Manon you’ve grown into an excellent presenter and pleasure to watch. Congrats on a great effort. 8th place even with all the filming, the detour, and a crash…on a steel bike with 650B wheels. I guess we shouldn’t be surprised :)
It's interesting that the majority of the comments aren't about the content of the video, but rather Manon's presentation. Clearly GCN has found a presenter who is universally relatable and engaging. And I have to say I'm no different. Every GCN video thumbnail I see featuring Manon is an automatic click for me. Well done finding such a good presenter GCN, I hope Manon is around for many videos to come! (As an aside, I also really like that Manon pronounces SRAM as "Shram". Love it!)
Awesome! Manon’s description of the pacing reminded me of being over my head in collegiate XC racing in the 2000’s. “They must just be sprinting for position from the start”… “this is just their first lap speed, right?”… “how long can they keep this up?!?”
I've spotted you on the Juliet Elliott's video about that race and I'm really happy to have a second point of view about that race (and to spot her in your video too ahah), congrats and since I don't comment often : Thanks you and thanks GCN for the content :)
Great VID! Props to Kona btw....As a former sports editor I have to point out that Manon may have achieved a journalistic first by conducting an interview with a contestant while also competing in a National Title Race. Perhaps Doc Ollie or Conner can chase that down. All hail the Welsh Dragon Queen for a complete report from the field. Your next gravel race? The one tha' rules them all....Unbound Gravel in the Flint Hills of my home state of Kansas, USA. Thanks again!
It's been a while since a GCN pre-race build-up made me almost as nervous, as if I was competing too, and that's because Manon Lloyd has a natural knack for setting the edgy atmosphere and bringing you right into the action. Phew! :-)
Manon is so relatable, she can access her emotions so readily which is awesome. That looked Hard, I saved this video to watch on a Sunday morning and it didn't disappoint. One of the best GCN has made.
First off I have to say I'm a HUGE fan of Manon!!! { I love listening to her speak....{can you say, very Brit accent} and goodness what a beautiful smile!!! So I find her vids to be very educational and this one is no different. This is the first time I've seen a gravel race {road cyclist here} and Manon nailed it as usual. And what a great race you rode!! BRAVO given it was your first gravel race, I admire how you just jumped right into the deep end with the sharks. All in all I found this educational and quite exciting. I found myself cheering you on....GO MANON GO!!!
@@simonworsley8631 SHE DOES!! And yes,....I understand the Welsh not always getting along with the English. We are the UNITED states, but we bicker and argue among ourselves like children. But let an outsider lean on us, or ours,..... and just watch how the bickering stops and we pull together. { Ok, done waving the flag now....} I don't think the Welsh and English have gotten along better than the WWII era. Of course to my knowledge the Irish and Scots don't much like the English either!! {am I wrong?}
I just recently got into gravel cycling and am doing the leisurly ride thing for now. I have raced in multiple other sports though, and seeing Manon going through the whole process of practice, social events, the build up before the race, then properly finishing brought a huge smile to my face. Thank you!
Congratulations Manon! A fantastic effort, throwing yourself in at the deep end and just giving it your all. Really enjoyed watching your recap. Was that a cheeky shot of Juliet Elliott at the end?
Wow great to see this one, GCN made a come back in my book. Last few episodes hard to watch and couldn't follow. This looks like so much fun, well done!!.
Manon is Great! I watched the video and even though I don't have my gravel bike yet, she inspired me to go ride this morning and I did an unplanned 37 miles on my road bike. It was alot of fun and a pleasant ride. She is one of the top three BEST presenters in my opinion.
Well done Manon - " Didn't she do well ! " cf Bruce Forsythe "Generation Game " . Showed great fortitude & guts to even start at the top - A Nat. Championship !!
That looked like so much fun! Great effort Manon and thanks to the whole GCN team for another fantastic video. You guys are really good at what you do. 👏👍
Well done, Manon. Good job! I watched Juliet Elliott's video of the race: she, too, got blisters from clinging to the bars. Maybe there is a gap in the market for more effective gravel race track mitts or gloves!
you were in good company there, Beth Crumpton CX(went off like lightning), Cameron Mason CX, Juliet Elliot youtuber among many others, great video looking forward to your next gravel outing.
