The Traka was reaffirmed on the first weekend May in Girona, Spain as one of the leading gravel events in Europe. The event is organised by Klassmark who have positioned their events at the top of the gravel scene.

The 2022 edition of THE TRAKA saw 800 participants from more than 30 different nationalities arrive on the startline. There were amateur gravel bikers, newcomer riders with potential and ex-professional cyclists riding in the gravel paradise of the Spanish peninsula.

There is a saying in Germany - "First things turn out differently and second than you think". My plan was to complete some intensive bike training in March and then ride the 360 km route of THE TRAKA. But a coronavirus infection at the end of March with subsequent quarantine brought me out of my rhythm.

So, I rethought my plans and stood in Girona at the start of the 200 km course of THE TRAKA instead. The start took place punctually at 7 a.m, with an initial air temperature of 11 degrees and slightly damp conditions.

THE TRAKA, with its 200 kms of gravel riding, leads directly over two steep and snappy climbs at the beginning. These climbs so close to the start meant the field should be more widely distributed quite quickly. On the one hand this is great for safety reasons, but above all for reasons of experience. Gravel roads determine the feel of the event - 80% of the course is off-road.

After the start, the front runners among the gravel bikers went full gas. Unfortunately, this mean the first crashes happened on the grass in the starting area! A steep climb led us out of Girona, my heart rate was over 170 BPS. The route took us into a forested region, with some muddy gravel roads and some unlucky gravel riders fell into the muddy puddles and ended up looking like a breaded schnitzel.

In the first 20 kms of the event we climbed more than 500 meters. The steepest climbs were almost 20% gradient in places. Next our route took us towards the sea on fast and now finally dry gravel roads. Like so many others, I couldn't find the second refreshment station in Pals. I only noticed this about 10 kms later, at which point I had no more water in my drinking bottles, but I can fortunately refill them at a fountain. 

After 115 kms came the hardest and longest climb. It was almost 10 kms in length with up to 16% gradient and took us to over 400 meters above sea level. This was followed by a fast descent on a wide trail and later a downhill on a winding paved road. After the penultimate refreshment station, the track changed direction. It was now at high speed over white gravel trails through rapeseed fields with a pleasant tailwind. The last 80 kms were hilly again, although fortunately the climbs were not as long or demanding.

At the last refreshment station I filled my bottles with coke. A few steep short climbs followed. I rode in a group with Americans, Canadians and Spaniards. At a muddy underpass my chain fell off the sprocket and the group rode on towards the finish line without me. Taken at full gas, the trail went parallel to a river on a gravel road. Then, suddenly, 15 kms from the finish, my front wheel slips and I fall violently onto my left side. A lot of blood is running from my left arm onto my handlebars and my shoes. My cycling shorts are torn, my hip is bruised and my knee is covered with blood.

Unfortunately, I can no longer catch up with the group in front of me. I got to the finish in just under 8.5 hours. I went straight to the paramedics, they disinfected my wounds and bandaged me.

I will definitely come back next year and then ride the 360 ​​km route. I hope with better health and with better preparation, tyres with more knobs and hopefully no crashes in the race!

THE TRAKA

The Traka is the most famous gravel race of the events team at Klassmars. The event agency organises numerous running and cycling events in Spain, with an ethos focusing on sustainable tourism.

If you’d like to retrace Timo’s route, you can find it here: