The Traka 360: Mads Würtz Schmidt completes the double with dominant victory, as Rosa Klöser wins with impressive 90km solo on challenging Girona gravel

Mads Würtz Schmidt and Rosa Klöser emerged as the standout performers at The Traka 360 gravel race in Girona, each securing commanding solo victories in the 325km event. Würtz Schmidt, the European champion riding for Specialized Off-Road, dominated the men’s race by breaking away with over 100km remaining and maintaining his lead to finish in just under ten hours. Klöser, representing Canyon-SRAM zondacrypto, delivered an equally impressive performance in the women’s race, launching a decisive attack with around 90km to go and holding off her rivals to claim victory by nearly 13 minutes. Würtz Schmidt’s win marked a significant milestone as he became the first rider to claim victories in both headline events at The Traka, having won the shorter 200km race the previous year. The demanding course, featuring 4,150 metres of climbing over predominantly gravel terrain, tested the riders’ endurance and technical skills. Despite the challenging conditions, Würtz Schmidt expressed his admiration for the race, highlighting its complexity and the complete skill set required to succeed. However, he ruled out attempting the even longer 560km event, indicating he plans to return to the 200km race next year. The men’s race saw a fierce battle for the podium behind Würtz Schmidt, with Hugo Drechou of Gravel Nation and Matt Beers of Specialized Off-Road rounding out the top three after a tactical and aggressive finale. Drechou overtook a late attack by Canada’s Ben Perry to secure second place, while Beers utilised his technical mountain biking skills to hold off rivals in the final kilometres. Defending champion Tobias Kongstad was unable to replicate his previous success, finishing seventh and well off the pace of the winner. In the women’s competition, Klöser’s early breakaway on the first climb quickly reduced the leading group, and she eventually distanced herself from French champion Axelle Dubau-Prévot and Geerike Scheurs. Despite their efforts to close the gap, Klöser steadily increased her lead to secure a dominant win. She reflected on her strong form and the motivation gained from previous races, while also expressing concern for defending champion Karolina Migoń, who suffered an incident during the race. The Traka 360 continues to build its reputation as a premier event in the gravel racing calendar, combining technical terrain with significant elevation gain to challenge even the most accomplished riders. With further races scheduled over the weekend, including a 200km event and the ultra-endurance 560km Adventure race, the festival promises to maintain its status as a key fixture for gravel enthusiasts and professional competitors alike.