The Gravel Team | 2023 Season So Far

‘My blessing season this in thee.’

So far, so Gravelled. The Café du Cycliste Gravel Team are well and truly off into their second season of racing. And it’s obvious they’re well-seasoned already. Not that they’re too old or too salty, but very well-conditioned you see.

Our four intrepid women have each competed on two continents already, collectively clocking up over 5000km (don’t forget those thousands of climbing metres too), with numerous sharp and treacherous turns taken with grace. Mixed fortunes over the last three months, but then fortune inevitably favours the brave.

From Spain to Kenya the riders have hopped potholes, topped podiums, spotted giraffes and got lost. All this makes a rich and vital experience that is ultimately what Gravel is all about. The journey, no matter what the outcome or choice of direction, will always be remembered. Following on from the 2022 season, where the team's riders reached the top of the rankings, 2023 has been a continuation of that spirit and determination. So, it’s worth taking a quick recap.

TRAINING CAMP | PARIS–ROUBAIX

Unveiling the team with an official get together and training camp, the group travelled to northern France to experience another kind of ‘off-road road-riding’ on the cobblestones of L’Enfer du Nord. Talk about mental and physical conditioning.

A cold, damp and blustery time was had, but paying homage to the hundreds of riders (and thousands of soldiers) who suffered in this hallowed territory was just the wakeup call everyone needed ahead of a testing season on the rough stuff.

LA TRAKA | SPAIN

This was one bullish ride to kick things off and the first in the Gravel Earth series which makes up the lion’s share of the itinerary for this season. The location of La Traka in Girona is a cycling paradise, and the race is to gravel racing what Wimbledon is to tennis (minus the royal dignitaries); a real party atmosphere and very special terrain. Local favourite and last year’s winner of the 200km category, Lydia Iglesias, was hoping to make an impact in the 360km category. Our Catalan ace really got stuck in, rallying for almost 18 hours in the saddle and finishing in a very respectable eighth place. ‘The toughest race I've ever done.’ The rest of the team – Maria (who was also in the podium with Lydia in 2022), Isabelle and Annabel (who won the 100km category last season) – all competed in the 200km course. Maria rode home in 14th position with Isabelle coming in a few minutes later to take 15th. Maria it should be noted came 2nd in her age category but knowing her, this is irrelevant… Annabel took fourth spot and, knowing her, was somewhat disappointed. She would make up for it soon, however.

AACHEN | GERMANY

Two weeks later the team were off to Germany for a UCI qualifying event (to qualify for the Worlds in Italy at the end of the season), in Aachen on the border with Belgium and rubbing elbows with some of the best in world cyclocross. This circuit was a relentless and muddy affair suited to punchy type riders. 130 kilometres of undulating and increasingly sloppy terrain thanks to a shed load of rain the day before.

A very tough race by all accounts, shorter than usual yet at a brutal intensity, where it was every rider for themselves. Annabel placed fourth on GC making qualification. Not your typical ‘Gravel’ encounter, but good for the legs and a great test of kit and hardware. The Lauf Seigla bikes and Hutchinson tyres performed effortlessly, and Petra Shibori jackets and Elsa cargo shorts stood up to the conditions in style.

THE MIGRATION RACE | KENYA

The next stop on the Gravel Earth Series was something special – a stage race in the territory of Masai Mara in the south-west of Kenya. The Masai Mara makes up one of the largest nature reserves in Africa, a vast expanse of grassy plains, savannah and hills, and home to an incredible diversity of wildlife. Over four days, the Café du Cycliste Gravel Team rode 650km with 8000m of climbing. A truly unforgettable journey. Mixed fortunes here, but nothing worth doing is easy. The first day of racing saw Annabel ride the 140-kilometres to first place, with Lydia in third. Our Icelandic warrior Maria and Belgian adventurer Isabelle finished in the top ten – a superb start. Day two is mountainous, 170 kilometres long with 2800m of climbing. 10km in Lydia crashes and buries any hope of finishing the day in contention.

Annabel also suffers misfortune, falling ill. But Maria remains focused on the race, and over the next two days draws on her vast racing experience and steely spirit to take third place in the GC. A beautiful result that can only be matched by seeing a herd of giraffes wander across the horizon on the penultimate evening at camp. What an experience for everyone involved.

From the cobbled farm roads of France to the dusty hills of Spain; tough laps in the mud to the vast African plains. The Café du Cycliste Gravel Team have already covered a lot of varying terrain, epic distance, and myriad conditions. And they’re only halfway there. Next stop is the formidable topography of The Rift in Iceland, Maria’s home gravel, on the 22nd of July. Stay tuned and stay out there.

The Migration Race

The Migration Race is a 600km Gravel race over four stages/days taking place in the territory of Masai Mara in the south-west of Kenya.

Aachen, Germany: UCI Gravel World Series

The big race will once again take place near Veneto (Italy) at the beginning of October, a grand finale to a season of undoubtedly true and testing grit.

The Traka: The reference for European gravel

For the Café du Cycliste Gravel Team, arriving at The Traka is a little like visiting an old friend. There’s a familiarity born of previous experience and two of the team were winners last year (Annabel Fisher in the 100km and Lydia Iglesias in the 200km).

Gravel Advice: Women of the CDC GT

We sat down with the CDC GT, our female trio of Gravel racers, to talk about women’s racing and community, and how it feels to be a female athlete in a traditionally male-focussed sport.