Traka 360km
The Recap
photos by Nick Cusseneers and JB Delorme
Writing by me (Sami)
I feel like writing this days has lost its interest, images and videos can just speak by itself and we consume so much of a one minute, sorry one second things that reading is not something usual anymore, at least this is how I feel.
I am not somebody that is use to do a writing recap, or actually don't like much writing but I feel like the story's I live and the adventures or events are worth to tell everything about. So let me tell you all about the last weekend, the Traka.
It all started with a very strong feeling of coming back to my old home, for those who don’t know I have been living in Girona for the past 4 years but recently moved to the French alps as a personal and professional challenge… anyways that’s another story, so coming back to what was “home” not long ago was kind a easy besides, my apartment was not the same, the bed was new and the elevator to get home didn’t exist either. I had lots more to plan and therefor I did with a lot of excitement because it was going to be some great weeks ahead.
Actually I should go back on why I sign out for a 360km race, and filled my calendar with some more events this year, so basically some more inside thoughts. After last year not really doing much on events and community thins but being more behind the camera on this, I felt like having a little tickle that wanted me to go back and basically be fit to enjoy, not just hustle every time after a 5-10 day shoot to get back on fitness and expose myself to a event where I would not enjoy from it, but instead I will suffer. So I decided to change that, get a coach, do proper bike-fittings, and just do things properly while being consistent on the bike. My goal, and I repeat this because I think is important, be “fit” to enjoy.
So here we are back in Girona, is Tuesday and I’m joining the first social ride that Zipp organized for the people already in town, chit chats, climbs, and some steep ones, some smooth gravel and fun downhills. Some of us decide to get the easy way home and not the hell of the hill called “els metges” where the 360 and 200km race goes through. Anyways, I took most of my week kind an easy because I came from Dirty Riever and spent too many hours pretty cold, so I was on the verge to being sick. But I went to do a check up in Centre Cenit, where they take mostly care of my nutrition, physio and race prep, and got the warning of stay calm or you will get sick. I felt that if I wouldn’t had that voice and help I would had overdo by dragging myself to social rides, social chats and coffees all week.
Jumping straight to one of the most important moments in a long time on my “cycling life” I hosted a women’s ride and not just a simple one, one that actually 45 women show up!!!!!! tbh when I created The W collective, it al started with the idea of a camp (which unfortunately still didn’t take place) then a forum (girls you should join this!) then I was like we’re missing awareness on gravel (actually all kind a events) but gravel specially events, so I partner with Gravel Earth Series, to create one ride prior each of the events I will be joining (see the list here) and also I partner with them because I think en Europe there is no other organizer that is doing such a amazing job on showcasing that there is women riding gravel on the events!
Inside me I was scared of failure, of putting something out there that nobody actually joins or anything, but was girls you made it happen and I am still so deeply grateful for such a moment that I thank you all who came from the bottom of my heart! And for those who couldn’t, don’t worry there are going to be lots more!
I think the most amazing part of all the week was seeing all this women, all this culture and all good friends meet with each other and share, km, coffees and chats.
Lets go through some fun prior shoot and then The Traka race, I had an amazing crew JB on the film and Nick on the photo, and for this we had the chance to create some fun stuff prior the race, check it here: https://www.instagram.com/reel/Crl2ca-OWhv/?utm_source=ig_web_copy_link they say… eat pasta ride fasta! With this I really wanted to get out of the typical video or photo prior race showing the bike set up and/or the kit, I wanted to bring. More creative and fun vibe wishing showing also everything that a pre bike race would be for me, so fun, shred, pasta and did I say fun? Haha
I might be keeping this waaaay to long but I feel writing now, so here it comes, The Traka a 360km race with 5000m of climbing going through some of the best gravel paths and pretty places of the Northern Catalunya region, the vegetation, the landscape and just everything that goes through this route is an absolute beauty. But I knew it already, I have been living here in girona 4 years and all this roads have been my playground. I did scouted a few weeks back most of the first part of the course, and I knew the end of it from last years 200km race, but I left Cap de Creus open for surprise me, exactly where the route goes, to have a bit of a unknown (well I knew it from other times but it was not the same) and also to not know the “hardest” part of the course because sometimes I feel the head can play to much on this sort of long distance race, I’m somebody who the less I know the better sometimes it is. So I mixed up the feelings.
The race started at 6am, I had a good sleep and easy brekky at home, I roll to the start line where in front we had a Gravel earth series box to not sit in the back of more than 400 people and there I was next to big names like Sarah Sturmy, Amity, Virginia Canceleri and Maddy Nut, aside from many others and also the winner of last two years Mattia de Marchi. So just imagining the start and the route in my head I knew it was not gonna be a “chill start” and off we go and off I was haha, which such a long race I decided to be pretty conservative on that first hell of a start and play it safe. After around 50km when I was with a good group and together with Lydia and Maddy on the climbs I start dropping and having some mega tight hips, I realize my saddle was down like 3 fingers!!! So instead of pushing I arrange I decided to stop sort it and keep going, I was mostly alone until the feed zone where I stoped properly eat some pasta olives and fill up the bottles. The fun part was about to begin, Cap de Creus area, those hills, that amazing terrain and the view to the sea.
There was wind, and pretty strong, at a point I decided to stop for water I was scared of running out, I kept it easy, sometimes maybe to easy and conservative on the climbs, knowing I can shred down and have a bit of a fast advantage going down, then a single track came woooowww that was epic, I had a high moment there! But that was it, the big boy climbs and proper downhills where mostly done and now it was flat until Grava Pals, you know that the owner of this restaurant, Carlos Manich, is who introduce me to bikes 13 years ago! I was so happy to see him there!
Moving fast forward, we pass the famous “Els Metges” climb, and actually pretty good and dropped into the night, I had a bit of a shitshow with my front light, but I think I was not the only one. Until Xavi a Girona pretty strong guy had to drop because of his friend getting a mechanical, I was so scared to not have enough light for the end, so I slowed down on the last little road hill until luckily Mike from Ride beyond crew (what a amazing crew!) was there with lights and he was super nice to stick together, we didn’t went slow, actually I was feeling great at the end, so smashed the last km and got in the finish line together. Was really nice! Thanks Mike!
Maybe my face was a bit like, on shock, but I was so happy I’ve done it, I had no issues and the most important I had LOTS OF FUN! And that was all about.
360km winners:
Men - Mattia de Marchi
Women - Amity Rockwell
I want to also highlight and thank so much to al the team KLASSMARK (the Traka and gravel earth) for the amazing job, this year they had more than 2030 participants overall and 288 where WOMEN (on all distances) if we compare to other organizations (not gonna name which one but you know) had no even social media on women, here they had produce more than 10 reels on the go, joined The W ride and exposed it out there, added most of the photos first of women and then of men, did live cover ache of both men and women at the end of the 360km race, and probably I can continue! The number seems small for the amount of participants but I promise its a massive one and the vibe of all women together on that presentations or finish lines and podiums was soooo big!
So thanks again!
Hope you enjoyed my first review of this great event because there are more this year!
Cheers friend :)
