Being offered the chance to emulate a professional gravel rider and join Hotchillee’s inaugural London to Paris gravel trip was too good an opportunity for Olly to turn down. But how would it work when his relaxed and gravelly attitude to riding came up against some pretty-rigid road rules? Read on to find out…

Some of us will have undoubtedly watched a professional cycling race either on the TV or in person and wondered what the life of a pro-cyclist is really like. While for the majority of us, a lack of skill, dedication or the correct genetic make-up mean our dreams of turning pro will remain just that, for a fortunate group of gravel riders this summer, living the life of a pro can be achieved, even if just for a few days. We go behind the scenes with tour operator Hotchillee to see how they turn amateur dreams into pro reality.