MATTIA DE MARCHI AND CAROLIN SCHIFF CONQUER UTOPIA TO PRESENT THEIR CANDIDATURE

The Italian, reigning champion, and the German signed the first victory of the Gravel Earth Series season

French Alexys Brunel and Axelle Dubau-Prevot are the new leaders of the overall ranking

Utopia has closed the Spanish tour of the Gravel Earth Series before the first big event of the year: The Traka, the first Gravel Earth Global race of the calendar. The proximity of dates made some of the most important athletes of the circuit disembark in Baza. The winners, the Italian Mattia de Marchi and the German Carolin Schiff, are among the great candidates for the final glory. On April 27, they registered their names in the history of a unique event.

Utopia Gravel Fest is not a common event, it’s a unique gravel festival with a truly spectacular event course to meet like-minded gravel grinders from all corners of the world. The desert of Gorafe and surroundings of Baza provided a spectacular environment for gravel riding. A spectacular track was waiting the athletes in the desert with more than 90% on perfect gravel roads and stunning views. 165 kilometers with 2500 meters of positive gain of pure adrenaline.

Both Mattia de Marchi and Carolin Schiff won the race with solvency, but it was not until the last third of the track where they dictated sentence. They saved the necessary strength for the key moment. The victory puts them both in sixth place in the Gravel Earth Series ranking and they will surely continue to climb positions to reach the Gravel Earth Final with many options.

Behind the Italian, the podium was very tight with four athletes finishing within 36 seconds of each other. In the end, second place went to French Alexys Brunel, the new leader of the overall ranking, followed by his compatriot Hugo Drechou. In the women’s race, the German was supported by the French Axelle Dubau-Prevot. The second step of the podium also catapulted her to the top of the Gravel Earth Series. The photo of honor was closed by the Spanish Natalia Fischer.

In addition to Saturday’s Gravel Earth Series track, the Utopia Gravel Fest offered another less demanding distance. This is not all. On Friday the participants were welcomed with a hill climb and the activities were extended throughout the week. A real fest where there were smiles and live music. A clear example that the Grael Earth Series is about values and community.

UTOPIA MEN RANKING
1. Matiia de Marchi (ITA) / Enough Cycling – 5h30m36s
2. Alexys Brunel (FRA) / Groove Gravel – 5h34m15s
3. Hugo Drechou (FRA) / Groove Gravel) – 5h34m28s
4. David Valero (ESP) – 5h34m32s
5. Jarne Vandersteen (NED) – 5h34m51s

UTOPIA WOMEN RANKING
1. Carolin Schiff (GER) / Canyon Collctv – 6h37m14s
2. Axelle Dubau-Prevot (FRA) / Groove Gravel – 6h42m04s
3. Natalia Fischer (ESP) / Scott Cala Bandida – 6h53m12s
4. Jade Treffeisen (GER) / Canyon Collctv– 6h54m59s
5. Sofia Rodríguez (ESP) / Nesta CX – 7h02m14s

GRAVEL EARTH SERIES MEN RANKING
1. Alexys Brunel (FRA) / Groove Gravel – 1380 pt
2. Seth Hakizimana (RWA) / Team Amani – 1296 pt
3. Adam Jordan (SLO) – 1188 pt
4. Piotr Havik (NED) / Classified Ridley – 1122 pt
5. Hugo Drechou (FRA) / Groove Gravel – 1116 pt

GRAVEL EARTH SERIES WOMEN RANKING
1. Axelle Dubau-Prevot (FRA) / Groove Gravel – 1440 pt
2. Svenja Betz (GER) / Reverb Cycling – 1392 pt
3. Geerike Schreurs (NED) / Specialized SD Worx – 1356 pt
4. Xaverine Nirere (RWA) / Team Amani – 1296 pt
5. Anuchi Gago (ESP) / Reverb Cycling – 1260 pt