Race WeekEnd in Spain

Double victory for Denmark!

I'll translate this Italian/Spanish article about gravel cycling races into English:

Annika Langvad and Magnus Bak Klaris dominate Santa Vall: Danish double victory in Catalonia

Annika Langvad (Specialized Off-Road) and Magnus Bak Klaris (PAS Racing) set their pace at the Santa Vall in Girona, claiming the overall title after two days of technical racing. Both Danish riders capitalized on their initial stage wins and subsequent podium finishes to open the 2025 European gravel season with success.

Langvad dominated the general classification with a total time of 6:34:25, leaving second-place Geerike Schreurs (SD Worx-Protime) 12 minutes behind. The third podium spot went to Rosa Klöser (Canyon CLLCTV), with an additional gap of 2:25.

Bak Klaris celebrated two consecutive stage victories in the men's category, finishing the race with a total time of 5:36:11. Petr Vakoc (Canyon) secured second place, 3:18 behind the Dane, while Paul Voss (Autsaid X Rose Bikes) completed the podium with an overall gap of 4:23.

The Santa Vall was contested over 196.5 km of gravel roads and awarded points for the Gravel Earth Series, having joined the expanded global circuit this year. Compared to last year's edition, the race moved from May to mid-February, reducing race days from three to two but increasing the points value by 10%.

Langvad: The winning return of the off-road queen

A six-time Marathon MTB world champion, three-time Cape Epic winner, and previous Leadville MTB 100 champion, Annika Langvad returned to off-road racing two years ago with a focus on gravel.

"It was a mentally and physically exhausting day. I kept pushing without really knowing what was happening. I'm relieved, I didn't think winning was possible," she declared after the race.

Former road professional Magnus Bak Klaris, winner of the Danish national gravel title in 2023 and fifth at Europeans last year, confirmed his versatility by dominating the Catalan race.

Stage 1: Langvad and Klaris immediate protagonists

The first stage covered 80 km south of Sant Gregori, with a tough 9% climb in the first 2 km. The gravel surface, present for over 80% of the course, was made treacherous by mud, despite the absence of rain.

Langvad won the sprint ahead of Rosa Klöser and Geerike Schreurs. PAS Racing placed four riders in the top 10: Morgan Aguirre fourth, Cassia Boglio, Emily Newsom, and Karolina Migoń from eighth to tenth position.

"It was a fun race. I'm here with my family, this is my first gravel race. I stopped racing as a pro in mountain biking years ago and now I want to try gravel," said Langvad, who in 2023 had already won two of the three gravel races she entered, including La Monsterrato.

In the men's race, Klaris attacked in the final 10 km, winning solo with over a minute's advantage over Lukas Malezsewski (Jaro Factory Team). The Belgian led a group of 12 pursuers, with Tim Wollenberg (Protective Factory Team) third. Paul Voss, Petr Vakoc, and Jasper Ockeloen finished seventh, eighth, and ninth respectively.

Stage 2: Traxler and Slik claim stage victories

The second stage, longer at 116.5 km, offered even more gravel and 1,600 meters of elevation gain. After an initial paved climb 8 km from the start, the course featured a challenging 8 km climb through the Gavarres massif.

Canadian Anna Gabrielle Traxler (Enough Cycling Collective) surprised everyone, winning with over 12 minutes ahead of Langvad. Axelle Dubau-Prévôt completed the podium with a powerful sprint over Nicole Frain (Ridley Racing Team) and Karolina Migoń (PAS Racing).

In the men's race, Ivar Slik (Wilier Factory Racing) marked a great return to gravel racing after last year's serious injury before Unbound Gravel. He won solo, leading Lawrence Naesen (Next Level Racing) by over 14 minutes, while Klaris finished third, confirming his overall lead.

Meanwhile on Saturday in SPAIN:

Alejandro Valverde (Movistar) claimed another victory in the elite men's category at the Castellón Gravel Race last Saturday, while German champion Carolin Schiff (Canyon CLLCTV) dominated the elite women's race over a 97 km course.

Since Valverde started competing in gravel in 2023, after 12 years in the WorldTour, he has won three UCI Trek Gravel World Series races, all in Spain. Schiff, also coming from a long road career, has collected nine podiums in UCI Gravel World Series in two seasons, also securing significant wins at Unbound Gravel 200 and The Traka 200.

Valverde started his 2025 season two weeks ago at the first round of the Spanish Gravel Cup, finishing outside the top 20 at Tres Cantos Gravel. The next two rounds of the Spanish series are part of the UCI Gravel World Series: the 114 Gravel Race in late March and La Indomable in late April.

The Castellón Gravel Race was moved up two months compared to its first edition in 2024 and was the European opening event of the UCI Gravel World Series, with a complete sell-out of 800 participants. The hilly circuit in the mountainous Castellón region included 72% dirt roads and 2500 meters of elevation gain, with a continuous ascent leading to a final 6 km descent to Llucena and a steep final climb to Llucena.

Valverde stayed in a group with Portugal's Tiago Ferreira and Sascha Weber until mid-race, maintaining a thin 10-second margin over another trio formed by Italian Matteo Fontana, Spaniard Raul Rodriguez Jimenez (GR-100 MTB DC), and Frenchman Mathus Loman.

On the final climbing section, Valverde and Ferreira continued together, followed by Fontana. Valverde then accelerated in the last uphill section to distance Ferreira and cross the finish line alone with a 12-second advantage, while Fontana arrived third, 1:18 behind. Weber finished fourth, 3:01 back.

Schiff maintained a four-minute margin over the Spanish duo of Meritxell Figueras Garangou (Sant Just-Agrupacio Ciclista) and Marta Romeu Solaz (Movistar), breaking away in the second half of the course to win her first race of the 2025 season.