Annabel Fisher and team BIXS Far_Out Cycling: A New Era in Gravel Racing

Words by James Ion - Photography provided by BIXS Far_Out Cycling

After a season of highs, lows, and a well-earned reset, Annabel Fisher (AKA shotgun.ch) is back and she’s coming in hot. The British-born, Swiss-based gravel racer is kicking off 2025 with a major move: joining BIXS Far_Out Cycling, a Swiss-backed team that’s setting a new standard for professionalism in gravel racing.

For Fisher, this isn’t just another contract, it’s the first time she’s found a team that truly aligns with her vision. “It’s a seriously professional setup,” she says. “It’s Swiss, no-nonsense. If we’re doing something, we do it properly.” It’s also a rare deal in the world of gravel. A three-year contract, financial backing for the Life Time Grand Prix, and the freedom to continue working with key personal sponsors like Look and CORE BODY TEMP. In an increasingly unpredictable gravel scene, Fisher has found stability.

From Gravel Earth Champion to Life Time Contender

After winning the Gravel Earth Series in 2023, Fisher moved to a new team, with high expectations to keep the momentum going. With multiple podiums and of course, the British Nationals win. However following a poor experience at Unbound in 2024 she seemed to disappear from the radar, results were still flowing but she was distinctly absent from socials and marketing, and then the season came to an end and left us wondering where she went. But while the rest of the gravel world was speculating about her next move, she was tearing it up on the slopes, ski racing at altitude, building the kind of full-body strength that few cyclists possess.“Ski racing is actually way more fun,” she laughs. “The men are more beautiful, the parties are better, but it’s also brutally hard work. I train at 2,000 meters every day, in freezing conditions, and the physical demand is on another level.”

It’s no surprise, then, that she’s come back even stronger, earning one of just 22 spots in the prestigious LifeTime Grand Prix, a series typically dominated by Americans. Only a handful of overseas-based athletes made the cut.

Yet Fisher is in.

Her application? Straight to the point. When asked to list her best results, she simply wrote: “Google me.” And it worked. “They just liked my attitude, I guess,” she shrugs. “Oh, we like her. She's got balls! Let’s take her.” she laughs. But don’t mistake her nonchalant approach for a lack of ambition. Fisher isn’t just here to take part, she’s here to win. “My goal? To win the series,” she says without hesitation. “No point in going all the way to the U.S. if you don’t think you can win.”

A Full-Throttle Calendar

Fisher’s 2025 schedule is packed, and it kicks off fast. First up: a UCI Gravel World Series race in Portugal the 114 Gravel Race on 29 March, followed by the first Life Time Grand Prix event - Sea Otter Classic in Monterrey, California. She’ll spend a week at the Olympic Training Center before heading to Monaco for the next UCI World Series race. Then it’s onto the Titan Desert, a six-day mountain bike epic through the Atlas Mountains of Morocco. And that’s just the first few months. Her UCI focus will be on Switzerland’s home race, though BIXS is weighing up the Octopus Gravel Earth Series race versus the UCI series race as frustratingly they are scheduled on the same weekend. It’s yet another example of the growing pains in gravel’s governing structure, a topic Fisher is vocal about.

“There have to be a lot of changes in order to protect the sport,” she explains. “But those changes also become limitations. You have to choose, either keep it wild or go full control. Right now, the balance isn’t quite there.”

The Bixs Project Far Out Vision

One of the biggest draws of BIXS Far_Out Project isn’t just the team itself, it’s the future they’re building. Unlike many gravel teams, BIXS isn’t just handing out equipment. They’re developing the next generation of race bikes, and Fisher is a crucial part of that process. “We’re testing new geometry, centre of gravity, clearance, actually influencing the design, not just riding the bike,” she says. “That’s the kind of partnership I want.” It’s a fully integrated, data-driven program, with Fisher’s coaches monitoring everything, training loads, recovery, even her crossover conditioning from skiing.

It’s also drama-free, something she’s learned to value after previous team experiences. “My manager looks after me. There’s no BS, no lies, no politics, just a proper professional setup.” The team will also include the Swiss-based American Corey Davis, who will now focus exclusively on gravel having spent the last season with Q.365 Pro Cycling Team. 

Racing, Reinvented

For Fisher, 2025 isn’t just about results, it’s about reclaiming the sport she loves. Last year, she proved she could dominate when left to her own devices, winning the Octopus race for a second year running by a staggering 2 minutes and 31 seconds; without a team around her.

Now, with a full Swiss powerhouse behind her, the sky’s the limit. “I took a big break after last season,” she admits. “I cut off a lot of noise, just focused on myself, my training, my sport. And now? I’m back.”

With BIXS Far_Out now officially launched, the countdown has begun. Annabel Fisher isn’t just returning, she’s reinventing what it means to be a professional gravel racer.

And the rest of the field? They’d better be ready.