The start of the Traka 200 was, as expected, a burst of power. The pace set from the first kilometers was extremely high. No one was surprised: everyone knew what they were coming for. The first gradients already began to make a difference.
With just over an hour of racing underway in the men's category, a strong first group of 16 riders formed, with a mere 30-second lead over the closest pursuers. At that point, Mads Würtz Schmidt (Denmark – PAS Racing) tried to dynamite the race with some offensive move, while Matthew Beers (South Africa – Specialized Off-Road), always well placed, made it clear that he was going for it.
Among the names leading the test were figures such as Janko Hament (Països Baixos – Team Unknown), Jasper Ockeloen (Països Baixos – Sockeloen), Jordy Bouts (Belgium – Deschacht–Group Hens–Containers Maes), Mads Würtz Schmidt, Martin Stosek (Txèquia – Canyon Sidi MTB), Filippo Conca (Italy – Swatt Club), Tiago Ferreira (Portugal – DMT Racing Team), Hugo Drechou (France – Team Unknown) and Hans Becking (France – Team Unknown). Everyone knew how to take advantage of the terrain to consolidate their aspirations. Behind, Tim Wollenberg (Alemanya – BIKE AID) led the second group.
The leading group passed Sant Joan de Mollet, the first Feed Zone of the route, and entered a long, 70-kilometer false flat through Torroella de Montgrí and Gualta to reach Casavells, with crucial assistance.
In Casavells, Wout Aleman (BUFF MEGAMO TEAM) and Mathijs Lohmann (Swatt Club) arrived slightly ahead, with just half a minute over a large chasing group led by Matthew Beers, Daan Soete, Petr Vakoc, Mattia Gaffuri, Jordy Bouts, Jaka Hänninen, Daniel Oss, Hans Becking and Sebastian Schönberger, among others.
A third group, somewhat more distant, rolled with names like Tiago Ferreira, Hugo Drechou, Julian Siemons, Georg Egger, Kevin Suárez Fernandez, Jasper Ockeloen, Tim Wollenberg and Alexander Miller.
The climb to Els Metges It was one of the key moments. Magnus Bak Klaris (PAS Racing), Filippo Conca (Swatt Club) and Mads Würtz Schmidt (PAS Racing) made a decisive escape, opening a gap of two minutes.
Behind, a group with Sebastian Schoenberger, Hans Becking, Daan Soete, Petr Vakoc, Wout Aleman, Jan Bakelants, Mattia Gaffuri and Jordy Bouts I was trying to cut back. Further back, Georg Egger, Tiago Ferreira, Jasper Ockeloen, Tim Wollenberg and Kevin Suárez Fernández They were already rolling at a certain distance.
At the height of Franciac (km 162), the leading trio maintained their advantage. Würtz Schmidt, Klaris and Conca resisted, while Matthew Beers He led a chasing group that still dreamed of the podium: Daan Soete, Petr Vakoc, Mattia Gaffuri, Jordy Bouts, Jaka Hänninen, Daniel Oss, Hans Becking and Sebastian Schoenberger.
Five minutes later a third group arrived, led by Tiago Ferreira, with Hugo Drechou, Mathijs Lohmann, Julian Siemons, Georg Egger, Kevin Suárez, Jasper Ockeloen, Tim Wollenberg and Alexander Miller.
On the way up through the area of Estanyol, Mads Würtz Schmidt launched the decisive attack. The Dane opened 20 seconds on Filippo Conca and 40 over his partner Magnus Bak Klaris, which was beginning to falter.
Behind, a dangerous group was consolidated with Wout Aleman, Petr Vakoc and Matthew Beers. They followed a little further behind Daan Soete, Jordy Bouts, Mattia Gaffuri, Jaka Hänninen and Sebastian Schoenberger, aiming for the top 10.
Mads Würtz Schmidt He resisted until the end and crossed the finish line in the Fontajau pavilion, arms raised, as the absolute winner of this edition of the Traka 200. This culminated an impeccable day and marked a historic triple for the PAS Racing team, which the day before had also taken the top two positions in the Traka 360, in both the men's and women's categories.
The ending was a heart-stopper: Matthew Beers, who was hoping to make a winning move on the last big climb, managed to catch up with Filippo Conca in the final meters and overtook him in a sprint. The Italian, despite his exhaustion, managed to defend a creditable third place, the result of a consistent and courageous day.
