Tobias Kongstad crosses the finish line of the 360k solo
“I know it sounds like a cliché, but winning meant everything,” declared Tobias Kongstad (Denmark, PAS Racing) at the finish after a “stupid” 160km breakaway. There’s no doubt about it: he’s the big winner of the day, and no one gave him anything. Tobias is the team manager of the PAS Racing team, one of the most important in the gravel scene, and he also works for the brand itself. This victory is the result of a lot of hard work.
Just over five minutes later, Jan Stöckli (Switzerland, Tudor Pro Cycling Team) and Simen Nordahl Svendsen (Norway, PAS Racing) crossed the finish line, but were never able to challenge him for victory.
For the record, this year's time is the fastest ever recorded on a Traka 360: 11h 37m 30s.
The day kicked off with several attacks, though they were always narrowly ahead of a large group that remained strong until the halfway point. Lachlan Morton (Australia, EF) was the first of the big names to fall, after breaking his rim; this marks his second Traka with mechanical problems, after breaking his saddle three editions ago. Mattia de Marchi's (Italy, Enough Cycling Collective) experience last year and Morton's experience now serve as a reminder that, in long endurance gravel races, any little detail can take you out.
Shortly after, Tobias began to ride solo, while behind him, groups formed with many of the favorites: Peter Stetina, Benjamin Perry, Mattia de Marchi, Adne Koster, Matteo Fontana, Jan Stöckli… who would end up being the protagonists of the day.
With Tobias riding extremely strong, managing to maintain a five-minute lead, the trailing groups began to break up in the fight for the top positions. Perry, Svendsen, and Stöckli tried to close the gap, while De Marchi, Koster, and Stetina formed a second chasing group a short distance behind.
“I've been in pain for 12 hours,” Svendsen said with a laugh. “The level this year is very high, and I'm very happy to be on the podium with Tobias as the winner,” albeit with a bittersweet smile that suggested he was back for more. The Norwegian crashed in the final 20 km, but managed to keep a cool head to defend his position, preventing the podium from slipping away, as in the previous edition.
Shortly after, Simon Pellaud, Roed Torbjorn Andre, and Arno Van Den Broeck entered the race. Two names who were contenders for the title—Rob Britton and Chad Haga—finished in eleventh and twelfth place.
TOP 10 MEN
Tobias Kongstad – 11:37:30
Jan Stöckli – 11:42:59
Simen Nordahl Svendsen – 11:43:01
Benjamin Perry – 11:47:01
Adne Koster – 11:48:39
Mattia De Marchi – 11:48:58
Peter Stetina – 11:49:00
Simon Pellaud – 11:52:58
Roed Torbjorn Andre – 11:52:59
Arno Van Den Broeck – 11:52:59
Karolin Migon, Axelle Dubau-Prévôt and Sarah Sturm compete for the podium.
Karolin Migon (Poland, PAS Racing) achieved her second consecutive victory, although it wasn't until the final kilometers that she managed to shake off her teammates, who, with the permission of Geerike Schreurs (Netherlands, SD Worx – Protime), were the strongest in this women's Traka 360. From the halfway point, they were riding solo. Migon rode very intelligently: she was rarely seen leading the race in any section, always remaining discreetly in the background, allowing her to prepare a strategy that wasn't resolved until the end.
The strongest group was made up of Karolin Migon (Poland, PAS Racing), Axelle Dubau-Prévôt (France, No. 31 by Café du Cycliste), Sarah Sturm (USA, Specialized/SRAM/Rapha) and Geerike Schreurs (Netherlands, SD Worx – Protime), who unfortunately suffered a crash and a broken elbow that forced her to retire. It was a race of attrition, without major attacks, with the group shrinking kilometer by kilometer. From the start, Sturm and Dubau-Prévôt were the most active, trying to break away from the group on every climb.
Luise Valentin (Denmark, Enough Cycling), also very combative, suffered a puncture at the worst possible moment, forcing her to retire. Behind this trio, only Heather Jackson (USA, Canyon) and Danni Shrosbree (UK, Castelli) managed to maintain their distance, completing the top 5. The gap to the rest was considerable: Ruth Astle, Maddy Nutt, Liv Pijpers (Belgium, RPM Souplesse / Privateer), Sofia Schugar and Courtney Sullivan.
TOP 10 WOMEN
Karolin Migon – 13:39:00
Axelle Dubau-Prévôt – 13:39:33
Sarah Sturm – 13:39:35
Heather Jackson – 13:54:47
Danni Shrosbree – 13:57:40
Ruth Astle – 14:18:51
Maddy Nutt – 14:26:00
Liv Pijpers – 14:27:09
Sofia Schugar – 14:52:47
Courtney Sullivan – 14:55:10
Without a doubt, we've had a great day of gravel racing. Right now, it's hard to see the ceiling of this event, which has positioned itself as the most important in Europe, even looking eye-to-eye with the other major event in the United States: Unbound. The spirit of Gerard, Cris, and their entire team has created a bond with the gravel community that goes beyond the sporting or economic aspects. The respect they've earned from everyone makes the Gravel Earth Series one of the most beloved in the professional gravel community.