x ABUS for 2027! We are thrilled to announce that True Grit Racing is officially partnering with ABUS for the 2027 season! When every second counts and the terrain throws everything at you, we choose to protect our heads with the gold standard in cycling safety and performance. Throughout this season, our team will be testing and racing in the absolute pinnacle of ABUS engineering: the GameChanger 2.0 and the AirBreaker 2.0. The GameChanger 2.0: For those high-speed gravel days where aerodynamics are everything. With the innovative AeroBlade structure and Forced Air Cooling technology, this helmet minimizes drag while keeping us cool under pressure, even when the pace heats up. It’s the ultimate choice for the flat-out, high-wattage race days. The AirBreaker 2.0: When the course gets vertical and the temperatures rise, this is our go-to. It’s a masterclass in ultralight performance. Designed for elite ventilation and unparalleled comfort, it feels like a tailwind in helmet form. Whether we’re tackling long climbs or technical endurance events, the AirBreaker keeps us focused and cool from start to finish. We’re proud to bring ABUS’s legacy of German engineering and uncompromising protection to the gravel circuit this year. Huge thanks to the team at @abus_cycling_usa for trusting us to put their gear to the test. Let’s get after it. 2027, we’re ready. #TrueGritRacing #abushelmets #GameChanger2 #AirBreaker #GravelRacing
4 weeks ago
View on Instagram |
9/10
We are working hard to secure the best of the best for our team in 2027! We are really excited about this one! Having a brand put their trust in us to partner and show off their products is a big deal!
#cyclinghelmet #gravelracing #gravelrace #gravelracer

@2g_heck
We are working hard to secure the best of the best for our team in 2027! We are really excited about this one! Having a brand put their trust in us to partner and show off their products is a big deal! #cyclinghelmet #gravelracing #gravelrace #gravelracer @2g_heck
1 month ago
View on Instagram |
10/10