THE GRUBERS | Behind Cycling’s Most Iconic Images

Many of you have watched their work evolve over the years, shaping how modern cycling is seen and remembered. I’ve been lucky enough to have a front-row seat to that journey.

Today, I’m joined by Ashley and Jered Gruber — a husband-and-wife photography duo and two of the most influential visual storytellers in the world of cycling. From their early years to the biggest races on the calendar, I’ve watched them quietly shape how the sport looks, feels, and is remembered.

This conversation is an honest look into life inside the peloton. We talk about instinct versus technique, creative doubt, missed shots, and the pressure of making split-second decisions when there are no second chances.

Jered and Ashley open up about working together under extreme stress, following the Tour de France for weeks on end, navigating chaos at Flanders and Roubaix, and why even after all these years, they still feel the urge to try something different.

This isn’t just a conversation about photography. It’s about trust, partnership, curiosity, and earning your place — not by being loud, but by consistently doing the work at the highest level.

This is Part 1 of a three-part series. In the episodes to come, we’ll go deeper into how they met, their early years in cycling, full race-day workflows, and what still inspires them today.

Hope you enjoy this one.

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🇮🇹 Breve introduzione

Due dei più importanti narratori visivi del ciclismo moderno si raccontano in una conversazione intima e senza filtri. Ashley e Jered Gruber parlano di istinto, pressione, fiducia e di cosa significa lavorare insieme dentro il caos del gruppo, dalle Classiche al Tour de France.

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🇩🇪 Kurze Zusammenfassung

Ashley und Jered Gruber gehören zu den einflussreichsten visuellen Geschichtenerzählern im Radsport. In dieser Episode sprechen sie über Intuition versus Technik, kreative Zweifel, Entscheidungsdruck im Rennen und darüber, wie es ist, Woche für Woche im Peloton zu arbeiten.

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CHAPTERS

00:00 – Intro

05:34 – First Dolomites memories & meeting Igor Tavella

08:45 – Most crazy expensive place they’ve slept in the Tour

10:36 – Their favorite photo

11:37 – The shot they still regret missing

15:27 – Cycling’s most underrated roads

18:06 – Post-Tour exhaustion & recovery

20:25 – Favorite races to shoot

23:09 – Technique vs instinct

27:46 – Koppenberg vs Paterberg vs Kwaremont

32:24 – Gear, lenses & race-day survival

37:38 – Planning locations with moto pilots

40:44 – Graham Watson & early inspiration

44:32 – Explaining their job outside cycling

46:05 – Why documentary photography still matters

47:07 – Ending

CONNECT ⁠

Ashley Norris Gruber

https://www.instagram.com/ashleygruber/

Jered Gruber

https://www.instagram.com/jeredgruber/

Igor Tavella

https://www.instagram.com/igortavella/

Ustaria Posta Hotel

https://www.instagram.com/ustariaposta/

https://www.ustariaposta.it/

– HOST –

Søren Jensen, Global Marketing Manager at Castelli, has worked for this iconic brand since 2006. He usually rides backroads and dirt trails, testing new gear in the Italian Dolomites. If you can't find him there, check the Castelli Headquarters in Fonzaso. Connect: https://www.linkedin.com/in/sjensen77/

Check out our new collection: Castelli-cycling.com

SUBMIT YOUR QUESTION

If you want your questions to be answered on air, be sure to submit your questions by sending us a message on social media or by email to ⁠⁠podcast@castelli-cycling.com⁠

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