THE TRAKA MOVES THE WHOLE WORLD FROM GIRONA WITH THE BEST GRAVEL WEEK OF THE YEAR
The Gravel Earth Series returned to Girona for one of its most iconic and emotional chapters: The Traka. From April 30 to May 4, over 4,000 cyclists from 74 countries came together to celebrate what gravel truly means: nature, effort, freedom, and connection.
What started in 2019 with fewer than 100 riders has become a truly global event — and The Traka 2025 proved once again why it’s a defining stop on the GES calendar.
TRAKA 360K: KONGSTAD’S REIGN AND MIGON’S HISTORIC BACK-TO-BACK
Friday, May 2, marked the queen stage: 360 kilometers with 3,700 meters of elevation gain. Riders from all corners of the world faced one of the toughest and most prestigious gravel races in existence — a highlight of the Gravel Earth Series, where the stakes couldn’t be higher.
The day belonged to Tobias Kongstad (DEN). After coming close in 2023 (2nd) and 2024 (5th), Kongstad took a massive gamble: attacking with 160 km to go. What he described as a “stupid move” turned out to be genius — he soloed to victory in a record-breaking 11h37m30s, writing his name into the history books.
Behind him, the battle for the podium was fierce. A relentless sprint between Jan Stöckli (SUI) and Simen Nordahl Svendsen (NOR) delivered second and third places respectively. Benjamin Perry (CAN) and Adne Koster (NED) completed the top five, while previous champions Mattia De Marchi (ITA) and Peter Stetina (USA) ended sixth and seventh after losing contact on the decisive climb to Els Metges.
In the women’s field, Karolina Migon (POL) made history by defending her 2024 title — becoming the first woman to win two consecutive Traka 360Ks. It was a hard-fought victory. A strong lead group formed early on, featuring Sarah Sturm (USA), Gee Schreurs (NED), Louise Valentin (DEN), and Axelle Dubau-Prévot (FRA). Attrition hit hard: Schreurs crashed and broke her elbow, Valentin suffered mechanical issues, and in the final kilometers, Migon attacked after crossing a river — opening a decisive gap and sealing the win in 13h39m00s.
Behind her, Axelle Dubau-Prévot outsprinted Sarah Sturm for second. With this third-place finish, Sturm now has three podiums in three years, a testament to her consistency at the highest level.
TRAKA 200K: DOMINANT WINS FOR SCHMIDT AND GOMEZ VILLAFAÑE
On Saturday, May 3, the Traka 200K took over Girona. With 200 km and 2,500 m of climbing, it’s the most popular distance — but make no mistake, it’s elite-level gravel, and one of the core scoring events in the Gravel Earth Series.
In the men’s race, Mads Würtz Schmidt (DEN) broke away in the final 50 kilometers, after riding in a front group that included Matthew Beers (RSA) and Filippo Conca (ITA). He crossed the line solo in 6h12m21s, while Beers and Conca battled for the remaining podium spots — Beers edging out Conca by a second. Petr Vakoc (CZE), the 2024 winner, finished fourth, followed by Wout Alleman (BEL), who impressed in his debut at this distance.
The women’s race featured equally intense drama. Sofia Gomez Villafañe (ARG) delivered a powerful late attack with just 10K to go, dropping her closest rival Rosa Klöser (GER), and taking the win in 7h13m01s. Annika Langvad (DEN), a legend of the sport, completed the podium. Cecily Decker (USA) and Paula Blasi (ESP) followed, showcasing the international depth of the field.
GIRONA: THE HEART OF THE GRAVEL EARTH SERIES
But beyond the results, The Traka once again proved to be the perfect excuse to share the best gravel week of the year with the entire community. Girona has firmly established itself, without a doubt, as the global reference point — the capital of a sport that has continued to grow since its breakthrough. For those who once said gravel was just a passing trend, all it took was a glance at The Traka to realize they were wrong. The history of this sport has only just begun.
