Svenja Betz wins IG360 to be the new Gravel Earth Series leader
Geerike Schreurs, Inocencio Serra and Antti-Jussi were the other winners of the Iron Gravel race.
The Gravel Earth Series continues the Spain tour with The Traka on the horizon
The Spanish tour of the Gravel Earth Series, with the big event of The Traka on the horizon, continues its course. Last 20 April the circuit visited Alicante. Gravel lovers from more than twenty nationalities made the third edition of Iron Gravel a reality. Among its multiple proposals, the IG360 and IG200 distances were eligible for the prestigious international gravel circuit, receiving the category of Gravel Earth. It should be remembered that the Gravel Earth Global events and the Gravel Earth Final, the most important events of the year, receive extra points.
The party was started from the ‘Sergio Melgares’ Park, in Playa de San Juan. The first to take the start were the 360K participants at 5 AM. Two hours later, it was the turn of the cyclists of the 200K itinerary. The tracks combined road and rural landscapes with 4500 and 2500 meters of positive gain respectively. A unique opportunity to get to know this natural environment in the best possible way: pedaling.
The men’s IG360 victory stayed at home. Spanish rider Inocencio Serra was the fastest after sharing the lead with compatriot Jesus Rubio. The official ranking dictated only two seconds difference between the two riders. The Spanish podium was completed by Riquelme Gomis. After four races, Rwanda’s Seth Hakizimana is still in the lead of the Gravel Earth Series ranking, but more and more riders are bidding for a title that will not be decided until the Gravel Eath Final. On the other hand, the victory of German Sevenja Betz, ahead of her teammate Anuchi Gago, puts her at the top of the women’s classification.
The victory in the IG200 was for the Dutch Geerike Schreurs, who is one of the great favorites of the Gravel Earth Series. In the men’s race, the Finn Antti-Jussi won over the Slovenian Adam Jordan and the Canadian Mathieu Belanger. We will surely hear their names again. Only four of the nineteen events have been contested What a blessed madness!
GRAVEL EARTH SERIES MEN RANKING
1. Seth Hakizimana (RWA) / Team Amani – 1296 pt
2. Adam Jordan (SLO) – 1188 pt
3. Piotr Havik (NED) / Classified Ridley – 1122 pt
4. Alexys Brunel (FRA) / Groove Gravel – 1020 pt
5. Ndungu Kieya (KEN) / Team Amani – 1020 pt
GRAVEL EARTH SERIES WOMEN RANKING
1. Svenja Betz (GER) / Reverb Cycling – 1392 pt
2. Geerike Schreurs (NED) / Specialized SD Worx – 1356 pt
3. Xaverine Nirere (RWA) / Team Amani – 1296 pt
4. Anuchi Gago (ESP) / Reverb Cycling – 1260 pt
5. Annabel Fisher (GBR) / Classified Ridley – 1050 pt