Manon, you are the reason the sun shines ... no, wait ... you are the reason I finally subsribed GCN ... such a great video!! so nice to see you doing this. love it! thank you so much! kind regards from germany :)
Gravel certainly isn't king - it's the people! I recently completed my first too. It was absolutely the brutally-best experience I've had on a bike. I'd mention which one but from what I can see they are all amazing. 100% agree with M: literally any type can have fun at a gravel race and [imamoho] a big part of the enjoyment is not only the diversity of terrain but the quality and diversity of people you'll meet.
Well done Monan. It's was not just a race it was filming and talking. That's extra difficult. Looks like fun and something worth trying. Thanks for demonstrating and presenting this.
Great, great video Manon! It felt like we were there with you. Such a cool experience. I don’t have a competitive bone in my body, but videos like this make me ponder the possibilities! Guess I need to start looking for a gravel bike!
Wow Manon, massive kudos for your result. I was impressed even before finding out you competed on a steel tank with 650B wheels. I can’t wait to see you next year on a proper gravel race bike. 👍🏼👍🏼👍🏼👍🏼
as a mountain biker this is so good to hear! Hahah. Don't care about average speed, actually enjoying yourself, adventures. and those tyres are only gonna get thicker, Manon!
Congratulations Manon on your first gravel race, it looks like you had a blast And indeed it looks brutal but fun, make sure you let us know when you’re doing your next one
Awesome. I can very much relate to you falling in love with gravel biking, Manon. Since I got my gravel bike one year ago I am not using my MTB and Road bike anymore. Gravel rocks! 😍🙌
Nicely done Manon. Would suggest The Rift in Iceland next summer but Ollie already has that under his belt for GCN. So might I suggest the solo category for the Cyclothon in Iceland. An ultra endurance event for close to 1400km. The record holder is Chris Burkard finishing somewhere around the 50 hour mark. And dont worry there is also a group category and then it turns into a relay race. Have fun!
I'm from Whatcom County in Washington State (USA) where Kona is based. So cool to see you riding a Kona!! Great effort, hope you go on to race more gravel 😀
Thanks Manon, suffering for the cause of experience!, Interesting to see a gravel race, had wondered what it was, now I think it's a sort of - dare I say tame - long course cyclocross, perhaps without the fun & most of the technical, no steps, hurdles, berms, climbs or descents !
Great Job Manon! Both in the race, but more so on your coverage of the event. Sure it's painful, but you made it look like a lot of fun! We want to see more!
Such a sympathic and authentic presenter. U made this video so interesting to watch. And gravel racing of course interesting for many of the viewers. Cheers!
Absolutely love this vid. So heart warming and encouraging to get out there and have a crack!! I've been a subscriber for years, I'm a gcn+ subscriber and this has to be one of the best ones yet. More of the same content pls Manon!
Well done Manon, as you-and others-have said, a brutal race, sounded like a 2 hour cyclocross race to me. A few of my mates were there-St Neots CC, but all from the over 65 section so you probably wouldn’t have noticed them. I had an entry but managed to fall and break my hip and hand 8 weeks before the event…….oh well, there’s always next year.
Brilliant vid! I remember you next to me as we crossed the finish line (red bike - 15mins 25sec mark) and feeling the exact same as you described! 🥵 Fab event, my first too and stronger/faster next year! 😁 Well done!
So good to see Manon getting out and about on adventures… would be great to see Manon doing the 100 miles in Wales again on her upgraded bike from that trip 🚲
Educational & inspiring. Thank you & well done Manon & GCN! Your positivity, and the nerves, and the challenges - make it all the more relateable. And thanks to Kona. This is absolutely the right way to promote your brand.
