Episode 2 Alec Janssens and Kootenay Gravel Classics

Kootenay Gravel Classics – FKT | With Alec Janssens

What happens when you link together the best gravel in the Kootenays… and try to ride it all in one push?

In this episode of FKT Challenges, I sit down with Alec Janssens to unpack his Kootenay Gravel Classics route—a 315 km loop with over 4,200 meters of climbing that ties together Paulson Pass, the Old Cascade Highway, the Pend Oreille, and the rail trail back into Nelson.

But this isn’t just about a time.

It’s about the process.

Alec shares the story behind building the route, his first attempt that didn’t go to plan, and what changed when he came back stronger, smarter, and more prepared. We dive into the mental side of long efforts—the expectations, the low points, the resets—and how experience starts to matter more than fitness the deeper you go.

We also get into the feel of the route itself: riding through different ecosystems in a single day, the history tucked into these backroads, and the strange beauty of linking it all together under your own power.

This one’s less about chasing speed, and more about chasing something deeper—understanding what draws us to these big days out, and why they stick with us long after the ride is over.

If you’ve ever looked at a map and wondered, “what if I just connected all of that…”—this one’s for you.