The Traka 2025: Where Gravel Dreams and Earth Ethics Converge
- James Ion
- May 6
- 6 min read
Words - James Ion. Photography - ©The Traka | ©Photographer (credited)
Girona, Spain, May 2025
In the golden embrace of Catalonia's spring, where ancient stone whispers tales of time gone past and the Pyrenees cast long, protective shadows, The Traka 2025 unfolded, a symphony of grit, grace, and gravel. Over four days, Girona transformed into the epicentre of the gravel cycling world, drawing riders from every corner of the globe to test themselves against the terrain and each other, all under the guiding principle, No Nature, No Future.
Setting the Scene: Girona's Timeless Allure
Girona, with its labyrinthine alleys, Romanesque architecture, and the gentle flow of the Onyar River, offers more than just a backdrop; it provides a narrative. The city's medieval walls and cobblestone streets echo with history, while the surrounding landscapes, rolling hills, dense forests, and rugged trails challenge and inspire. It's here that Klassmark, the visionary organisers behind The Traka, have cultivated an event that marries competition with conservation.
The Traka Adventure 560K: A Test of Endurance
The inaugural 560km Traka Adventure was a testament to human resilience. Victor Bosoni conquered the gruelling course in 24 hours, 9 minutes, and 42 seconds, finishing over an hour ahead of his closest competitor. "I pushed so hard, I can't believe it," Bosoni shared, lifting his bike in triumph. In the women's category, Svenja Betz dominated with a time of 28 hours, 52 minutes, and 9 seconds, finishing more than three hours ahead of the runner-up. "It was amazing, but it was so hard," Betz reflected on her monumental effort. (For more on this event, check out our very own Chris Mehlman's piece on how he bagged fourth place here!)
The Traka 360K: Tactical Mastery and Tenacity
The 360km race saw Tobias Kongstad execute a bold solo attack with 160km remaining, maintaining a lead over a strong international field to claim victory. This win marked a significant improvement from his previous second and fifth-place finishes. "I didn’t want to pull the climbers on the flats, so I figured if I went solo, they’d have to catch me,” he explained of his race-winning move. In the women's race, Karolina Migoń defended her title with a late solo attack, edging out Axelle Dubau-Prévôt and Sarah Sturm. "Defending my title was a key goal for the season," Migoń stated, her determination evident in every pedal stroke.
The Traka 200K: Emerging Talents and Strategic Moves
Mads Würtz Schmidt clinched the men's title with a decisive late attack over the final 20 kilometres, finishing in 6:12:21. "I saw an opportunity and went for it," Würtz Schmidt explained. In the women's race, Sofia Gómez Villafañe outpaced Rosa Klöser by 44 seconds, winning in 7:13:01 after the two rode much of the race together. "Racing alongside Rosa pushed me to my limits," Villafañe acknowledged, before referring to Klöser as “such a gem” for working together in the break, the two swapped turns and even navigational tips, embodying the cooperative spirit of gravel. In return, Gómez Villafañe showed sportsmanship by waiting when Klöser crashed mid-race. “I knew my best chance to beat her was on the singletrack… I got a gap and then full gas to the finish,” she recounted, celebrating a tactical win in her first Traka.
The Traka 100K: Community and Celebration
The 100km event was a celebration of the gravel community, attracting both seasoned riders and enthusiastic newcomers. The course, with its mix of gravel roads and trails, offered a challenging yet accessible experience, embodying The Traka's inclusive spirit. Perhaps the most heartwarming feedback came from riders praising the inclusive atmosphere. It’s not every day an amateur can say they raced in the same event as legends like Valverde or rode in the peloton with WorldTour pros. As one finisher put it on Twitter, “Where else but The Traka can a regular guy like me line up behind Tour de France veterans? Girona gravel is something special.” The overall sentiment was that The Traka 2025 struck a perfect balance between serious competition and fun-loving gravel culture, exactly what participants had hoped for.