Good show Manon !! This is the great thing about gravel and events like this - good fun - and a tough ride and no pelotons, or teams or support crews - no UCI to ruin it. People riding Mountain bikes, Cross bikes, and yes, gravel bikes - and everyone can pedal their behind off for the adventure and experience of it. To me that's what cycling and events like this are all about. Marvelous. Next ? Dirty Kanza ? jk
Great video Manon. Next gravel race? Gravel Worlds - Lincoln, NE or Unbound Gravel - Emporia, KS, USA. GCN has a free place to stay in Lincoln if you come our way!!!
although this might be a bit biased but i love the way Manon presented a gravel event (from pre to the actual race). Great job Manon for sharing to us your "actual" experience and this goes to show gravel cycling has a different experience to offer 😁
Manon is: delightful, positive, smiley, professional, and...totally accomplished! Nice to see Alex there, too. 😃
All of this, plus she's cute as a button and a tenacious athlete. GCN scored a true treasure by having her on the roster.
Yeah, whatever. I would rather see a video of her on a beach holiday.
@Normal As
Fox and grapes, just fox and grapes.
I wish I wrote this comment first
Manon you’ve grown into an excellent presenter and pleasure to watch. Congrats on a great effort. 8th place even with all the filming, the detour, and a crash…on a steel bike with 650B wheels. I guess we shouldn’t be surprised :)
Gravel is really rough if you're only used to road. She did great for her first race!
On Wiki it says she left GCN on July 30, 2024. she was good.
Manon is my favorite presenter. So professional, so inspiring!
It's interesting that the majority of the comments aren't about the content of the video, but rather Manon's presentation. Clearly GCN has found a presenter who is universally relatable and engaging. And I have to say I'm no different. Every GCN video thumbnail I see featuring Manon is an automatic click for me. Well done finding such a good presenter GCN, I hope Manon is around for many videos to come! (As an aside, I also really like that Manon pronounces SRAM as "Shram". Love it!)
Dude, she's cute and a tv natural. The boys don't mind, and neither do the girls.
Mannon is my favourite presenter. Thrilled that she's hooked on gravel biking. That bike Mannon is riding is stunning. They both are.
Thank you 😊
@@manon-lloyd congrats on this first one, i enjoyed this vid .
Manon is brilliant, just love her positive energy! 😃
Awesome! Manon’s description of the pacing reminded me of being over my head in collegiate XC racing in the 2000’s. “They must just be sprinting for position from the start”… “this is just their first lap speed, right?”… “how long can they keep this up?!?”
yep!
Right? Proper XC racers really blow our doors off, how _fast_ those sods go 🤯
Nice 8th place in age group. And 20th overall. Well done for a first gravel race Manon! 👍😉
13:30 That was such an enthusiastic cheer of encouragement! Lol
Hahaha I wanted to point it out, too!😝
Is that supposed to be somehow typical britisch cheering? So gentle and polite...😁
Probably talking about the horse at 13:40.. :-)
@@CL-dh2mf I think the typical british cheering is "up up up". I cringe when I hear it on these videos but I guess it's their thing.
oh I'm not alone in such thoughts :)
lol so enthusiastic
Manon is a fantastic addition to GCN. She is so humble, but obviously a fantastic rider and racer. More, please!
I've spotted you on the Juliet Elliott's video about that race and I'm really happy to have a second point of view about that race (and to spot her in your video too ahah), congrats and since I don't comment often : Thanks you and thanks GCN for the content :)
Always love watching Manon. I feel like I'm getting an honest story.
Great VID! Props to Kona btw....As a former sports editor I have to point out that Manon may have achieved a journalistic first by conducting an interview with a contestant while also competing in a National Title Race. Perhaps Doc Ollie or Conner can chase that down. All hail the Welsh Dragon Queen for a complete report from the field. Your next gravel race? The one tha' rules them all....Unbound Gravel in the Flint Hills of my home state of Kansas, USA. Thanks again!
Agreed! All hail the Welsh Dragon Queen.
So inspiring. I really love Manon
So cool to see someone so sweet and fun trying new things just like many of us! GO Manon!
I admire you Manon. Thank you for sharing your knowledge and experience in track, road and gravel cycling. I believe you are the best.
It's been a while since a GCN pre-race build-up made me almost as nervous, as if I was competing too, and that's because Manon Lloyd has a natural knack for setting the edgy atmosphere and bringing you right into the action. Phew! :-)
Manon as just the best personality. The all GCN crew is awesome. Love it.
