Feeling the cycling blues the day after the Tour of Flanders? In a completely different category, we recommend the recently released Netflix true-crime documentary about the murder of Moriah Wilson, in which the filmmakers beautifully honor the late gravel rider while also offering a shocking glimpse into the entire case.
What happened again? In mid-2022, the gravel scene—and by extension, part of the United States—was gripped by the shocking murder of Moriah Wilson. The 26-year-old rider, one of the best gravel riders in America, was shot and killed in Austin. She was there for the Gravellocos race.
Wilson was killed there after leaving a friend’s house, where she had been staying, to go swimming with rider Colin Strickland, winner of Unbound in 2019 and also one of the most well-known riders in the gravel scene. At the time, Strickland was living with Kaitlin Armstrong.
Ockeloen won Gravellocos, the race Wilson had traveled to Texas for
Netflix has beautifully captured the all-too-short life of Wilson, who was deeply loved in the community. “The search for her killer made national headlines in May 2022, as did the subsequent trial. This film goes beyond the headlines and explores the impact of this devastating crime on those who knew and loved Mo: her family, friends, and colleagues,” writes the streaming service.
That year—a few days after Wilson’s death—Gravellocos was won by Dutch rider Jasper Ockeloen, who also wrote about it on Instagram at the time. “Sometimes things happen that put everything into perspective. Last week, we received the news that gravel star Moriah Wilson was shot in Austin.”
‘Although I didn’t know Mo personally, I was shocked. The pre-race ceremony was emotional. It made me realize how important it is to enjoy every day and show love to the people you care about. During the race, I forgot my emotions and got swept up in the race and the battle for victory. I felt strong, but I hadn’t expected to cross the finish line first on my own. That’s when I realized that a normal victory salute was inappropriate on a day like this. I then decided to take off my helmet and point upward,” said Ockeloen.
Continue reading below the photo.
Trailer: The Truth and Tragedy of Moriah Wilson