#gravel-racing

#gravel-racing

Merida just launched an all-new Mission gravel race bike that looks a lot more like their road racing lineup than it does most adventure-focused gravel bikes these days. That essentially boils down to the fact that their bikepacking-ready Silex had already won a gravel world championship. So, Merida didn't need another all-rounder. They didn't even need a fat tire gravel race bike.

Magnaldi also crossed the line of the 120km event in the Monferrato wine region solo, carving out a gap of nearly three minutes to Nicole Frain (Ridley Racing) while mountain biker Irina Lützelschwab was third. The two riders on the lower steps of the podium claimed exactly the same places as they had at the Gravel Grit n Grind in Sweden last week.

"I really wasn't planning to go that early, but I had a gap coming out of the [ranch's] field, and I decided to go from there, and yeah, it was a long day by myself."

Unbound Gravel has become a marquee event in gravel racing, attracting thousands and showcasing the growing popularity and diverse landscape of off-road cycling.

"A lot of our day to day focus, and what we see as SEVEN is all in the build towards the World Championships. They are in alignment, so our day to day focus is really the World Championships, which is carrying SEVEN along with it," said race director Stephen Gallagher.

"The King Ridge Grasshopper was my first enduro-style event, so I was excited to try something new. The hard steep climbs were rewarded with spectacular views of the Sonoma coast."

The Traka has emerged as a top gravel race in Europe, boasting multiple route options and attracting both amateur and professional riders, rivaling established events.

I broke my wheel about 150 km in so that was it, day done. The wheel, it was unridable, so I got a lift from a local guy out there who was headed back to town and then tracked down the crew.

“I was in survival mode on the descents but I surprised myself being able to hang with the leaders as long as I did on the climbs.”