Beyond the Races: A Festival of Gravel Culture
Outside of the racing, The Traka was part cycling expo, part music festival, and all-around good time. Each morning began with a “Coffee, Breakfast & Go” gathering by SRAM to fuel riders before sunrise. As the sun rose over Girona’s Parc de les Ribes del Ter, the start/finish area transformed into a bustling village of tents and food trucks. Major bike brands and local vendors lined the expo: Canyon provided free race-day bike service for any mechanicals, SRAM and Zipp hosted tech clinics and Q&A sessions with pro riders and navigation partner Garmin ran a quirky on-site “Garmin Challenge” competition for spectators between race updates.
Families, fans, and curious locals flocked to the venue to cheer on finishers and soak up the scene. Kids chased each other on balance bikes, inspired by the racers zooming through. Food stalls served everything from recovery smoothies to local Catalan snacks. At midday, attention often turned to the big screen streaming live drone footage of the 360 riders grinding out in the hinterlands. You could hear gasps and applause as the crowd watched Kongstad’s solo break or Migoń’s late attack unfold in real time.
What truly set The Traka apart was the community engagement built around the races. Every afternoon, social recovery rides (dubbed “warm-up” or “pre-game” rides) were led by sponsors Pas Normal Studios and Canyon, inviting anyone to spin out their legs alongside pros who might show up incognito. Each evening, the plaza became a party: Happy Hour flowed with local craft beer courtesy of Hutchinson Tires, and a live DJ spun tunes as finishers swapped war stories. Thursday and Friday nights featured special events – like a live “Canyon Chit Chat” podcast recording with gravel stars, and even a surprise Correfoc (a traditional Catalan fire-run with costumed “demons” dancing and shooting sparks) that lit up the night sky. Wide-eyed international riders got a taste of Catalonia’s culture under the crackle of fireworks, surely a first at a bike race.
By the time the Cool Down Party hit full swing, complete with pizza at golden hour and a live band, The Traka had firmly cemented itself as not just a race, but a gravel lifestyle festival. Riders who had finished the 360 utterly exhausted, somehow, found the energy to hobble back to the venue with finisher medals around their necks and beers in hand. Locals mingled with visitors, and languages from Spanish and English to Dutch, German, and Japanese could be heard, all united by the shared experience of grinding Girona’s gravel. As the last 100 and 50 finishers rolled in on Sunday to a chorus of cowbells and cheers, The Traka’s speaker announced: “You are all heroes!” The crowd roared in agreement. Community truly is at the heart of this event, and nowhere was that more evident than in the finish chute hugs, high-fives, and even a few tears of joy.
Impact on the Gravel Earth Series
The Traka's results significantly influenced the Gravel Earth Series standings. Kongstad's and Migoń's victories propelled them to the top of the leaderboard, setting the stage for an exciting season ahead. The performances of riders like Würtz Schmidt and Villafañe also signalled a shift in the competitive landscape, introducing new contenders into the mix.
Embracing the Ethos: No Nature, No Future
Klassmark's ethos permeated every aspect of The Traka. From eliminating single-use plastics to promoting local products and encouraging responsible riding, the event exemplified how sports can harmonise with environmental stewardship. "We have to convey to people the privilege of being able to use the environment for our leisure," Klassmark founder Gerard Freixes emphasised, reinforcing the event's core values.
Conclusion: The Traka's Enduring Legacy
As the sun set over Girona, casting a warm glow over the city and its surrounding landscapes, The Traka 2025 concluded, leaving behind memories of triumph, camaraderie, and a reaffirmed commitment to nature. In a world where the future of our planet is increasingly uncertain, events like The Traka illuminate a path forward, where passion for sport and reverence for the environment coexist, reminding us all that with No Nature, there is No Future.
For more information on No Nature No Future and the work of Klassmark, visit their website here: https://www.klassmark.com/en/
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