Nothing to Lose, Everything to Gain: Svenja Betz on Unbound XL, Badlands and Traka 560
episode
Detours: Bikepacking, Ultra-Cycling and Adventures by Bike
55 min
2 speakers
8 chapters
transcribed 1 month ago
Transcript
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Transcript generated automatically by AI and may contain errors.
Who is Svenja Betz and what ultra‑endurance races has she won?
I was honestly racing till the finish. I wasn't sure where Maddie is. And I always thought maybe she's right behind me and I just need to go as fast as I can. Even if I had this stressful time with my school, I was able to train and ride my bike. So I just took this with a like a big appreciating and then yeah, it makes your mind so much happier. So you can just go and you can't really lose anything.
Svenia Betts is a rider I've had on my radar for quite some time. She's won the likes of Unbound XL, not once but twice, along with Badlands and Traka 560. But what's intrigued me most is how she's balanced racing at such a high level with her career. For the past two years, she's been in an intense teacher training program in Germany, finishing her final exams just one week before flying to Kansas to defend her unbound Excel title this year. In this episode of Detours, we talk all about her approach to racing, why having nothing to lose became her secret weapon, the rise of fiercely strong women on the start line, and why she's an open book with all of them. In the Brutal Badlands debut where she begged her mom to pick her up.
We also get into what she's learned about enjoying the experience along the way, not just chasing the wind, and what she's most looking forward to in this next chapter now that her studies are finally done.
My name is Mel Webb and this is Detours, a show about bikepacking, ultra endurance, and the many different ways people find freedom on two wheels. We share the highs, the lows, and of course, the detours along the way. This show is made possible by Albion Cycling, clothing and accessories designed to help you stay outside for longer. You can get 15% off your next order with Albion with our code DTORS15. Alright, on to today's episode with Svenia. I'm just dying a little bit because it is so flippin' hot here and I think it's even hotter in Europe, right?
Yeah, it's finally very hot here. Like there's even the school in the afternoons that's uh like they stopped. Back hitze fry in German.
Well Are you going out riding in the heat? And like if you are, are you the kind of person do you prefer an ice lolly or an ice cream? Like what's your preferred treat to cool down with out there?
I actually do go out because I finally have some time to ride my bike again and I just go out no matter how warm or cold it is. So it's very nice. And on the bike it's always fine. Also here in the Black Forest there's lots of shadow. So the temperatures are actually quite okay. And then I love to just put some water over my face and I I like mostly I don't stop for ice cream, especially when I'm riding alone. I just go through my training and then rather have a a cold coke after.
Fair enough. A cold Coke I think there like there's something about a cold Coke that is just like it's too good.
Yeah, just cold and a bit of sugar feels good.
You mentioned you finally have some time. I know a little bit about you, but can you yeah, like how come you found yourself with more time? I know you've been kind of going through some school and things and like that. Yeah. Uh to like not
Now it's like three weeks ago, four weeks ago. I just finished my last exams to finally become a teacher. Um and it's a pretty tough training program in Germany. It's like one and a half years with lots of like schoolwork to do and like you have more lots of appointments, many things to do. And yeah, I mean I I could ride my bike in between but never with a like free mind or with thinking about what to do next rather sitting on a desk. So finally I'm free and especially free in my mind. Um just going out for some some rides and enjoy the the long rides again. And it feels so good. Like I'm super happy I did this and I've finished it now. But now I'm also super happy that it's done and I can finally be a bit more free in like several ways.
Yeah, so does that mean no more school for the summer and then when school picks up in the fall, will you be officially a teacher in a classroom then?
No, not exactly. Like now it still goes till end of July, like with just my normal class.
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Chapters
8 chapters
1
Who is Svenja Betz and what ultra‑endurance races has she won?
0:01–7:26
2
How did Svenja balance a demanding teacher‑training program in Germany with racing at the elite level?
7:26–14:51
3
What does ‘nothing to lose’ mean to Svenja and how did it become her secret weapon in Unbound XL?
14:51–22:20
4
How did Svenja’s first Unbound XL race go and what lessons did she learn from that experience?
22:20–29:03
5
What challenges did she face during her brutal Badlands debut and how did she overcome them?
29:03–35:48
6
Did winning Unbound XL change Svenja’s sponsorship opportunities and career trajectory?
35:48–42:41
7
What are Svenja’s plans for future races like Traka 560, Taurus, and Atlas, and how is she preparing for them?
42:41–48:58
8
What advice does Svenja give to new ultra‑riders and how does the listener voice‑note illustrate that?
48:58–55:06
Speakers
2 identifiedMore from Detours: Bikepacking, Ultra-Cycling and Adventures by Bike
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Maddy Nutt's Record Breaking Ride at Traka 560
Women of Tour Divide & Hannah's Great Plain Ride