Last weekend, Girona once again became the global capital of gravel as The Traka delivered its biggest edition yet. Thousands of riders from all over the world lined up across distances, bringing together WorldTour stars, seasoned gravel specialists, and an ever-growing community of privateers. Among them, the 3T family showed up in full force.
Athletes from Racing the Highline and the Reverb Team, alongside ambassadors and privateers, came together not just to race, but to share the unique energy that defines gravel. It was a weekend of effort, setbacks, breakthroughs, and unforgettable performances, proving once again what makes this discipline, and this community, so special.
One Community, Many Stories
The Traka is more than a race. It’s a meeting point. Riders from different paths, different levels, and different parts of the world converge on the same start line. That spirit was fully alive within the 3T community, where pros, privateers, and ambassadors rode side by side, supporting each other through the highs and lows of those race days.
The sense of shared purpose was unmistakable. Everyone was there for performance, yes, but also for the experience.
Fast Racing, World-Class Competition
With the level of competition rising every year, The Traka 2026 featured some of the strongest fields ever seen in gravel racing. The pace was high across all distances, especially in the 200 km event, which quickly turned into an all-out battle.
Nils Brun delivered a standout performance here, securing a top-10 finish (P10) after a brutally fast race. It all came down to a sprint finish, going head-to-head with some of the top-ranked WorldTour riders. Holding that level against such competition highlights both his strength and the performance of the 3T platform beneath him.
Crossing Oceans, Breaking Into Europe
One of the most inspiring stories of the weekend came from Andrew Lespy L'Esperance, who traveled across the ocean to compete in his first-ever European race.
Taking on the demanding Traka 360, he showed resilience and composure against a stacked international field. Despite the challenges that come with racing in unfamiliar terrain and conditions, he powered his way to an impressive P9 finish.
A debut like that doesn’t just mark an arrival—it signals what’s yet to come.
The Long Haul: Traka Adventure
If the shorter distances were fast, the 560 km adventure race was a completely different test. This edition sparked plenty of discussion, with changing dynamics and unpredictable factors shaping the outcome.
Through it all, Max Agut delivered an exceptional and fast ride, pushing himself deep into the ultra-endurance zone. Riding his Ultra 2 Italia, he managed a remarkable 2nd place finish, clocking an incredible time over one of the toughest courses on the gravel calendar.
He definetly pushed his new bike beyond the limits of gravel.
Overcoming Setbacks
As in all great races, not everything went according to plan. Some mechanical issues for Hanne Van Loock and moments of bad luck affected several riders in Reverb Cycling.
But what stood out was the response: resilience, teamwork, and a determination to keep pushing, like Elena Duskova proving herself she could finish the 360k race. Gravel racing has never been just about results—it’s about how you handle the unexpected. And across the board, the 3T athletes proved they can rise to the challenge.
More Than Results
While top-10s and podiums highlight the weekend, they only tell part of the story. The real success of The Traka lies in the shared experience, the collective effort of riders, the atmosphere on course, and the connections built along the way.
For us at 3T, it was a weekend that captured the essence of gravel:
- Performance at the highest level
- Community across teams and backgrounds
- Adventure, no matter the distance
