The Traka 200 promises to be the fastest race of all the distances scheduled this year. The entry list is simply impressive, not only because of the caliber of participants but also because of the length of the starting grid. It's really very difficult to make a prediction, because the number of important names on the list could fill several pages.
A men's Traka 200 with a dream level
Starting with Petr Vakoc (Czech Republic, Canyon Integray), a rider who always moves among the top positions and who defends the title he won last year. The season has also seen Magnus Bak Klaris (Denmark, PAS Racing), Mads Würtz Schmidt (Denmark, PAS Racing) and Toby Perry (UK, Classified x Rose).
The presence of great mountain bike specialists who are increasingly flirting with gravel is also notable, with names like Andreas Seewald (Germany, Singer KTM Racing), Tiago Ferreira (Portugal, Vouzela BH/TF) and Alban Lakata (Austria, Team Bulls), all world champions. We also believe he's coming in with a loaded gun. Matt Beers (South Africa, Specialized Off-Road), with victory in the US last Sunday. They are aiming for everything Lukas Baum and Georg Egger (Speed Company / ORBEA), Howard Grotts (United States, Specialized Off-Road), who reappears after his serious fall, Hugo Drechou (France, Number 31 by Café du Cycliste) and Hans Becking (Netherlands, BUFF-Megamo), who arrives with the entire team in full, with Martin Stošek, current European gravel champion.
We celebrate the return of Ivar Slik (Netherlands, Wilier Factory Racer), already recovered, and there is no shortage of illustrious names such as Greg Van Avermaet (Belgium, GVA Gold), Thomas De Gendt (Belgium, Classified Factory Team), Jan Bakelants, either Niki Terpstra (Netherlands, Speed On Wheels).
Along the same lines, Jasper Ockeloen (Netherlands, Canyon), Nathan Haas (Australia, Colnago / Castelli SOG), Luis Neff (Germany, Rose Racing Circle), Daan Soete (Belgium, Ridley Racing Team), Timo Wollenberg (Germany, Protective Factory Team), Lucas Malezsewski (Belgium), Daan Grosemans (Belgium, Classified Factory Team) and Sascha Weber (Germany, Team Trek – Snooze VSD).
And if this were not enough, there will also be prominent figures from home such as Alejandro Valverde (Spain, Movistar Team), Kevin Suárez Fernández (Spain, Jaleo Off Road Squad) and the best Spanish cyclocross specialist, Felipe Orts (Spain, Ridley Racing Team), without forgetting Ivan Garcia Cortina (Spain, Movistar Team), who arrives in Girona just after his recent stage victory in the Vuelta a Asturias.
A spectacular lineup in the women's Traka 200
The women's Traka 200 will likely be the discipline with the most internationally renowned newcomers this year. The quality of the new names joining the field is spectacular, and they promise a top-level race.
The main focus will be on Annika Langvad (Denmark, Specialized Off-Road), who clearly dominated the last edition of the Santa Vall. The Danish rider arrives in Girona in excellent form after winning the Cape Epic with Sofia Gomez Villafane (Argentina, Specialized Off-Road), probably the other big favorite, with an impressive track record in the American Lifetime series. Also worth noting is the participation of Carolin Schiff (Germany, Canyon Factory Racing), defending champion.
We will keep our eyes on Morgan Aguirre (United States, PAS Racing / ORBEA), probably the most notable name of this season's start. Aguirre, who had always shown great potential until now, has put all the pieces together to start racking up important victories. And once he achieved that, he hasn't stopped.
Klara Sofie Skovgård Hansen (Denmark, Canyon), who finished second at La Traka last year, will also be in Girona, and we're really looking forward to seeing her in action. Rosa Klöser (Germany, Canyon Factory Racing), third last year, is also a contender; in fact, she's the reigning Unbound Gravel 200 champion.
Other runners to follow will be Malene Degn (Denmark, Scott x GripGrab), coming from mountain biking, Heather Fischer (USA), Jade Treffeisen (Germany, Canyon CLLCTV), Mie Nordlund Pedersen (Denmark, Reverb Cycling), Wendy Oosterwoud (Netherlands, Pas Normal Racing) and Nicole Frain (Australia, Ridley Racing Team), all of them capable of challenging for podium positions.
But, as we've been explaining, this year's start list is so extensive that it would be impossible to mention all the riders with real chances. The notable names are just a sample of the level we'll see this weekend in Girona.
And you? Who do you think will surprise at La Traka 200? What are your bets for victory? We'll be reading!