Panache 2024
The defining moments of a remarkable season.
21 December 2024
Red Bull PhotographyGraeme Murray / Red Bull Content Pool
Panache, the word that defines out-there exploits of courage and desire, rolling on instinct and riding beyond limits. It’s what underlines cycling’s beauty — it’s why we love the sport.
As 2024 sweeps down the home straight, we’re celebrating the greatest moments of the year, the brilliance and bravery that makes cycling so magical. From Alpe d’Huez to the Maasai Mara, we’ve witnessed a multitude of amazing exploits, more than we could mention in this top ten. But here we go.
Around the World in 108 days – Lael Wilcox
“I had so much fun — felt like I could’ve just kept riding forever.”
Another year, another world record. Alaskan bike adventurer Lael Wilcox has spent more than a decade pushing beyond limits, but this year circumnavigated the planet in one sitting, smashing the current record by over a fortnight. And she’s not finished there, watch out for more outlandish escapades of endurance coming very soon.
The Missile’s Milestone – Mark Cavendish
“You go as hard as you can until you get to the finish line. Maybe your life changes if you cross that line first.”
Sir Mark Cavendish won his first Tour stage in 2008 and hasn’t looked back. At 39 he is the epitome of the professional. Stage 35 didn’t come easily, however: Cav, without his leadout train, found himself surfing the wheels, flying on experience and racing instinct. Pure speed, absolute class. Chapeau.
Uncle Unconventional – Lachlan Morton
“I did it in my own style and stayed true to the way I like to ride.”
One racer who is truly riding his own path is Lachlan Morton. The Australian’s pioneering spirit is central to everything we love about cycling and the ever evolving world of mixed terrain riding. Unbound in Kansas, USA is the world’s premier gravel clash and Lachy jumped from the bunch at mile 104 to ride the perfect race and record the fastest ever victory here. We doff our caps to the People’s Champ.
Amazing Gracey – Gracey Hemstreet
“It’s honestly insane. Watching the other girls doesn’t make you feel any better... It was just gnarly.”
Gracey Hemstreet made history in February as the first woman to win the Red Bull Hardline. The course in Tasmania included a 75-foot canyon gap, a 10+ metre vertical drop, steep berms, and 575 m of vertical descent over its 2.3 km length. Hemstreet, from British Columbia, joined the race as a late entry and completed a flawless final run.
Bright Futures – Xaverine Nirere
"I realized it was just me"
Xaverine has been racing on gravel professionally for just over two years. The 21-year-old Rwandese rider is blazing the trails for other young Africans, establishing Iten, Kenya as both the Home of Champions and the Home of Cycling. This season the Team AMANI rider took the first stage of Migration Gravel Race, riding race favourite and fellow Rapha athlete Sarah Sturm* off her wheel in the process.
*Sarah, we love you.
Going for Gold – Kristen Faulkner
“It was always just a childhood dream I had.”
Another Alaskan, another groundbreaker. Kristen became a professional bike racer four years ago. The former venture capitalist’s gold medals on both the road and the track (a discipline she took up just over a year ago) in Paris are beyond incredible. Words can’t do this achievement justice. We’re still speechless.
History Making – Biniam Girmay
‘I love to ride my bike.’
In July Biniam Girmay became the first man from cycling-crazy Eritrea and the first black African cyclist to win a Tour stage, outmuscling Mads Pedersen barrier-side to cross the line first. The scenes back home in Asmara said it all. Bini went on to bag another two stages and the overall green points jersey, making history in style.
Fine Young Cannibal – Tadej Pogačar
“What the f**k? It felt like we were in the gruppetto.” – Tom Pidcock
Tadej Pogačar’s dominance could be boring, but let’s face it – he’s here to entertain. 26-years-old and already touted as better than Eddy Merckx, heralded as the best cyclist the world has ever seen? Lombardia, the Worlds and the Giro-Tour double, not to mention Strade Bianche. On the white roads of Piemonte he showed the quintessence of his outrageous ability with a solo 80km race-winning attack, leaving the rest in the dust. WTF indeed, Mr Pidcock.
Know No Bounds – Kenneth Karaya
“I have this energy of wanting to go beyond my limit.”
Badlands is arguably the world’s number one ultra race. Ken Karaya, who has benefitted from the mentorship of Lachlan Morton and the work of Team AMANI to help promising young East Africans flourish, went very close to winning this sacred event. Following in the tyre tracks of AMANI co-founder, the late Sule Kangangi, Ken rode his guts out, ultimately finishing second but proving how he continues to grow as a rider.
Alpe d’Heart – Kasia Niewiadoma
“The most beautiful moment in my life.”
The smallest margin of victory ever at the Tour. The 2023 gravel world champ, and ’24 Flèche-Wallonne winner rode herself into the yellow jersey, defending it to the very last. Favourite Demi Vollering, who had spent most of the race in the maillot jaune, was pipped to the post by the pocket-sized Pole, holding on with all her heart to arrive above the clouds on Alpe d’Huez still on the top step.