Behind, a steady trickle of runners —Petr Vakoc, Wout Aleman, Daan Soete, Jordy Bouts, Magnus Bak Klaris (who suffered in the final stretch), Mattia Gaffuri and Jaka Hänninen— formed a truly prestigious top 10. They all entered one by one, separated by just a few seconds, in an outcome that reflected the brutal demands and selection natural that the Traka 200 imposed in every meter of its route.
"It's the biggest gravel race in Europe, and the level is very high. My goal for the past six months was to do well here. It's been a great process, and I'm very happy that it paid off," he declared. Mads upon reaching the finish line.
TOP 10 MEN
Mads Würtz Schmidt – 06:12:21
Matthew Beers – 06:13:45
Filippo Conca – 06:13:46
Petr Vakoc – 06:14:55
Wout Daniel Aleman – 06:16:10
Daan Soete – 06:17:33
Jordy Bouts – 06:17:51
Magnus Bak Klaris – 06:17:52
Mattia Gaffuri – 06:18:34
Jaakko Hänninen – 06:20:32
Women's category: Sofia Gomez wins with a bang
The women's race broke away early. After overcoming the first few climbs, a leading group formed, including all the favorites: Rosa Klöser (Germany – Canyon Factory Racing), Sofia Gomez Villafane (Argentina – Specialized Off-Road), Annika Langvad (Denmark – Specialized Off-Road), Cecily Decker (United States – PAS Racing), Paula Blasi Cairol (Spain – UAE ADQ) and Rosa Van Doorn (Netherlands – BUFF MEGAMO TEAM). Behind them, riders like Morgan Aguirre (United States – PAS Racing ORBEA), who suffered an unfortunate puncture, and Carolin Schiff (Germany – Canyon Factory Racing) were left behind, in an early phase that already marked their options for a podium finish.
In the area of Els Metges, the race became even tougher. Klöser, Gomez Villafañe and Langvad launched an attack that broke up the group. Meanwhile, Decker and Blasi They remained somewhat behind, rolling together with clear options of entering the top 5. Carolin Schiff, in ascending progression, began to climb positions from the rearguard.
In Franciac (km 184), Gomez Villafañe and Klöser They managed to release Langvad, who could no longer keep up. A few seconds later, Decker and Blasi They maintained their efforts, without making contact with Langvad but securing prominent positions. Schiff continued to gain ground and was getting closer and closer to the leading group.
In the last few kilometers, Sofia Gomez Villafane launched the decisive attack. The Argentine, participating in La Traka for the first time, demonstrated why she's one of the world's greatest gravel riders and took a prestigious victory.
Rosa Klöser, current winner of the Unbound, crossed the finish line in second position and Annika Langvad closed the podium.
Cecily Decker, with a strong finish, managed to distance her teammate Paula Blasi and took fourth place.
Shortly after he arrived Carolin Schiff, who staged a solid comeback throughout the day. Further back, Nicole Frain (Australia – Ridley Racing Team), Rosa Van Doorn (Netherlands – BUFF MEGAMO TEAM), Marjet Groen (Netherlands – Giant-Liv Benelux Offroad Team) and Sophie Wright (United Kingdom – team not specified) completed the top 10, in a staggered, one-by-one finish, reflecting the extreme toughness of this edition.
"I wanted to experiment and see how it went. I set a good pace on the first climbs and went down thinking, 'Well, if I get a flat, I don't care, I can go home earlier.' On one of the descents, I escaped with Rosa, and it's really impressive how strong she is," he explained. Sofia upon reaching the finish line.
Klöser, declared that "Sofia is an impressive runner, strong and also very technical. Honestly, I would say she's one of the best runners in the world." ... However, she also admitted that "To be honest, I always run to win."
"It was, by far, the longest and toughest race I've ever done. I'm really happy to have finished third, because the distance was really intimidating. I've never done anything that long," she said. Annika.
TOP 10 WOMEN
Sofia Gomez Villafane – 07:13:01
Rosa Klöser – 07:13:45
Annika Langvad – 07:19:28
Cecily Decker – 07:21:11
Paula Blasi Cairol – 07:23:26
Carolin Schiff – 07:26:38
Nicole Frain – 07:28:27
Rosa Van Doorn – 07:30:09
Marjet Groen – 07:30:33
Sophie Wright – 07:33:14
The 2025 edition of La Traka offered a spectacular day at the heart of European gravel racing. Girona, once again, proved that it is the ultimate gravel destination.
We can't see the ceiling for The Traka. Now it's time to rest and let the thinking minds do their work and surprise us again in the next edition. Long live La Traka!