RUBY RYAN AND MATTHEW WILSON CONQUER CALIFORNIA AT LOST & FOUND GRAVEL FESTIVAL
The Gravel Earth Series crossed the Atlantic for its first stop in the United States, and Lost & Found Gravel Festival once again delivered a spectacular day of racing in the vast landscapes of Portola, California. Surrounded by the Sierra Nevada mountains, riders faced high-altitude gravel roads, volcanic terrain and endless horizons in one of North America’s most iconic gravel events.
In the men’s race, New Zealander Matthew Wilson proved strongest on the Californian gravel, taking victory after an impressive performance against a stacked field. Wilson crossed the line ahead of American gravel stars Payson McElveen and Peter Stetina, adding his name to the Lost & Found winners list and securing valuable Gravel Earth Series points.
The women’s race delivered one of the closest finishes of the season.
After more than five and a half hours of racing, Ruby Ryan and Samara Sheppard reached the finish line separated by only fractions of a second. Ryan claimed victory in a dramatic sprint finish, with Sheppard taking second and Jennifer Tavé completing the podium.
The Californian stop offered a very different challenge from the previous round at Ranxo Gravel by THE TRAKA.
Seven races into the season, the Gravel Earth Series continues to build momentum.
And now, the journey moves to a completely different world.
Next stop: Migration Gravel Race
From California, the series heads directly to Kenya.
The Migration Gravel Race takes riders into the Maasai Mara for four days of racing through one of the most spectacular and remote landscapes on the planet. A race unlike any other on the calendar and one of the most unique experiences in gravel cycling.
A new continent.
A new challenge.
The fight for the Gravel Earth Series continues.
