Hello, welcome to King of the Ride podcast. I am your host. I am Ted King. Whether you're a first-time listener or a long-time listener, thank you very much for being here.

Conveniently, you arrived at a barn burner of a conversation. Alexei Vermeulen is our esteemed guest today, as we caught up just recently on the eve

of SBT gravel.

Now chalk it up to his insight or his humility or perspective or maybe just reading the

vibe of the room.

But as much as I preface seemingly lots of these conversations with, quote,

this is the best one yet, you might have stumbled upon the best one yet. Now I won't babble on

with a lengthy intro as to why. I just wanted to say that I'm excited to have someone like Alexi

in this gravel game, as a competitor, as a frenemy, as a compatriot. Because I really like what he's

bringing to the sport. I asked him the day before a big race, like SBT, if he had the time to sit down

and chat. And without giving it a second thought, he was game. He, much like many of our competitors,

has a busy schedule. But he fitted in.

He's not obsessed with putting his legs up and getting his pre-race smoothie and doing a little pre-race meditation.

Whatever it is.

He understands the juggle.

He said yes immediately.

You get to hear all about that in just a second, so please stand by.

Right now, you get to hear me talk for just an instant about AG1.

I start every day with AG1, as I've done for well over a year now.

I love it.

It is simple.

It is tasty.

...