Manon is so relatable, she can access her emotions so readily which is awesome. That looked Hard, I saved this video to watch on a Sunday morning and it didn't disappoint. One of the best GCN has made.
That was absolutely inspiring and fun to watch Manon. I have been cycling for years but nothing serious. I want to try races maybe next 2022.
Cross season is starting! Very beginner friendly 😃
Great video. Hooked on gravel at age 65, 3 years ago. Sand, coble, washboard, every type in rural Texas. Well done Manon.
Manon, you are an inspiration. I love your videos. Keep up the great work.
Manon, you have quickly become the best presenter on GCN. Great ride!
She bikepacks - she gravel races, I knew my love for Manon was justified - way to go!
You were pedaling such a high cadence
@@patrickclark4068 get your Hat ….
First off I have to say I'm a HUGE fan of Manon!!! { I love listening to her speak....{can you say, very Brit accent} and goodness what a beautiful smile!!! So I find her vids to be very educational and this one is no different. This is the first time I've seen a gravel race {road cyclist here} and Manon nailed it as usual. And what a great race you rode!! BRAVO given it was your first gravel race, I admire how you just jumped right into the deep end with the sharks. All in all I found this educational and quite exciting. I found myself cheering you on....GO MANON GO!!!
It’s a very Welsh accent to be specific. Welsh people and English people are very different
@@simonworsley8631 Thank you for that Simon... Being a Yank,...listening to her speak is simply the best music to these ears!!
@@sweetlite5314 yes she does have a very easy to listen to Welsh accent. The Welsh don’t always like the English !
@@simonworsley8631 SHE DOES!!
And yes,....I understand the Welsh not always getting along with the English. We are the UNITED states, but we bicker and argue among ourselves like children. But let an outsider lean on us, or ours,..... and just watch how the bickering stops and we pull together. { Ok, done waving the flag now....} I don't think the Welsh and English have gotten along better than the WWII era. Of course to my knowledge the Irish and Scots don't much like the English either!! {am I wrong?}
I just recently got into gravel cycling and am doing the leisurly ride thing for now.
I have raced in multiple other sports though, and seeing Manon going through the whole process of practice, social events, the build up before the race, then properly finishing brought a huge smile to my face. Thank you!
GCN knows how to bring out the best in cyclists. Keep up the good work guys!
Pure GCN gold! Watching this you go "why am I sitting and watching this? I should be riding" and so it happened... went riding. We'll done GCN.
"Olympic champions, and people like me" You're so modest Manon :-)
Way to go Manon! Always love how much excitement and positivity you and the rest of the GCN crew bring to your videos.
Well done Manon! Great to have a go and thank you for bringing the footage back for the video. Great to watch !
Just doing a race that hard - and placing that well! - WHILE FILMING yourself and others? Incredible Manon, absolutely incredible. Great showing!
It was a super impressive ride, and great multitasking too
Manon is always smiling and having fun. Loved the video.
She and Hank are the hearts of GCN!
Well done, Manon! I've seen your journey from when you started and I am so thoroughly impressed!
Great to see Manon in the spotlight! Great result!! Humble=endearing!
TRACKLOCROSS!! Do it Manon! Brakeless fixed gear on gravel and dirt! Nothing could possibly go wrong.
Ohhh Manon! It's such a delight to watch you on every video you are on here on GCN!
Congratulations Manon! A fantastic effort, throwing yourself in at the deep end and just giving it your all. Really enjoyed watching your recap. Was that a cheeky shot of Juliet Elliott at the end?
Wow great to see this one, GCN made a come back in my book. Last few episodes hard to watch and couldn't follow. This looks like so much fun, well done!!.
Excellent film. From the narration of Manon to the calm explanation to the unhurried pacing. Good inside track, Bravo!
What's not to love about Manon?
She conveys the reason why we all ride.... the joy = )
Manon! this is the bike frame (Kona Rove LTD) I've ordered for this winter's build project. This so wonderful to see it rolling. This is so amazing!
