THE SANTA VALL OPENS THE CURTAIN OF THE GRAVEL EARTH SERIES
A stage challenge will inaugurate the ambitious calendar of the international gravel circuit calendar
Sant Gregori, five minutes from the city of Girona, will bring together the stars of this sport
Santa Vall. This is the scenario chosen to open the curtain of the Gravel Earth Series. Klassmark’s ambitious project reaches its second edition as the international gravel circuit of reference for cyclists who practice this modality throughout the year. 20 events in 13 countries that promote respect for the environment, the connection with nature and the exchange of experiences with the whole community. Among them, a renewed Santa Vall, transformed into a gravel stage challenge to welcome the Gravel Earth Series. From Friday February 16 to Sunday February 18, all eyes will be on Sant Gregori, a small village located just five minutes from the city of Girona. The event will be attended by the best gravel specialists on earth. Among them, the current champions of the circuit, the Italian Mattia de Marchi and the British Annabel Fischer.
The festival will start on Friday February 16 from 4 PM with a prologue of 6.3 kilometers with 362 meters of positive gain, specifically the distance between Sant Gregori and Sant Grau, one of the mythical summits of the area. This hill climb will be the first step for all cyclists, both amateurs and elites. Later, after finishing the challenge, all of them will be invited to the official presentation of athletes and teams of the Gravel Earth Series. An extensive list of candidates, both for the victory of the Santa Vall and for the glory of the circuit, will parade on the theater of Espai La Pineda. In this location will focus the activity of the three days with all the services demanded by the participant.
Among the athletes with options to be protagonists, we find the British Annabel Fisher and the Italian Mattia de Marchi. Both will start the defense of their crown in the Santa Vall. In fact, in the women’s draw we find the last Top5, completed by the American Amity Rockwell, the British Maddy Nutt, the German Svenja Betz and the Dutch Geertje Schreurs. However, the victory may also be in the hands of names like the German Carolin Schiff or the Spanish Clàudia Galicia, among many others. In the men’s draw, the presence of the Dutchman Diederik Deelen, the Swiss Nils Correvon or the British Toby Perry, third, fourth and fifth in 2023, also stands out. The American Payson McElveen, the Dutch Ivar Slik and Hans Becking, the French Hugo Drechou, the Czech Petr Vakoc, the German Paul Voss or the Danish Tobias Kongstad, are also part of an endless list of favorites. Anything can happen in the first event of the season. All the riders who will be called to the presentation have options to occupy the places of honor.
The second stage, on Saturday February 17, will mark the first important differences. The itinerary has a length of 72.6 kilometers with 830 meters of positive gain. However, the entire track will not be timed. The classification will be determined by the sum of the two previously marked segments. In addition, the start will be open; participants will be able to cross through the starting arch between 9 and 10 AM. The strategy will be key to arrive with options to the third and last round. Sunday February 18 will dictate the sentence with a linear day of 116 kilometers with 1542 meters of positive gain. The longest stage of the Santa Vall will be a reality from 8:30 AM, when the women will do the first pedals. An hour later it will be the turn of the men. Glory awaits at the finish line in Sant Gregori.
This is the scenario and the format that will distribute the first points of the international circuit. The Santa Vall has been catalogued as a Gravel Earth, but the level of participation is worthy of the best event of the calendar. The winners will walk away with 750 points. The final classification includes the two best scores of the year plus the points of the grand final. The Gravel Earth Series party is about to kick off and everything indicates that it will do so in style.
