Clara Kloppenburg: Pioneering Her New Path In Gravel Racing

"I'm Clara Kloppenburg, hailing from the rolling hills of southern Germany. After 11 years of competing professionally on the road, I’m now joining Tudor Pro Cycling to race Gravel events.“ Clara’s journey is one of courage for a new path in pro cycling, personal reinvention and passion for two wheels.

04.02.2026

Having tried everything from track and field to horse riding, basketball, and soccer, she found her true calling at eighteen: "I explored everything before discovering my true passion: road cycling." For more than a decade, Clara raced on the road for various teams, competed and succeed on the highest level of professional women’s road cycling, but this past summer, she felt a stirring for something different.

"This summer, I felt I needed a change. I signed up for my first Gravel race."

"This summer, I felt I needed a change. I signed up for my first Gravel race in Girona/Spain in September. Organizing everything myself, from the feed zone to logistics, was completely new. During the race, I gave it my all and finished completely exhausted, but incredibly happy.“

"When I heard they were looking for a new Gravel rider last year, I felt it had to be me - there was no other option.“

Clara’s connection to Tudor Pro Cycling runs deep. "I've known Tudor Pro Cycling since their early days as Swiss Racing Academy. When I heard they were looking for a new Gravel rider last year, I felt it had to be me - there was no other option.“

And it worked out, her belief paid off: "I'm so grateful they were open to having me join the team. For now, I'm grateful for everything and want to represent the team as well as I can.“

Tudor Pro Cycling's Gravel Riders: Clara Koppenburg and Jan Stöckli

Team spirit and camaraderie are at the heart of Clara’s first experience with the Team: “Everyone welcomed me so warmly, it immediately felt like being part of a big family. Together with my new Team mate Jan Stöckli, I believe we make a great Team.“

But Gravel racing is not just about teamwork; it’s about resilience and adaptability. "Gravel racing is unpredictable - so much can happen. While strength matters, luck and resilience are essential. There are no set team tactics; if you have a flat tire, you fix it yourself. If you’re dropped 10 km from the finish line, you still push on, because the leader might have a problem and you can catch up again. Every race presents new challenges and surprises, which makes it so interesting. You can never just rest on the bike.“

"My main goal is to rediscover myself!"

After years of hard work, Clara is focused on joy and discovering a new path in professional cycling: "My main goal is to rediscover myself. Over the last two years, I’ve put in so much hard work and training, but I lost some of my joy in racing. Races should always feel like the cherry on top. Now, I want to truly enjoy racing again. I want to be proud of my effort and value each new experience. As long as I’m happy on the bike and enjoy racing, I believe the results will follow naturally.“

Looking ahead to races across the globe, Clara’s ambition remains clear:

"I hope to inspire many women to join the sport, to show them they don’t need to be afraid of taking on new challenges and leave the comfort zone sometimes. We women are strong and can achieve a lot. I want to spread the message: everyone should jump on a bike and have fun."

Clara’s story isn’t just about taking on Gravel racing - it’s about finding happiness, embracing unpredictability, and empowering others to ride alongside her.