The brands I used to dream about? Now they reach out to me. And here's what still blows my mind: I'm not even the fastest rider out there.
But I figured out something most riders never learn:
Winning gets you noticed.
Your marketing is what gets you paid.
Perhaps you're grinding every weekend. Pouring money into a sport you love. Wondering when someone's going to notice. Sending DMs that get left on read. Emails that never get responses. Landing discount codes but nothing that actually helps you race.
Watching riders with worse results than you land deals you can't figure out.
It's not your riding that's the problem. It's your approach.
Most riders believe sponsorship is a reward for being fast. It's not. Brands don't sponsor riders. They invest in athletes who can help them reach more customers and sell more products.
Rider A - Wins races but never posts, doesn't engage, has no media deck, sends vague emails asking for "anything you can give"...
Rider B - Finishes mid-pack but creates consistent content, has an engaged community, sends professional pitches with a media deck, and shows sponsors the ROI they're delivering...
Who gets the deal? Rider B. Every. Single. Time.
Because sponsorship isn't charity, it's a business decision.
The riders who land real partnerships have figured out something most never learn: They're not just riders anymore. They're riders, influencers, AND ambassadors.