Danil Osipov: victory on the Tsar Grader, racing in China and the life of an MTB rider
Title of the issue: "DANIL OSIPOV — HOW THE MTB RIDER WON THE Tsar Grader, WHY HE GOES TO CHINA AND HOW MANY WATTS THE PROS HAVE"
Danil Osipov grew up in mountain biking, but in 2026 he won the Tsar Grader and began competing on the highway for the Chinese continental team. He explains why long races are suitable for him, how the victory on gravel turned out and what gives a foreign contract without a salary.
Guest
MTB rider, winner of the Tsar Grader and bronze medalist of the Spartakiad. In the 2026 season, he played for the Chinese continental team.
Useful from the issue
- Choose a distance for your strengths
Danil is suited for long, even efforts. In short races with frequent accelerations, he feels worse, although MTB remains his main discipline.
- Do not confuse a sports contract with a salary
The Chinese team pays for life and racing, but does not pay Danil a salary. The value of such a contract for him is experience and the opportunity to declare himself.
- Check the training areas with the tests
Danil is tested several times a year and adjusts the zones. He does not call the indicator of the laboratory threshold the result of a fresh FTP test.
From a sports school to a Chinese team
Danil came to cycling after school enrollment in the section. MTB became the main discipline; in Russia, according to him, he had very few road starts. Long uniform efforts are given to him better than short explosive races — that's why he willingly rides marathons and would like to try time trial.
In 2026, Danil played for the Chinese continental team. The salary is not paid there, but the team provides accommodation and participation in races. For him, this is an opportunity to gain international experience and prove himself. The Russian sports bet, which he mentioned in conversation, is 30 thousand rubles; in his spare time he also trains children and amateurs.
How the Tsar Grader won
Danil came to the Tsar Grader on a borrowed Giant Revolt with a 17-centimeter extension. He drove the first lap in a group, then shifted to a breakaway. By the third lap, six people had gathered in front; they worked in shifts, and the group gradually thinned out.
At the finish, Danil stayed with Dmitri Strakhov. He recalls the victory as the hardest race of his season: after the finish, he couldn't stand for some time and recovered with food and drink.
MTB, workouts and plans
Among the Russian XCO tracks, Danil singles out Yucca, Ural Mica and Arkhyz. He believes that without regular international starts, it is difficult for Russian bikers to follow the development of equipment and tracks.
Danil makes his training plan together with his father. Several times a year, he undergoes testing, specifies the zones, and then combines large volumes of low-intensity work with special work before the starts. According to his estimate, a typical week takes about 15–16 hours. The laboratory threshold is about 410 watts; he hasn't done a separate FTP test in a long time, so he doesn't claim this number to be an accurate FTP. He wants to link the next season with China and international starts, including gravel ones.
Timestamps
Mentioned in this episode
Tsar Grader · Giant Revolt · XCO · Spartakiad · The Traka