Good money, no team tactics and cute dogs: the rise of pro cycling freelancers

Does anyone follow gravel racing? If I wanted to watch a couple of past races (ideally on YouTube) to see if it's for me, is there anything you'd recommend?

For context, I'd thought I wouldn't like pro cycling as a spectator sport, since my exposure to it was just from Tour de France and track cycling both of which I find somewhat ridiculous for different reasons. But I was totally riveted by the road races at the Olympics this year.

(Aside: What's up with the "cute dogs" in the title? The article body text has nothing to say about dogs.)

The "cute dogs" in the title is obviously clickbait but at least one cute dog does show up in the article:

> Vermeulen produces a popular YouTube series starring his dog, Sir Willie the Wiener, riding on his back.

Not the video you asked for, but that is one cute dog! https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JqhhadyMntk

Lifetime Grand Prix are the biggest right now. They have a series of 7 races that they are doing great media on. Start with Unbound, it’s the most prestigious

About the dogs, from what I've seen the social media presence for these US gravel pros are a much bigger part of their income compared to pros in the European road racing circuit. Being a privateer is advantageous if you are a "top social" rider. This is probably comparable to what has happened in College sports where the top college athlete influencers are pulling in huge amount of eyeballs and income from their social media.

> But I was totally riveted by the road races at the Olympics this year.

In that case you would probably like the one day flanders classics in the spring as well as Paris-Roubaix and Strade Bianche.