Keegan Swenson’s Tips on Racing, Mindset, Injury, and New Bike Testing | Ask a Cycling Coach Podcast 576

🚀Try TrainerRoad risk-free! 👉 ⁠www.TrainerRoad.com⁠

🤝Join the TrainerRoad Zwift Club 🚴 https://trainerroad.cc/TRzwiftclub

// SHARE AND RATE THE PODCAST!

iTunes: ⁠https://trainerroad.cc/apple2⁠

Spotify: ⁠https://trainerroad.cc/spotify2⁠

Google Podcasts: ⁠https://trainerroad.cc/google⁠

// TOPICS COVERED

(00:00:00) Welcome!

(00:00:46) What it’s like to race with a broken pelvis

(00:06:27) How do you reset your season after injury?

(00:10:04) How do pros handle frustration after setbacks?

(00:12:33) What can you train while recovering from injury?

(00:19:01) Should your race goals change after injury?

(00:20:31) How should you approach non-priority races?

(00:24:58) Can a race still be valuable if you’re not peaking?

(00:30:05) What gravel tires are pros choosing right now?

(00:32:02) How do you choose the right saddle width?

(00:34:37) How do you dial in fit on a new bike?

(00:36:06) What did Keegan learn from wind tunnel testing?

(00:37:44) Will team tactics change gravel racing?

(00:40:20) Valley of Tears Gravel Race

(00:41:35) Diverge vs Crux: which gravel bike is faster?

Coach Jonathan talks with Keegan Swenson about racing Santa Vall while unknowingly dealing with a fractured pelvis after getting doored, and how that derailment forced a quick reset when a major goal like Cape Epic disappeared. Keegan explains how he managed the mental spiral, reframed the setback as a chance to preserve the season’s bigger targets (Sea Otter, Unbound, Worlds), and focused on what he could control: recovery, easy aerobic work, fixing imbalances, and dialing fit and new equipment after a brand change. They also cover how to approach “non-A” races with intention—fueling, tactics, and setup experiments—without letting the result define you, then finish with quick gear talk on tires, saddles, and why team dynamics could shake up gravel this year.

// RESOURCES MENTIONED

- Keegan Swenson’s Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/keegels99

- Sign up for TrainerRoad! ⁠https://trainerroad.cc/GetFaster⁠

- Follow TrainerRoad on Instagram 📸 https://www.instagram.com/TrainerRoad

- Join the TrainerRoad Zwift Club 🚴 ⁠https://trainerroad.cc/trzwiftclub⁠

// TRY TRAINERROAD RISK FREE FOR 30 DAYS!

https://trainerroad.cc/GetFaster⁠ TrainerRoad is the #1 cycling training app. No other cycling app is more effective. Over 17,000 positive reviews, a 4.9 star App Store rating.

// HELPFUL LINKS

- Have a question for the podcast? Ask here: https://www.TrainerRoad.com/podcast

- TrainerRoad on Instagram: ⁠https://www.instagram.com/trainerroad/⁠

- TrainerRoad Forum: ⁠https://trainerroad.cc/3uHvLnE⁠

- TrainerRoad on Strava: ⁠https://www.strava.com/clubs/trainerroad⁠

- TrainerRoad on Facebook: ⁠https://www.facebook.com/TrainerRd⁠

- TrainerRoad on X: ⁠https://www.x.com/TrainerRoad⁠

- Learn more about TrainerRoad: ⁠https://trainerroad.cc/3LBb5Ur⁠⁠

- Listen to the Successful Athletes Podcast: ⁠https://trainerroad.cc/3JmKrN5⁠

- Listen to the Science of Getting Faster Podcast: ⁠https://trainerroad.cc/3LpuIhP⁠

- Training Blog: ⁠https://trainerroad.cc/3gCdNdN