Ivar Slik and Jasper Ockeloen

Dutch cyclists Ivar Slik and Jasper Ockeloen have been traveling to the U.S. a lot over the past few years. After successful road careers in Europe, they made the jump to gravel cycling and have thrown down some standout results. Ivar won Unbound last year, rocketing to a level of fame in the U.S. and Euro cycling worlds that he wasn’t expecting. Jasper won Gravel Locos last year and came second at Belgian Waffle ride, but after two years of bad luck, he's still waiting to do Unbound without a race-halting puncture. They’re both prepping for the event this year as top contenders. 

Payson sat down with Ivar and Jasper in Bentonville last week to talk about their cycling careers and the sock business they run together, Sockeloen. Jasper talks about his growing frustration with Continental racing that pushed him to lean into Sockeloen, and how fellow Dutchie Laurens Ten Dam inspired him to get into gravel racing. Ivar talks about his now-legendary attack at Unbound in a rainstorm and what it was like to become the unofficial king of gravel with the win (and a course record). They also talk about their long-time friendship, the nitty gritty scientific data behind Sockeloen’s aerodynamic credentials, and Jasper’s ever-present gold necklace.