Traka: My Love-Hate Relationship
Gravel’s Biggest Week in Europe.
It’s Traka week here in Girona, it’s bloody mental.
The biggest week in European gravel racing, the Traka is a choose-your-own-adventure weekend - races from 100km to 560km. It’s (arguably) the second biggest race in the gravel world, and also the event where brands choose to do activations and product launches.
If you’re in Girona this week, it’s extra cycling-y.
The Traka
I don’t love the Traka - and that’s okay.
The Traka is on my doorstep, like the start is 500m from my house. It’s the race my friends come to race, Maggie is there to support me. And, once all is said and done I can come home, shower and continue my day like normal.
I just don’t like it that much. Allow me to explain.
The Traka doesn’t suit me as a rider. I’m weak technically, and this is a technical minefield. It’s steep descents, loose corners, and rocky terrain. I’ve never been strong technically, and while I’m slowly getting better, I’m like Bambi on ice at times.
Laverick men aren’t good at being bad at things. I think I get it from my Dad, but of course he won’t admit that he’s not good at being bad at things. This is one the main reasons I dislike Traka, it exposes my weaknesses.
I mean, just like my pulse doesn’t race over a 200km pan flat sprint race on the road in Belgium, I find it hard to get excited about Traka too.
The event is amazing, it’s grown so much, and it’s become the main European gravel hub. But, horses for courses - and this horse is bad on this course.
That being said, I’m still going to race hard. I’m still going to have as much fun as possible. It’s funny going into a race knowing that even if I have the form of my life, I’ll get dropped because of the techy descents. Equally, I am racing against guys like Matt Beers who has won the Cape Epic a bucket of times.
Oh, and there are rumours around town that Van der Poel is turning up - nice.
My photo man, Dan Hutchinson, put it nicely: “You don’t like Traka because it’s less of an adventure.” I’d never thought of it that way, but he summed it up nicely in such a matter-of-fact way. He’s right, my gravel career is this weird, crazy adventure, and Traka being at home just feels different.
I’m back from the US
I touched down last week from California, and it was so good to be home. Being in my bed, walking around town and flicking on my coffee machine in the morning - it is the little things.
It’s also the first time in a while that Maggie and I have spent any time together since early February. We decided to get out of Girona for a night to a Tiny Home fifteen kilometres or so out of Girona. It was very well needed.
I’m back in Europe for a month or so. It’s this week of Traka craziness, then it’s up to stay in Andorra with Mags before going back to the US for the Unbound block.
Time is flying so fast at the moment. I feel I’m constantly behind. Even on this Substack, I have five articles 85% drafted but I’m behind on publishing. Sorry about that.
I feel that just as I decompress and unpack from my seven weeks away, it’s time to plan for Traka, and then prep equipment for Unbound and beyond.
Race season is like coming into a corner too hot on gravel, you’re just trying to hold the line and stay upright. When people ask if I’m busy, the answer is always yes. What exactly I'm busy with is difficult to say. One minute I’m training, the next I’m planning tyre choice, the next I’m booking my flights for Unbound.
Ah yes, Unbound flights. I still need to book them before they get crazy expensive…
What’s Coming Up?
Obviously, the Traka, and there’ll be a few reaction and opinion pieces around this race to come out. Then, I’ve got some power analysis but also a few think pieces on road racing. Going to race Redlands and Levi’s got my head going.
I’m in the process of putting my August plans together. While I was tempted by the large prize pot at Lauf Gravel Worlds this year, I think my summer will be taking me to Namibia. Also, I’m planning to build a gravel TT bike sorta thing. More on that soon.
Thanks for reading, and please drop me an email - jtlcycling@gmail.com - with any questions or article ideas.
Joe.
While you’re here…
I’ve added a paid subscription and a ‘Buy Me A Coffee’ link to this post. As the year progresses, I’m planning on building this blog and putting out articles which I’ve always wanted to write but, for whatever reason, haven’t wanted to pitch. Your contributions allow me to do that.
https://www.buymeacoffee.com/joelaverick
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Remember when you’re booking your Unbound flights, it’s Emporia, KANSAS you’re looking for 😂