@13:29 the most british cheer ive ever heard haha
Manon is Great! I watched the video and even though I don't have my gravel bike yet, she inspired me to go ride this morning and I did an unplanned 37 miles on my road bike. It was alot of fun and a pleasant ride. She is one of the top three BEST presenters in my opinion.
Well done Manon - " Didn't she do well ! " cf Bruce Forsythe "Generation Game " . Showed great fortitude & guts to even start at the top - A Nat. Championship !!
That looked like so much fun! Great effort Manon and thanks to the whole GCN team for another fantastic video. You guys are really good at what you do. 👏👍
Fantastic. Well done Manon, great ambassador for both GCN and cycling generally.
Well done, Manon. Good job!
I watched Juliet Elliott's video of the race: she, too, got blisters from clinging to the bars. Maybe there is a gap in the market for more effective gravel race track mitts or gloves!
That's her at 15:55 isn't it?
agree on this! haven't found a perfect glove or mitt that can absorb that much impact especially in long or bumpy rides
Take a look at mountain bike gloves.
Awesome effort, I can't imagine many other competitors were carrying gopros and doing commentary.
A Lloyd who is actually a beast on the bike…
Manon you are good too
you were in good company there, Beth Crumpton CX(went off like lightning), Cameron Mason CX, Juliet Elliot youtuber among many others, great video looking forward to your next gravel outing.
Manon, you are the reason the sun shines ... no, wait ... you are the reason I finally subsribed GCN ... such a great video!! so nice to see you doing this. love it! thank you so much! kind regards from germany :)
One poor girl had a mechanical right at the start!
Gravel certainly isn't king - it's the people! I recently completed my first too. It was absolutely the brutally-best experience I've had on a bike. I'd mention which one but from what I can see they are all amazing. 100% agree with M: literally any type can have fun at a gravel race and [imamoho] a big part of the enjoyment is not only the diversity of terrain but the quality and diversity of people you'll meet.
Great job Manon.
This looks quite intense and just as fun! Thanks for taking us with you Manon!
Don't know if just me but I felt quite proud of Manon in that. Brilliant video and a great effort. DO ANOTHER ONE MANON!!!
Congrats Manon!! Your enthusiasm for cycling is present in all of your videos and makes them a joy to watch!
Well done Monan. It's was not just a race it was filming and talking. That's extra difficult. Looks like fun and something worth trying. Thanks for demonstrating and presenting this.
Great, great video Manon! It felt like we were there with you. Such a cool experience. I don’t have a competitive bone in my body, but videos like this make me ponder the possibilities! Guess I need to start looking for a gravel bike!
brilliant coverage and brilliant to meet the rather wonderful, articulate and entertaining Manon. Love it and loved your coverage.
Cracking film GCN and especially Manon
Wow Manon, massive kudos for your result. I was impressed even before finding out you competed on a steel tank with 650B wheels. I can’t wait to see you next year on a proper gravel race bike. 👍🏼👍🏼👍🏼👍🏼
Very relatable. I liked the grass roots feel of the event. An honest, down to earth presentation.
Manon, you were inspiring with your attitude and love for cycling
Great race, Manon!!
Though when you said "There's no control on sand" I wanted to say "Ask Ollie to teach you the tricks he learned from J-Pow" LOL
One of the best GCN videos ever, great race, inspiring, well done Manon and team .
as a mountain biker this is so good to hear! Hahah. Don't care about average speed, actually enjoying yourself, adventures. and those tyres are only gonna get thicker, Manon!
Absolutely Awesome! That's inspirational. Thanks Mannon, Alex, and the production crew...
Congratulations Manon on your first gravel race, it looks like you had a blast And indeed it looks brutal but fun, make sure you let us know when you’re doing your next one
Wow!.. Manon on a Gravel Race.. amazing as she is..
The look of fear ( nervousness)at the start on Manons face was absolutely priceless , well done looks like U are hooked 😯
Well done. Really enjoyed watching and hearing about the highs and lows.
Awesome. I can very much relate to you falling in love with gravel biking, Manon. Since I got my gravel bike one year ago I am not using my MTB and Road bike anymore. Gravel rocks! 😍🙌
Great job Monan. It was a joy watching and listening to you.
