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From Paris-Roubaix glory and the Olympics road race on the streets of Paris to the gravel tracks of the Galloway Forest Park. We're incredibly excited to welcome Canadian cyclist Alison Jackson (EF-Oatly-Cannondale) to Raiders Gravel. In this exclusive Q&A, you'll find out about her journey from the gravel roads of Alberta to the world stage, including her iconic Paris-Roubaix victory and her experiences at the Paris 2024 Olympics. Get a glimpse into her love for adventure, her infectious joy for cycling, and what she's most excited about as she takes on the rugged Scottish terrain for the first time.
Raiders Gravel: Tell us a little bit about growing up in Alberta and how you got into cycling and worked your way up to the elite level?
So actually, where I grew up in Alberta, there are more gravel roads than paved roads. Probably 70% or more of the roads are gravel. So when I started riding, I actually always had to ride some gravel. But, we do it on any bike. Road bike, with the skinny tires before I even got into gravel biking. I learned to ride as a kid, but really didn't start riding until I was 19. Got my first bike when I was 19. Then did a few triathlons. Swam with a swim club, cycled with a cycling club, ran with a run club and the cyclists were always trying to get me to race and so when I did I was quite successful. And yeah, then, I kept winning enough races to get me to where I am.
RG: Describe the feeling and emotions of winning Paris-Roubaix? What changed for you following that Paris-Roubaix success?
Such a cool thing to win Paris-Roubaix. I mean, a dream come true. Something that when you ride around the Velodrome in recon, you just dream of what it would be like to cross that line first. I think because I did such a dynamic race and really took charge of what the storyline was going to be, that really connected with a lot of people. So it's really fun. Now, people always tell me, where they were when they were watching the race and, what they were feeling whilst watching, you know, will the break stay away or will it come back, and then "Ah, Alison is doing too much". So yeah, I think it's a great way to win a race, that I believed the most in myself and had confidence that I could do it and rode that way. Now it's given me a lot of confidence that, hey, you can win big races. And yeah, it's done a lot of great stuff for Canadians and Canadian riders, to be the only Canadian, male or female to have won any of the cycling monuments. Just wanting to get the ball rolling for everyone else, to see that it's possible.
RG: You’re fresh off the back of your second Olympics and a Top 20 finish in the Road Race. How was your Paris 2024 experience?
I loved getting to compete in Paris 2024. The city put on a great event. The venues were gorgeous. Even where our road race went, there's so many really iconic Parisian hotpots like the Louvre, Moulin Rouge, up the climb to Montmartre and starting and finishing in front of the Eiffel Tower. The crowds were amazing, and it was so cool that there's a ton of people that came to watch the bike race because they love cycling and a ton of people that watch it because they love their nation, or they love the Olympics and they want to see something new. So the Olympics is really special to spread these different sports to all sorts of different corners of the world. As a Canadian, it's always been a dream of mine since I was a kid to compete in the Olympics. So, just just really proud to be on the team there.
RG: There have been heaps of light-hearted comments about you being a part-time influencer or the TikTok cyclist, so why is dancing and sharing fun content so important to you and does it help you to balance out the seriousness and stresses around bike racing?
Yeah, I love it, I've always been an entertainer. I've been silly. Just trying to make everyone laugh. And I love it. It's one of my biggest joys, and I just think you got to love what you do. You know, we really try to accomplish goals, but, to accomplish a goal without enjoying the time getting there is a really empty accomplishment. I think I've just always been this way. I’ve really been able to blend, being super silly and fun, but the serious one when you need to get the job done. I love being successful and making achievements, so the only way you can do that is by having a good focus, but I get so much energy from loving what I do and having other interests outside of bike racing. So yeah, keep it fun!
RG: What memories do you have of racing in Scotland? We promise the weather isn’t always as bad as it was on Stage 1 of the Women’s Tour of Scotland in 2019.
[Laughs] Oh yeah, Tour Scotland. I loved that race. It was only on for one edition and it was nuts the day that it was raining, every valley and low spot on the road we got to just filled with more water and more water and more water until we were almost half submerged in the water on the road. So they had to cancel the race because it wasn't draining properly. But, I had such a great time in Glasgow [at the UCI Cycling World Championships], the country is beautiful and the crowds are awesome [...] and I'm looking forward to exploring another part of Scotland.
RG: Is this your first gravel race? What enticed you to give gravel racing a shot?
So I did do a gravel race in Canada a couple of years ago. That was a lot of fun, the weather was actually also terrible. But, I mean, I love cycling [because] it is a social sport. You meet a lot of people and you share in the same struggle of being on the course. So I'm just looking forward to also just having a bit of fun. I love exploring and adventuring and doing something new. So this, you know, it's still bike racing, but in the new and exploring way. I'm looking forward to three days of racing and trying to figure out this gravel thing.
RG: Why did you choose Raiders Gravel and racing in Scotland? The “cobblestones” in Galloway are pretty loose, made of granite and hungry for tyres.
What will actually be great is the three days of gravel racing. Because I've got a lot to learn and figure out. So you get to try three different days of racing and get the feel for the bike and the terrain. Yeah, I love cobblestones, so a little granite and rock will be fun to navigate.
RG: What are you looking forward to and excited about most as you head to race Scottish gravel for the first time?
I'm really looking forward to just riding new roads, new trails, exploring, seeing the countryside, and doing that with the other racers and some fun pals.
RG: And finally, what would one piece of advice be that you’d give other folks who also race bikes (be that on road or gravel)?
My biggest advice is to have fun and try new things. You got to be brave to do something new. You got to be brave to be bad at something new. Stick with it and see what you can discover about yourself. Have fun though, for sure. And dance, jazz and dance parties.
Follow Alison's adventures on Instagram @aliactionjackson
