The Traka Girona: How a 100-Rider Gravel Race Became a Global Phenomenon

What Is The Traka? More Than a Gravel Race in Girona

The Traka is a gravel cycling event organised around Girona in north-eastern Spain. Describing it simply as a race is accurate, but incomplete. It is simultaneously an endurance challenge, a major gravel competition, a cycling gathering and one of the weeks in which Girona's international cycling identity becomes most visible.

That distinction helps explain the event's growth. A rider travelling to Girona is not only buying access to a route measured in kilometres and metres of climbing. They are entering an environment made of fast dirt roads, rougher sectors, agricultural tracks, short climbs, technical corners, changing surfaces, international riders and a city where cycling already has a strong everyday presence.

Gravel itself sits between established disciplines. It borrows speed and group riding from road cycling, bike handling from mountain biking and self-management from endurance and adventure riding. Success therefore depends on more than pure fitness. Riders need to manage pace, surfaces, navigation, nutrition, mechanical problems, concentration and equipment for many hours.

This mixture makes The Traka especially representative of modern gravel culture. The same event can matter to a professional looking for an international result, an experienced amateur chasing a time, or a rider whose primary goal is simply to complete a major gravel challenge in Girona.

The History of The Traka: From Around 100 Riders to Nearly 5,000

The Traka's growth has been exceptionally fast because the event developed at almost the same moment that European gravel cycling moved from niche discipline to mainstream cycling category.

Klassmark's first edition took place in 2019, when around one hundred riders gathered in Girona. By 2023, the event was preparing to host approximately 2,000 athletes from 60 nationalities. Three years later, Gravel Earth Series reported almost 5,000 riders representing 75 countries across the 2026 programme.

Numbers alone, however, do not explain the phenomenon. Plenty of sporting events become larger without becoming culturally important. The Traka expanded while keeping several characteristics that gravel riders value: mixed terrain, long distances, uncertain surfaces, equipment decisions, navigation and the sense that the landscape is part of the challenge rather than simply the setting.

At the same time, the competitive level increased. Elite gravel specialists, mountain bike racers and riders with professional road backgrounds began treating the event as a serious target rather than an informal gravel gathering. The result was a rare combination: enormous amateur participation and an increasingly prestigious front of the race.

This is one reason the event's history should not be measured only by participant numbers. The more important evolution has been the transition from a small Girona gravel race into an international reference point for how modern gravel racing is organised, watched and experienced.

The Traka 2027: What Changes?

One of the most important updates to understand is that The Traka's distance structure is not static. Older race reports may refer to the 360, 560 or other previous formats. Those names remain relevant historically, but they do not describe the current 2027 programme.

This matters because articles and videos from earlier editions can otherwise be confusing. A rider researching The Traka today may encounter references to 200, 360 and 560 km races from previous years, while the current official technical sheets use 100, 200 and 300.

The change also says something about the event's evolution. As gravel racing becomes more professional, organisers increasingly need to manage elite fields, Open riders, start procedures, course density and safety as separate sporting considerations.

The Traka 100, 200 and 300: Routes and Distances Compared

The distances are not simply shorter and longer versions of the same experience. Increasing the length changes how important pacing, nutrition, navigation, mechanical reliability and decision-making become.

The organiser currently marks route distance and altitude data as TBC. Always use the latest official technical sheet and GPS track rather than an older GPX file or third-party route.

The Traka 100: The Most Accessible Door into the Event

The Traka 100 is the shortest of the three current formats, but “shortest” should not be confused with easy. One hundred kilometres of predominantly unpaved riding still asks for endurance, confident bike handling and sensible pacing.

Its appeal is clear: it offers riders a substantial Girona gravel experience without requiring the extreme duration of the 200 or 300. For cyclists moving from recreational gravel riding toward organised endurance events, it is the most logical format to investigate first.

The current official technical sheet lists around 100 km, 1,350 metres of positive elevation gain and 79% unpaved terrain, with a seven-hour cut-off.

The Traka 200: Where Endurance Management Becomes Central

At approximately 202 km and 2,650 metres of climbing, the 200 represents a very different problem. The rider must remain efficient for long enough that apparently small mistakes can accumulate.

Riding too aggressively early, delaying food and fluids, ignoring a developing mechanical issue or repeatedly wasting energy through poor line choice may have limited consequences over a short ride. Over 200 kilometres, each can become expensive.

The current course data lists 84% unpaved terrain. This makes equipment reliability, comfort and the ability to maintain concentration on changing surfaces particularly important.

The Traka 300: The Main Long-Distance Race for 2027

The Traka 300 is the centre of the new sporting structure. The current technical sheet lists 300 km, approximately 4,150 metres of positive elevation gain and 80% unpaved terrain, with a 20-hour cut-off.

