TRICKY TRAKA

All eyes were on Girona, one of the homes of cycling in Europe, in the first week of May, for the eagerly anticipated Traka, the largest race on the European gravel calendar.

But the week started ominously, with significant storms and rain – a forecast that led to the organisers cancelling the 560-kilometre ‘adventure’ route that had been due to debut this year.

Never had the race taken place in bad conditions, but Café du Cycliste was there – for the third year running – with athletes in each event ready to compete come what may. For our gravel team women, this was the second race of the season after Santa Vall, the first event in the Gravel Earth Series, of which Café du Cycliste is a title sponsor. Meanwhile, it was the new men’s gravel team’s debut outing of the year. Check out both teams here.

The gravel team women were taking on the 360km and 100km races, alongside some athletes from the extended Café du Cycliste family, while the men’s gravel team were riding the 200km event; and employees, including our founder, Rémi Clermont, had signed up for the shorter distances.

In the event, the Friday morning dawned cold and very wet underfoot, but the blue skies would return as the day went on. And so the gun was fired to start the 360km event – reduced slightly in length to avoid flooding – only an hour behind schedule.

Every race brings something new, and new to the Traka this year was the mud! Gravel riding has many faces, from smooth and dusty to large and rocky, but one thing is certain: when it’s been raining, there will be mud.

Riding in mud brings its own challenges, as does keeping an eye on the changing ground conditions. Add to that navigating by GPS – the races are not signposted – and the potential for mechanical problems, and it’s easy to see vigilance is required at all times.

After a long day in the saddle, gravel team riders María Ögn Guðmundsdóttir and Heura Piñol finished 15th and 32nd women respectively – María smiling all the way and Heura coming in after midnight! Male Café athletes Hafsteinn Geirsson and Thibault Viarengo, meanwhile, finished 25th and 81st. The women’s race was won outright by Poland’s Karolina Migon, and the men’s by Peter Stetina from the USA.

On the 200km race, a lightning-quick start meant a competitive selection right from the gun. Andréa Mifsud established himself in the second group, battled to stay in contention on the technical sections and came in 53rd. Noah Knecht started fast but a series of punctures, and 10km rolling on his back rim before a change of wheel, left him in 101st place. The men’s race was won by the Czech Petr Vakoc and the women’s by Germany’s Carolin Schiff.

In the women’s 100km race, our Maria Capdevila came in 32nd, breaking her 100km personal best on the way. And Café employee Marvin Gruget podiumed in the 50km race, coming third!

Next on the schedule for the men’s gravel team is the Wish One qualifying race for the UCI World Championships, in Millau, south-central France. Check out the new gravel team kit here!