RANXO WILL CROWN THE NEW KINGS OF THE GRAVEL EARTH SERIES
The Gravel Earth Final will bring to an end a spectacular season that has crossed 13 countries and discovered the most fascinating corners of the planet
On October 13, 2024, the universe of gravel cycling will turn its eyes to Ponts; the small Catalan town will become the epicenter of one of the most anticipated finals of the global cycling calendar. Ranxo Gravel, surrounded by a unique landscape in deep Catalonia, will be the stage for the Grand Final of the Gravel Earth Series, the culmination of a season full of challenges, adventures, and spectacular landscapes that have taken cyclists to the most impressive corners of the planet in a journey that is both physical and emotional, where every pedal stroke has counted. The Gravel Earth Series have been an authentic celebration of gravel in its purest form, with a total of 20 races spread across 13 countries, all marked by their authenticity and unparalleled scenic value. United States, Mexico, Chile, Iceland, Great Britain, Switzerland, Spain, Latvia, Lithuania, Denmark, Sweden, Finland, and Kenya have written the history of this second edition.
However, everything is yet to be decided in Ponts. Ranxo Gravel, with its web of paths that for centuries has woven the agricultural life of the towns in the Noguera and Segarra regions, will host the race of races. The Gravel Earth Final will award the highest and most valuable points haul of the season to crown the champions of the second edition of the Gravel Earth Series. Italian Mattia de Marchi and Briton Annabel Fisher, the first and current champions of the circuit, are looking for successors. The Large course of 160 kilometers with 1700 meters of elevation gain has been selected as the route for the final battle, a challenge as demanding as it is spectacular. This is the setting where the best-prepared cyclists on the planet will fight against the terrain and their own limits with the Gravel Earth Series title in sight.
Hugo Drechou, Simen Nordahl Svendsen, Rob Britton, Peter Stetina, Petr Vakoc, Markus Auvinen, Karolina Migon, and Sarah Sturm depend on themselves to win the title
The ranking system has allowed everything to remain open until the very last moment. The final classification takes into account the two best scores obtained throughout the season plus the result of the Gravel Earth Final, where the points will be decisive. The winner will earn 1500 points, while other races awarded 750 or 1000 points to the winners depending on their category. In the men’s field, everything seems set for an epic showdown between the favorites. A total of six cyclists arrive at the Grand Final depending only on themselves. A victory by the current circuit leaders, who have 1808 points, Frenchman Hugo Drechou and Norwegian Simen Nordahl Svendsen, as well as their closest pursuers, Canadian Rob Britton, American Peter Stetina, Czech Petr Vakoc, and Finn Markus Auvinen, would automatically guarantee them the glory of the Gravel Earth Series. However, the competition does not end there. Behind them comes a legion of contenders, ready to give their all in this final race. If Italian Mattia de Marchi, Americans Griffin Easter and Chad Haga, or Dane Tobias Mørch Kongstad, among others, manage a good result, it will be time to bring out the calculator to determine the winner.
On the women’s side, the battle for the title also promises to be intense. Polish rider Karolina Migon, leader of the ranking with 1920 points, and American Sarah Sturm, second with 1856 points, have the opportunity to write their names as champions of the Gravel Earth Series automatically if they win the Gravel Earth Final. The rest of the participants do not depend on themselves. However, it will not be easy, as their rivals are prepared to fight until the last kilometer. Close behind them is British rider Madeleine Nutt, while other athletes to watch are Danish Klara Sofie Skovgård, American Morgan Aguirre, Briton Danielle Shrosbree, and Rwandan Xaverine Nirere. These names will be joined by others determined to add excitement to the final standings.
Ranxo Gravel, with its infinite landscapes and rich history, will be the perfect stage for this battle of titans. The the lands of Lleida will become the battlefield where the best cyclists in the world will compete for ultimate glory. It will be a test of endurance, strategy, and skill, where every turn, every climb, and every descent could make the difference between victory and defeat. The reward is too great to let it slip away. At stake is a place in history. But beyond the competition, the Gravel Earth Final will also be a celebration of the passion for gravel, a sport that combines adventure, nature, and challenge in its purest form.
In fact, Klassmark, promoters of the race and the circuit, have prepared two additional routes so that all cyclists can be part of this great gravel festival. The Medium route of 105 kilometers with 1300 meters of elevation gain will offer an intermediate challenge, while the Short course of 67 kilometers with 1050 meters of elevation gain is designed for those who want to enjoy the landscape without facing the maximum demand. These distances allow the entire cycling community to participate and experience the unique atmosphere of the Gravel Earth Final. The party is about to begin.