It is also the only 2027 distance with a professional category. PRO Men, PRO Women and Open riders have distinct starts, while eligibility requirements apply to the professional field.

The 300 introduces another practical consideration: the official bike-validation checklist includes front and rear lights, alongside checks of brakes, headset, bottom bracket, drivetrain and tyres. The regulations also require riders to use the lights during hours without daylight.

Choosing a distance for prestige rather than readiness is rarely a good endurance strategy. The 100, 200 and 300 should be treated as distinct challenges with progressively greater consequences for pacing, nutrition, mechanical preparation and concentration.

Why Girona Is the Perfect Home for The Traka

The Traka would be a different event in a different city. Girona is not merely the place where the start and finish happen; it is one of the reasons the event has become internationally recognisable.

The city was already strongly associated with cycling before The Traka reached its present scale. Professional riders, amateur cyclists and cycling travellers have long been attracted by the combination of roads, climbs, mild conditions, specialist services and access to varied terrain.

Gravel also benefits from Girona's geographical variety. A route can feel fast and open in one sector, then become narrower, rougher or more technical in another. That prevents the experience from being reduced to “road racing on dirt”.

The landscape also contributes to the event's visual identity. Dust, dry tracks, green sections, stone villages, groups stretched across open roads and riders returning to Girona create images that are instantly understandable even to someone who has never raced gravel.

Why Professional Riders Changed the Status of The Traka

Elite participation matters because it changes how an event is perceived inside the sport. When riders with professional road, mountain bike and elite gravel backgrounds arrive specifically to compete rather than simply appear, the race gains sporting credibility.

The front of The Traka is now fast enough that tactics, positioning, equipment, feeding and group dynamics can all influence the result. At the same time, the terrain remains unpredictable enough that conventional road-racing strength does not automatically solve every problem.

The 2027 reorganisation makes that professional identity clearer. Instead of spreading the main elite field over different long distances, the PRO category is concentrated in The Traka 300, with the regulations limiting the combined men's and women's PRO field and setting qualification pathways.

This evolution reflects a broader question facing gravel: how can the discipline retain its open, adventurous culture while becoming a serious international racing category? The Traka is one of the events where that transition can be seen most clearly.

Why Did The Traka Become a Global Gravel Phenomenon?

There is no single explanation. The event grew because several advantages reinforced one another at the right moment.

Social media amplified all these ingredients. The important point, however, is that social media did not create the event's appeal from nothing. It made an already visual and emotionally understandable experience easier to discover.

A rider seeing The Traka online does not need detailed knowledge of racing tactics to understand the basic story: a bicycle, a very long gravel road, thousands of riders from around the world and Girona waiting at the finish. That simplicity is powerful.

How to Prepare for The Traka: What Matters Beyond Fitness

Preparation should start with the demands of the chosen distance rather than with the prestige of the event. A 100 km gravel ride and a 300 km gravel race require overlapping skills, but they are not the same problem.

1. Train for Duration and Surfaces, Not Only Distance

Weekly kilometres provide only part of the picture. Gravel requires repeated accelerations, changes of surface, climbing, braking, line choice and concentration. Longer training rides should therefore help you learn how your body and equipment behave after several hours, not simply increase a number on a training platform.

If The Traka would be your first major gravel event, use a progressive plan rather than trying to reproduce race distance too early. Our dedicated guide explains this in more detail: first gravel event training plan .

2. Navigation Is Part of the Event

This point is easy to underestimate. Under the current regulations, participants must carry a GPS device with the official route loaded, and the course is not intended to be followed simply by looking for conventional race arrows.

That means the device itself is race equipment. Before the start, know how to zoom, return to the track, recognise an off-course warning and operate the unit while tired. Make sure its battery strategy matches the expected duration of your ride.

3. Tyres Should Match the Whole Route, Not One Perfect Section

Gravel equipment is a compromise. A fast tyre may feel excellent on smooth hardpack but offer less reassurance on rougher or looser terrain. More volume and tread may increase control or comfort but change rolling characteristics.

There is therefore no universally correct Traka tyre width or pressure. Rider mass, tyre construction, rim width, riding style, route conditions and puncture tolerance all matter.

For the decision process, see: Gravel tyres: 40, 45, 50 mm or 2.2?

4. Have a Puncture Plan Before You Need It

A tubeless setup reduces some common puncture problems, but no system makes a gravel bike immune to damage. Know what you are carrying and how to use it. Plugs, spare tube, inflation equipment and basic repair knowledge are useful only if they have been tested before race day.

Read our guide to gravel punctures, tubeless systems and getting home .

5. Practise Your Fuel and Hydration Strategy

Long gravel events make eating and drinking a logistical skill. The objective is not to discover a new nutrition strategy in Girona. Training rides should be used to learn what foods and drinks you tolerate, how often you remember to consume them and how easily you can access them while riding.

