Winning on Wax at the 2026 Traka 360 Gravel Race

It was a historic day on course at the 2026 Traka 360. Mads Würtz Schmidt of Specialized Off-Road Racing and Rosa Klöser, a privateer riding for Canyon, SRAM, and MAAP, were crowned as the new "King and Queen" of Girona’s premier endurance gravel race.

The Traka, known as the "European Unbound," challenged riders with a grueling 360 km course featuring over 5,000 m (15,000 ft) of elevation and a technical, often muddy, mix of Mediterranean dirt roads and singletrack. Comparatively, the actual Unbound gravel race, which takes place in the rolling Flint Hills around Emporia, Kansas, is regarded as the definitive test of flat-out speed and endurance with closer to 3,200 m (11,800 ft) of elevation gain. 

The Traka is a multi-day festival where riders can compete in back-to-back events (200 and 360 km gravel races, in addition to a 560 km adventure race), while Unbound only has a 200-mile (326 km) pro option, which is equivalent to Traka’s most popular 360 km distance. 

The women’s 360 race saw a remarkable winning performance from SILCA athlete Rosa Klöser. She dominated the field with a 90 km solo breakaway, winning in just under 11.5 hours after attacking a small elite group. She finished nearly 13 minutes ahead of runner-up Axelle Dubau-Prévot (EF Education-Oatly), with Geerike Schreurs (Specialized Off-Road), also a SILCA rider, taking third after the trio of top contenders established themselves early by creating a gap during the first climbs. 

This win adds to Klöser's success following what has already shaped up to be a busy season, having also recently raced Paris-Roubaix Femmes. Lauren de Crescenzo, another SILCA pro, had a stellar ride, breaking into the top 10 for 8th place. 

Klöser and Schreurs celebrate

Women’s Traka 360 Top 10

1. Rosa Klöser: 11:27.58

2. Axelle Dubau-Prévot: 11:40.51

3. Geerike Schreurs: 11:46.27

4. Morgan Aguirre: 12:01.38

5. Hayley Smith: 12:02.30

6. Nathalie Eklund: 12:12.24

7. Jade Treffeisen 12:22:29

8. Lauren De Crescenzo 12:29:57

9. Sofia Schugar 12:42:53

10. Sophie Vitzthum 12:47:10

Schreurs's drive train, with SILCA wax applied pre-race

Würtz Schmidt at the finish

The men’s Traka 360 was defined by a bold, long-range solo attack that exploited a lack of cohesion in the elite chasing group. Mads Würtz Schmidt made the decisive move with over 100km remaining in the race. While a strong group of chasers that included top gravel racers and former World Tour pros formed behind him, their efforts couldn’t outlast Würtz Schmidt’s power and determination. 

Instead of working together to bridge the gap, the chasers engaged in a battle of attrition for the remaining podium spots, allowing Würtz Schmidt’s lead to expand to 11 minutes.

Drechou across the line

Men’s Traka 360 Top 10

1. Mads Würtz Schmidt: 9:57.38

2. Hugo Drechou: 10:08.56

3. Matt Beers: 10:09.09

4. Benjamin Perry: 10:09.46

5. Romain Bardet: 10:09.53

6. Paul Voss: 10:10.25

7. Tobias Morch 10:14:04

8. Petr Vakoc 10:15:15

9. Andrew L'Esperance 10:17:03

10. Cle Brent 10:21:31

Beers and Würtz Schmidt post race

Photo credits: Kike Morales