Karolina Migoń - Gravel Earth Series Winner

Words Justine Jarczok - Photography by Roger Salanova

“I am always a smiling and positive person, no matter the challenges life throws my way. I work hard to achieve what I want and believe that dreams do come true!” – Karolina Migoń

A software engineer by day and GRVL Racer by, well, also by day, Karolina Migoń has had quite a 2024 - winning the Traka and the overall winner of the Gravel Earth Series, she is showing how you can balance a normal life with that of a full-time athlete and still get results. Euro Correspondent Justine sat down with Karo for a Q&A about her achievements and what is to come!

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If someone wanted to start their gravel racing journey, what advice would you give them at the beginning?

Don’t be afraid to try! I can guarantee that you will have a fun day out on a bike. Gravel races feature a friendly atmosphere, and there are so many races to choose from that you will not regret it. Plus, it’s a great way to escape the monotony of road cycling and experience something truly adventurous.

What do you eat during training and races?

During long training rides, I like to eat normal food and enjoy eating. For intense, hard sessions and all the races, I eat only gels and carbs in the bottles. When I raced my first long race last season—the Traka 360—I planned to have some solid food, but I ended up eating just gels.

When you stop at a café during a coffee ride, what do you order?

Americano and a cake.

Do you prefer being in the mountains or by the sea?

In the mountains for sure. I feel a big respect for them, but I also feel peace and calm. That’s my church. The sea is nice, but it doesn’t challenge you the way mountains do.

Can you recall the toughest time you've had on a bike? The hardest race?

STB Gravel in Colorado was a really difficult one as it was at altitude. Racing at altitude was something that I’ve never done before, so it was a fight for oxygen. I also had some technical issues. It was a weird feeling, but on the other hand, I love challenges, and I try to remember just the good moments, so I still find this race really beautiful. Sometimes, the hardest races are the ones that teach you the most about yourself.

What is still on your to-do list?

A lot of things. From mastering my French, learning Swiss German, bikepacking trips in other parts of the world, to having a cottage house in the mountains.

What countries would you like to visit by bike?

South America. I love Latin culture and how open and kind people are there. The nature is amazing, but on the other hand, it’s also dangerous, so I have to convince my bodyguard to do cycling there, which is not easy.

Outdoor training or trainer sessions?

Outdoors. That’s why I love cycling—because you can explore many new places that are in your neighbourhood, but also just being in nature feels so amazing.

How do you spend your free time?

I don’t have free time. Either I’m on a bike or at work. I try to spend as much time as I can with my family and friends, but very often it involves some training.

Do you have any other sports hobbies besides cycling?

Yes, I love mountains, so I also love all types of skiing, especially ski touring. I used to climb and try to get to places that the bike can’t take you, but it’s pretty hard to do it during the season. Sometimes, I think I might have been a mountain goat in a past life.

Favorite crank length?

I don’t have one, but I’m trying to test different stuff. I’m testing 165mm now. Let’s see if I like it or if I will change it or go deeper into the short crank length trend.

Do you prefer turning right or left?

It doesn’t matter, but I used to be blonde, so I have to think twice about whether I’m going in the right direction.

If you could travel through time, would you visit the past or the future?

I would stay where I am now. I look with sentiment to the past—when I was super young and inexperienced—but also at what I’ve achieved so far as a woman in a male-dominated world (cycling and IT). I’m curious and excited about the future and what it will bring, but now is where I want to be and now is what I can change.

Are you thinking about racing in an ultra event?

No, I’m not. I don’t enjoy riding in the dark, and I just love to sleep, so I can’t imagine sleep deprivation or anything like that. I can stand deep pain but not long-term fatigue when cycling gets uncomfortable. During the races I do now, pain is uncomfortable, but it’s not riding the bike itself, never. So I will stick to the races I do now—long ones but still ones that I can finish in one day with a good night’s sleep afterward. I think that for women, ultra racing is just not healthy, and for anyone, it isn’t.

Coming from a road cycling background, would you ever consider returning to road racing one day?

I really miss stage races a lot. There are just a few in gravel. I never say never, but for now, I stick to gravel cycling.

Riding with music or without?

For races, I never use earphones because I find it dangerous, and racing is so consuming that I wouldn’t focus or relax because of the music. For training, I use an earphone in my right ear, and I very often listen to podcasts and good vibrating music. Music can be a great companion, but safety always comes first.

How many hours a week do you dedicate to training?

It depends and varies with the time of the season. From 10 to 25 hours per week. And it can happen once a year that I have a 30-hour week.

Your dream win and goal for the 2025 season?

I would love to win a big race in the US and win the Traka 360 again.

Finish the sentence: I want to be… 

a person that I feel good around.

All that’s left for us is to wish you nothing but success in the upcoming season, and may the force be with you!