PROJECT XO
ALL WOMEN • ALL GRIT • ALL IN
Project XO is the next chapter in the off-road story. We’re looking for passionate, bold, and creative cyclists who are crushing it on gravel. This is your chance to ride under the XO banner — supported, celebrated, and unleashed.
READY TO BREAK AWAY FROM THE PACK?
APPLICATION DEADLINE: AUG. 1, 2025, 11:59pm EDT
WHY XO?
XO is a new gravel cycling team created to elevate the visibility of women in off-road racing. It is a halo marketing brand designed to support a collective of women gravel racers by providing some of the benefits of a team environment combined with a customized privateer program.
What sets XO apart is that it is 100% women-focused from the start. It’s not a smaller subset of a mixed team. This way, resources are better allocated to support the riders.
AMPLIFICATION: athletes leverage each others’ social media followers, as well as those of team sponsors to get maximum visibility.
SUPPORT: share resources such as feedzone and mechanical support, accomodations, and transportation at bigger races when all athletes are together.
TEAM CAMP: a training camp put on by Rule 28 early in the season gets the team acquainted and off to a strong start.
THE TEAM BEHIND THE TEAM
Project XO is brought to you by Inspire Athlete Management (IAM), a full-service agency specializing in athlete representation, creative services, and brand activations. In addition to representing some of the top professional cyclists, IAM has helped create customized privateer programs as well as being instrumental in creating several teams and collectives including Felt UN1TD, Canyon MTB Racing, and Jukebox Cycling.
Rule 28, makers of the fastest on-bike clothing including the unique Gravel Suit, will be the official kit partner of Project XO. Their unending pursuit of performance parallels XO’s search for the best athletes in the women’s gravel scene.
In partnership with Rouleur, Rule 28 will be putting on a training camp in early 2026 for XO and other Rule 28 athletes.
MEET OUR GENERAL MANAGER
Ruby West, longtime cyclist and current athlete manager at Inspire Athlete Management, joins Project XO as the General Manager, bringing more than a decade of racing experience to the role. Ruby is a multi-time Canadian Cyclocross Champion and has represented Canada at the UCI Cyclocross World Championships and Pan-American Championships. She also competed on the track and road before retiring in 2023.
Here’s why she’s signed on to build XO Racing:
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“At this point in my career, I feel so passionate about amplifying women’s cycling to the level of recognition it deserves. It is the best time in history to be a woman on a bike and we want to be part of this movement.
Having raced road, track, cyclocross, mountain bike, and gravel through the years of my own racing, I’ve seen the gift of connection that the sport can give you. Connection to an outstanding community of like minded, passionate people. Connection to your own mind and body’s limits. Connection to nature and the world around us. Connection with people and places you’d never otherwise know.
Project XO has resonated with me since my partners at Inspire Athlete Management introduced me to the idea. To me, Project XO represents an opportunity to make bike racing what you want it to be. It will be a collective of riders sharing support, uplifting one another, with space for individual goals, personalities and opportunities. Essentially, it’s exactly what I wish I had while I was still racing.
I am so excited to see where this project goes and honoured to get to be on board from the ground floor.”
Ruby West
General Manager – Project XO
ARE YOU IN?
Are you a strong, passionate racer and want to be part of the next chapter in women’s professional gravel cycling?
APPLICATION DEADLINE: AUG. 1, 2025, 11:59pm EDT
SUPPORT XO
We’re looking for forward-thinking brands that are interested in pushing the needle forward in women’s pro cycling. We don’t care if you’re inside or outside the cycling industry – as long as you’re passionate about elevating women in sports. Get in on the ground floor and help us build something great together. For information on partnership opportunities, contact us below.
