Why a Former Tour de France Pro Recommends Gaining Weight

Mar 27, 2026

Svein Tuft, Canadian ex-pro cyclist and 13-time national champ turned bikepacker and author. He recounts pulling a 60-lb dog on epic trips, train-hopping tales, and how introversion fueled his European career. He talks old-school race days, ultra-endurance tips like why gaining weight can help, and a strange UFO-like sighting in the backcountry.

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ANECDOTE

Solo Bikepacking With Bear Shaped His Life

Svein Tuft describes solo bikepacking trips pulling a homemade trailer and his 60-lb dog Bear up to Alaska and Bella Coola as formative travel that taught self-reliance.
He lost his money on one trip, lived off the land picking cans, and calls that the freest period of his life, laying the foundation for his career.

INSIGHT

Freedom From Expectation Fuels Sustainable Performance

Svein sees reduced stress and introversion as performance advantages because they prevent burnout and allow enjoyment of process.
Having no expectation of pro success let him race with freedom, treating professional opportunities as gifts rather than pressure-filled obligations.

INSIGHT

Removing Yourself Cuts Stress And Extends Performance

Svein credits removing himself from constant cycling talk and stress as key to longevity and performance in pro racing.
He lived in rural Girona, tended a garden and treated training plans as guides, which kept stress manageable and preserved him.

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Legendary Canadian racer Svein Tuft joins Mike Levy to chat about stories from his book, We Will Never Be Here Again. The two cover wild stories ranging from epic bike-packing trips while pulling Tuft's 60-lb dog named Bear in a homemade trailer, to winning stages at the Tour de France and Giro. Tuft has had an unconventional career and lived an unconventional life.

Tuft is likely also the only professional cyclist, active or retired, who has spent time train hopping. He gives Levy his best tips for traveling via railcar—like finding priority trains to cross the country quickly and hiding in the nooks of grain carts to avoid the authorities.

The two also dive into how being an introvert was a superpower for Tuft during his European road career before getting into a discussion of ultra-endurance racing. Tuft has advice for racing the Tour Divide, including getting heavier, and talks about how a severe sickness forced him to pull the pin once he reached Colorado during his own attempt.

Finally, the duo discusses Tuft’s unexplainable sighting while camping deep in the Canadian forest. Was it a UFO or something else? Whether it was an otherworldly encounter or just extreme exhaustion, it adds another incredible layer to Tuft's backlog of outdoor stories.

Listen to the full episode, grab his book, We Will Never Be Here Again, for the rest of the wild stories, and check out Tuft Camps if you're brave enough to try holding his wheel.

Show Notes & Chapter Markers:

[00:00:11] - Intro: Mike Levy welcomes 13-time national champion Svein Tuft.

[00:04:06] - Early bike-packing trips to Alaska with his dog, Bear.

[00:15:57] - The lost art of train hopping and finding "priority trains."

[00:21:47] - How being an introvert was a superpower in the European peloton.

[00:30:08] - Reflecting on the Tour de France and old-school cycling nutrition.

[00:42:37] - Svein’s Tour Divide attempt and knowing when to pull the pin.

[00:52:22] - Unconventional ultra-endurance advice: why you shouldn't show up too lean.

[01:11:01] - An unexplainable UFO sighting near Mount Rexford.

[01:14:51] - Tuft Camps: Riding gravel, road, and MTB in British Columbia.