The Traka (gravel content)

The Traka bills itself as Europe’s largest gravel event and takes place in Girona, Spain (just north of Barcelona) from 1st to 5th May.

https://www.thetraka.com/the-traka-200k/

Events feature the option of 360km or 200km on Saturday 4th May and 100km or 50km on Sunday 5th May.

I rode the 100km in 2023 and really enjoyed it. Rather foolishly though I seem to have entered both the 200km and the 100km this year. They are on separate days but it will be interesting to see how my legs hold up.

Anyone else entered this year?

Nah, it have grown too much for it's own good. Prices are insane compared to a few years back.

They publish the routes so you can ride them for free when you visit. At least that's what we've done. They've run a couple of competitions on their IG for free entry also.

I want to ride their new long one - 500km or something - but we're in Germany doing Mittelgeburg the week after.

Possibly but I still feel that’s it’s reasonable for what you get which as well as the way marked, signposted, marshalled course (so many marshals who stop the traffic for you wherever it crosses roads ) includes numerous refreshment stops and the after event show etc.

Oh and of course it’s in Spain so means it’s unlikely to be fucking raining like it has in the UK every day for the last six months 🫤

I already live in Girona that's why is so painful to me to pay for riding the same stuff again. I'd rather pay peanuts for 4 or 5 local races.
500km sounds like a good plan for a few bikepacking days, or kill myself on a weekend

Well yes, quite. That's why I avoid the Ride London events. Why pay to ride routes I can do every day.

Yeah, makes total sense. I turbo train at home or get trains out into the sticks to ride further away from London because I'm sick of riding in it.

Are you a local or did you move over there?

A training ride for the Traka yesterday

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But you're in the wrong country. Good training if Spain suddenly gets some, any rain.

I'm not local, but I'm Spanish and been living here for maybe 3 years.
Weather next week looks pretty UK mind, anyone riding this be prepared could be pretty hard going.

Ah, yeah, that looks nice and soggy. Good one to not win an entry for! :D

Yes I’ve been keeping an eye on the weather. Oh well fingers crossed that is not as bad as forecast 🤞

It's still warmer than the UK and tracks dry quicker so won't be a total sloppy shitfest

Well quite, IIRC it was raining when I started the Traka last year but it was warm rain and soon stopped and the day developed into awesome weather

Just make sure not to be riding the year I ride it or for sure it'll be some unprecedented levels of 'weather'. #stormmagnet

https://www.instagram.com/p/C6b04b8s6-y

I had just watched Josh's race intro vid and saw someone commented that it had been cancelled. Sucks for everyone who travelled there but I see no reason why anyone who wants to can't just ride it.

Also, can someone share the RWGPS route? kthnxbai

Looks like Quinda is going to ride it anyway

https://www.instagram.com/avoidtheavoid/

Half of the people can be part right all of the time,
Some of the people can be all right part of the time,
But all of the people can't be all right all of the time,
I think Abraham Lincoln said that.

For which distance?

The 500+ one

OK not seen it yet but will share if I do

Shite in Girona today

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Smashed it (or did it smash me?)

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official pics are out. Here's a flavour of the day

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