Manon, you are truly what cycling is all about.
Nicely done Manon. Would suggest The Rift in Iceland next summer but Ollie already has that under his belt for GCN. So might I suggest the solo category for the Cyclothon in Iceland. An ultra endurance event for close to 1400km. The record holder is Chris Burkard finishing somewhere around the 50 hour mark.
And dont worry there is also a group category and then it turns into a relay race.
Have fun!
I'm from Whatcom County in Washington State (USA) where Kona is based. So cool to see you riding a Kona!! Great effort, hope you go on to race more gravel 😀
Thanks Manon, suffering for the cause of experience!, Interesting to see a gravel race, had wondered what it was, now I think it's a sort of - dare I say tame - long course cyclocross, perhaps without the fun & most of the technical, no steps, hurdles, berms, climbs or descents !
This was not representative of most gravel races. Many of them blur the line with what you'd consider mountain bike territory. This...was UCI bull
Great Job Manon! Both in the race, but more so on your coverage of the event. Sure it's painful, but you made it look like a lot of fun! We want to see more!
Just doing my first gravel race next Sunday on my CX bike, looking forward to it.
Wonderful ride Manon!! Congratulations!! First race under your belt, I must say it was epic! Thanks!!
Such a sympathic and authentic presenter. U made this video so interesting to watch. And gravel racing of course interesting for many of the viewers. Cheers!
Thanks Nils! Manon is great 🙌
Absolutely love this vid. So heart warming and encouraging to get out there and have a crack!! I've been a subscriber for years, I'm a gcn+ subscriber and this has to be one of the best ones yet. More of the same content pls Manon!
Manon is great, end of. What a superb video and so natural with the ad-libbed comments along the way
Well done Manon, as you-and others-have said, a brutal race, sounded like a 2 hour cyclocross race to me. A few of my mates were there-St Neots CC, but all from the over 65 section so you probably wouldn’t have noticed them. I had an entry but managed to fall and break my hip and hand 8 weeks before the event…….oh well, there’s always next year.
What a great and inspiring watch this was! Thank you Manon! You’re the best!!! 🙌👌😃
Brilliant vid! I remember you next to me as we crossed the finish line (red bike - 15mins 25sec mark) and feeling the exact same as you described! 🥵 Fab event, my first too and stronger/faster next year! 😁 Well done!
So good to see Manon getting out and about on adventures… would be great to see Manon doing the 100 miles in Wales again on her upgraded bike from that trip 🚲
Educational & inspiring. Thank you & well done Manon & GCN!
Your positivity, and the nerves, and the challenges - make it all the more relateable.
And thanks to Kona. This is absolutely the right way to promote your brand.
Good show Manon !!
This is the great thing about gravel and events like this - good fun - and a tough ride and no pelotons, or teams or support crews - no UCI to ruin it. People riding Mountain bikes, Cross bikes, and yes, gravel bikes - and everyone can pedal their behind off for the adventure and experience of it.
To me that's what cycling and events like this are all about. Marvelous.
Next ? Dirty Kanza ? jk
Great video Manon. Next gravel race? Gravel Worlds - Lincoln, NE or Unbound Gravel - Emporia, KS, USA. GCN has a free place to stay in Lincoln if you come our way!!!
My fav was the 2 GCN presenters standing at the food truck/stall…looking at the food menu….lol…thats sums it all……GRAVEL!!!
Woot for gravelers. Glad to see Manon having fun; need to see more of her adventures.
Very positive, encouraging, empathetic guide. Nice work!
although this might be a bit biased but i love the way Manon presented a gravel event (from pre to the actual race). Great job Manon for sharing to us your "actual" experience and this goes to show gravel cycling has a different experience to offer 😁
The skill is in the edit - that's when the creativity really starts! ;-)
I love my kona rove st. Such a great bike. Glad to see some kona bikes on GCN
Good job Mannon!!!🙌🙌. Bought a gravel bike a month ago, the Kona Rove. Liking that I can ride on the road and then take it on the trails!
Well done Manon, I think you are ready for a cyclo cross race !!
Manon’s experience reminded me of cx racing in the 90’s. Hats off.