La Épica Gravel Grinder runs March 26–28, 2027 from Ponce, Puerto Rico. Its competitive general classification combines a required 170-kilometre queen stage on Saturday with a required 112-kilometre eight-lap circuit stage on Sunday; Friday’s criterium is optional.
This eight-week Time-Crunched plan narrows the work to repeatable race efforts, one purposeful endurance ride, and hot-weather pacing, mixed-surface control, and overnight recovery. The compressed runway protects recovery while still proving food, fluid, tire, repair, and pacing decisions before race week. Recovery remains deliberate throughout the compressed build.
175.2 MI · N/A FT CLIMBING · THE ORGANIZER DESCRIBES COASTAL GRAVEL SECTORS, AGRICULTURAL · 8 WEEKS · 4–6 HR/WK · TIME-CRUNCHED
WHAT'S INSIDE
- Structured workouts on your calendar, with real power and heart-rate graphs
- Strength work built in, with video walkthroughs
- Weekly notes from me, plus the Gravel Grit mental program
- A testing week, so the plan runs on your real numbers
- The full La Épica Gravel Grinder guide — terrain, gearing, fueling
Hey, I'm Matti. I spent 11 years at TrainingPeaks, where they trusted me to teach coaches how to coach at TrainingPeaks University. I raced Amateur Elite with Rio Grande Cycling Team and podiumed my age group at Unbound 200 in 2026. I have a degree in biology and exercise physiology from St. Olaf. I'm also a middle-aged dad of three, so I know training doesn't happen in a vacuum. I help gravel riders get stupidly fast without becoming the person who brings a food scale to a party