Needs vary with duration, intensity, weather, rider characteristics and individual tolerance. Riders with specific medical or nutritional requirements should use qualified professional guidance rather than copying another competitor's plan.

6. Protect Concentration

Fatigue affects more than power output. After many hours, decision-making can deteriorate. A corner approached badly, an unnoticed hole, a missed GPS instruction or a rushed mechanical repair can cost more time than riding slightly slower.

For long-distance gravel, pacing should protect the ability to continue making good decisions late in the event.

7. Test the Complete System

Before travelling, complete at least one substantial ride using the equipment configuration you intend to race with. Pay attention to:

• bike fit and contact-point comfort;
• tyres and pressures;
• GPS mounting, navigation and battery life;
• bottles, hydration pack or other carrying system;
• food access while riding;
• tools, plugs, spare tube and pump or inflator;
• helmet and eyewear stability;
• clothing across expected temperature changes;
• front and rear lighting when required by the chosen format.

A race as long as The Traka is rarely improved by discovering on the start line that a simple item does not work as expected.

Gravel Sunglasses at The Traka: Why Eye Protection Matters

Eyewear in gravel is not only about sunlight. Long mixed-surface rides expose the eyes to wind, airborne dust, insects and small debris, while light conditions may change between open roads, woodland and early or late hours.

The useful starting point is therefore coverage, stability and appropriate light management, rather than choosing glasses only by appearance.

What to Look for in Gravel Cycling Glasses

• Stable fit: glasses should remain secure over rough surfaces without requiring constant adjustment.
• Useful coverage: a broad lens can reduce direct exposure to wind, dust and debris.
• Helmet compatibility: temples should work comfortably with the helmet retention system.
• Ventilation: airflow can help limit fogging when speed, temperature or effort changes.
• Appropriate lens choice: consider how variable the light is likely to be over the duration of the ride.

DEMON has worked with sports eyewear since 1975. For gravel, lens choice should always be considered together with fit, coverage, ventilation, helmet compatibility and the conditions in which the glasses will actually be used.

For a more detailed explanation, read our guide to the best gravel cycling lenses for dust, wind and low sun .

You can also explore our cycling glasses for road, gravel and mountain biking .

The Traka as a Cycling Trip: Planning Your Stay in Girona

One reason The Traka has become more than a one-day race is that Girona works naturally as a cycling destination. Many riders turn the event into several days of riding, eating, meeting other cyclists and exploring the city.

Arrive Early Enough to Remove Avoidable Stress

Travelling the day before a major endurance event leaves little margin for delayed luggage, bike assembly, mechanical problems or administrative requirements. An earlier arrival gives time to rebuild the bike, complete a short shakedown ride, confirm registration procedures and understand the start area.

Do Not Turn Race Week into a Training Camp

Girona makes it tempting to explore every famous road before the race. That may be enjoyable, but riders with a performance objective should remember why they travelled. Familiarising yourself with the bike after transport is useful; accumulating unnecessary fatigue is not.

Check the Official Programme Again Before Departure

Start times, route files, feed zones, assistance areas and technical details can change between initial publication and race week. Use the organiser's current information rather than screenshots, old articles or previous-edition GPX files.

The official event website provides dedicated tourist information for Girona as well as programme and location information.

The Traka and the Direction of Modern Gravel

The Traka is useful to study because its evolution mirrors many changes occurring across gravel cycling.

The discipline started with a strong idea of freedom: mixed terrain, fewer conventions, individual adventure and riders from different backgrounds sharing the same roads. As events grew, they also attracted professional teams, sponsors, media coverage, larger fields and increasingly specialised equipment.

Those two identities can create tension. A professional race benefits from clear categories, controlled starts and sporting rules. A mass-participation gravel event benefits from openness and the feeling that ordinary riders remain central to the experience.

The Traka's current structure is an attempt to hold both ideas together. The 300 gives professional competition a clearer focal point, while the broader event continues to offer Open formats at several distances.

This balance may be one of the most important questions for gravel over the coming years: how can the sport become more professional without losing the accessibility and adventure that made it attractive in the first place?

Why The Traka Still Feels Different

The Traka became important because it arrived at the intersection of several changes in cycling. Riders wanted new terrain. Gravel bikes became more capable. Girona was already attracting cyclists from around the world. Professional racers began taking gravel seriously. Social media made distant events feel accessible. And amateurs increasingly wanted experiences that were harder to describe than a conventional race result.

The result is an event where the winner matters, but the results sheet does not tell the whole story.

For one rider, The Traka may mean racing 300 kilometres against an international field. For another, it may mean finishing the first 100 km gravel event they once believed was beyond them. For someone else, it may simply be the reason to travel to Girona with a bike and discover why so many cyclists speak about the city with such enthusiasm.

That range of meanings is not a weakness in The Traka's identity. It is probably the clearest explanation of its success.