Q&A with Yuri Hauswald

Posted: February 24th, 2020

“Focus on the fun!”

Yuri is a classic late bloomer, at least in terms of cycling. He didn’t turn Pro until he was 36—the age when most pros are hanging up their cleats. His story is an interesting one. He grew up on a farm in rural Petaluma, California, without a TV. Yet he survived. Flourished, rather. He has always been a fan of the great outdoors, hiking, roaming, seeking adventure. He was also a good athlete. He played collegiate lacrosse while attending UC Berkley, earning a degree in American Literature. He eventually discovered the joys of mountain biking at the age of 24 while teaching English at a prep school in Pennsylvania, but didn’t really get serious about the bike until he moved back west to attend graduate school in Santa Fe. And the rest, well, is ongoing history. A two-time solo winner of the 24 Hours of Adrenalin and the 2015 King of the Dirty Kanza, Yuri is still hard at it on the mountain bike and the gravel bike scenes. We were lucky to catch up with him recently and get his thoughts about CampoVelo.

Yuri, thanks for taking some time to talk with us. So, what have you been up to?

You name it man, busy. Work, family, and trying to spend as much time as possible on the bike and on the gravel.

Yuri is the 2015 winner of the Dirty Kanza, a brutal 200 mile gravel race through the Flint Hills of Kansas

So Yuri, what’s your favorite kind of cycling?

Well, I like it all, but I would have to say being off-road or on the gravel is my favorite. You don’t have to contend with cars and traffic and it is generally more scenic. However, I love riding on the roads at CampoVelo—so gorgeous and scenic there in wine country. Lots of elevation and variety. It’s special for a lot of reasons, cycling among them.

Yuri racing at the 24 Hours of Old Pueblo

Speaking of CampoVelo, I take it you’ve been before.

Oh yeah, I think this year will be my fourth.

How did you get involved initially with CampoVelo?

Through the excellent chef and my friend, Chris Cosentino. He told me about it and encouraged me to attend and said it would be fun. And he was right. It actually exceeded my expectations by a long shot.

Yuri Hauswald in the kitchen with Chef Chris Cosentino — Yuri helping Chef Chris Cosentino prepare a dish at a CampoVelo cooking workshop

So Yuri, tell us what you love most about the CampoVelo experience?

So there’s multiple things. I love riding in the Napa Valley, and stretches like the Silverado Trail. There’s a great variety of terrain out there and it’s kind of a cycling mecca. But that’s just part of it. More than anything, I love the camaraderie of CampoVelo and meeting new folks, hearing what they are about and what inspires them. And the food…I mean you have elite chefs and of course complementary wine from the area vineyards.

Yuri Hauswald CampoVelo — Yuri leading the charge along the Silverado Trail at CampoVelo (Photo: Jonathan Herre)

Yuri we heard a rumor that you were gonna be in the fashion show.

Hahaha! Well, yes, that is a true rumor. It was lots of fun last year to get on that cat walk. It’s just a good time, no one takes themselves seriously, and if you have never been heckled, this is the perfect opportunity. It’s fun, man.