Haley and Russell made an indelible mark on Trek and gravel racing these last two years
Haley Hunter Smith and Russell Finsterwald are two of the most decorated and respected racers in gravel. They are parting ways with Trek Driftless in 2026 after two years racing for the squad, but we can’t thank them enough for their fierce competitiveness and the positive influence they had as ambassadors for both the brand and the sport.
In addition to being one of the fastest women in the field, Haley Hunter Smith is one of the most genuine athletes you will ever meet. Her competitive highlights with Trek include a fourth-place finish at 2024 Unbound Gravel in the largest heads-up sprint in its history, fifth place on the overall Life Time Grand Prix standings that same year, winning the general classification at the 2025 Migration Gravel Race in Kenya (where she also got a leadout from a zebra), and winning the 2025 Canadian XC Marathon national championship for the second time in her career.
Haley taking on Cape Epic this past March. | Photo: Willem van Eeden
Haley sprinting her way to fourth at Unbound Gravel in 2024.
Off the bike, she gave fans an informative and unvarnished look at her life as a professional athlete, even when illness waylaid her competitive goals. And throughout her globe-spanning racing schedule, she kept up with her research as a graduate student studying sports psychology at Queen’s University in Ontario. Her work illustrated the positive outcomes of children co-participating in sports with their parents, and the meaning of gravel riding to adults.
In 2026, she’ll race as a privateer, with her sights on the Life Time races, major European events like The Traka and The Rift, and World Championships for both Gravel and XC Marathon.
“I loved getting to spend time with my teammates. I enjoyed the adventure races I got to do. And I loved working with the staff that we had a lot,” Smith said. “I truly enjoyed the people, and I learned a lot about the importance of your social circle and your immediate social surroundings to help you perform, and help you get through the times when you can’t.”
Haley on the move.
Russell riding the fearsome Transcordilleras in 2024. | Photo: @stirlandraemediahaus
Russell Finsterwald’s days as a Trek athlete stretch back to 2010, when he was an 18-year-old member of the Subaru-Trek mountain bike squad. He won five U.S. national championships as a mountain biker before taking up gravel racing in 2020. Since then, he’s been one of the most influential riders in the men’s field.
Put simply, few people can claim they enjoy riding their bike more than Finsterwald. When he’s not racing on gravel’s biggest stages, he’s planning new routes and adventures. During his time with Trek, he took on rides like the fearsome Transcordilleras through the Andes Mountains in Colombia, and attempted to set the fastest known time on the White Rim Trail in Utah.
Russell doing battle with Unbound.
Russell on his way to a win at Belgian Waffle Ride Montana. | Photo: Belgian Waffle Ride
All the while, Finsterwald was one of the most animating riders in men’s gravel, finishing sixth overall on the 2024 Life Time Grand Prix standings, and winning the Belgian Waffle Ride series overall title this past June with a win at BWR Montana. Finsterwald was one with his equipment, daring to ride a drop bar mountain bike at the Leadville 100 in 2024, one year before seemingly the entire professional field adopted the same setup.
He was a valuable resource for the whole Driftless crew during race weeks. His experience and expertise will be missed.
“When I look back on my time with Trek, it’s the weekends with the Driftless crew that stand out,” Finsterwald said. “That crew made the long days fun and the hard days worthwhile. The connections we made on race trips are what I’ll carry forward and remember the most. It’s been a fun two years and I wish the team success moving forward!”
