As we continue celebrating International Women’s Day, we move to our second-ever British Gravel Champion, Danni Shrosbree. Danni won the title in 2022, but her journey to cycling was anything but straightforward. She has faced setbacks, rediscovered her love for sport, and now offers invaluable advice for young girls struggling with their own athletic paths.
Why Gravel? Danni’s Journey into the Sport
Danni, what drew you to gravel cycling? What keeps you going through the tough moments?
“I started during Covid. I wanted to try something different and just loved being off the road. At the time, I was juggling full-time work with a full road racing calendar. It wasn’t until my result at Unbound two years ago that I decided to commit fully. The opportunity was there, and I wanted to make a change to where I was living and working.
There are a few things that have kept me going in gravel—the hard racing, of course, and the beautiful places races take you. But mostly, it’s the community vibes. Gravel racing is incredibly inclusive, and there’s always a great dynamic.”
Celebrating Achievements: Danni’s Proudest Moments
We often don’t take enough time to celebrate ourselves or each other. What’s your proudest cycling moment?
“My proudest moment was placing 4th at Unbound. I was working full-time, had very little support, but I made it happen. The conditions that year were horrendous but I was able to continue due to my mental strength and toughness.
Another standout moment was placing 8th at Road Nationals in 2021. It was in late October and I had gone through a lot on a personal level, but I managed to battle through and get into the breakaway with World Tour riders all day. It still sticks with me. It was in Lincoln and in torrential rain, but still a very good memory.
Both of these moments I am incredibly proud of and I have flashbacks of them regularly during other races. I think because both took a lot of mental battle to not only get through, but just to be there and I proved to myself I could in both scenarios.
I should also add, winning Badlands pairs with my boyfriend. It was an amazing achievement, and our relationship made it through intact!’
Keeping Girls in Sport: Advice from Danni
A recent study found that over two-thirds of teenage girls quit sports altogether by the time they are 16 or 17.
Danni, how did you navigate this challenging time, and what advice do you have for teenage girls thinking about quitting?
“To be totally honest, I lost my way at that age. I was competing at a high level in swimming and running, and I had just started getting into triathlon. Then one day, I quit it all. I was partying, getting into trouble, and my academic results dropped.
I realised it wasn’t the sport that was the issue—it was my environment. I wasn’t happy at my school and felt completely lost with what I wanted to do in life. I took a break, and after some time spent travelling, then working full time I realised sport was what I needed. It was my escape and is the thing that kept my busy mind occupied. I returned to fitness training, but doing it my way, how I wanted and naturally fell in love with it all over again.
I decided to quit my job and go to university, which is where I joined the rowing team, and cycling remained a part of my life for cross-training as it was hard to stay away as bikes have always been in my life. But it wasn’t until I moved to London and found the right community that I became fully hooked on riding again.
My advice? Make sure your environment is happy and you want to do the sport. We all have days where we don’t want to train, but if you’re feeling unmotivated every day, ask yourself if it’s the sport itself, the people around you, or your current routine that’s making you unhappy. Sometimes, all you need is a fresh approach. And remember—you’re young! You can take a break and come back to it. Sport will always be there, and you might just realise how much you miss it.”
Inspiring Female Athletes: Who Motivates Danni?
Who is your biggest female athlete inspiration?
“Marianne Vos—she’s just the GOAT. When I was younger and into running, I also looked up to Kelly Holmes. Both are phenomenal athletes.”
Final Thoughts
Danni Shrosbree’s journey is a testament to the fact that athletic paths aren’t always linear. From stepping away from sport entirely to rediscovering her passion, she’s proof that taking a break doesn’t mean giving up—it can be the first step towards coming back stronger. Her story highlights the importance of environment, self-reflection, and finding joy in sport on your own terms.
Stay tuned throughout the week as we continue our series, speaking to past British Gravel Champions who have paved their own unique roads to success in cycling.
