{"id":75786,"date":"2025-05-05T06:35:18","date_gmt":"2025-05-05T06:35:18","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/75786\/"},"modified":"2025-05-05T06:35:18","modified_gmt":"2025-05-05T06:35:18","slug":"the-bikes-of-the-2025-traka-gravel-race","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/75786\/","title":{"rendered":"The Bikes of the 2025 Traka Gravel Race"},"content":{"rendered":"

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The Traka<\/a> may have started in just 2021, but it has quickly become one of the go-to gravel races in the world, and Europe\u2019s answer to Unbound Gravel<\/a> here in the US. The Traka is defined by its myriad route levels; there\u2019s the Traka Adventure that features 560 km (348 miles), the Traka 360 (224 miles), the fiercely competitive Traka 200 (124 miles), as well as the Traka 100 (62 miles).<\/p>\n

Unlike most other US-based races, however, the Traka is a several-day affair. Folks who did the 360 can push themselves the next day in the Traka 200 (we\u2019re looking at you, Toby Andre R\u00f8ed), while fans of the pros can watch them finish their races one day before trying a more attainable 100 km ride the day after. It makes for an outstanding atmosphere.<\/p>\n

Below is a gallery of some of the race bikes we found from folks riding the Traka 360 and Traka 200 over the past few days. And if you haven\u2019t caught up on all the action, you really should check out our latest from The Traka.<\/p>\n

Simen Nordahl Svendsen\u2019s Fara F\/Gravel has some tight tire clearance
\n\"bikes<\/a>2024 Gravel Earth Series winner Simen Nordahl Svendsen<\/a> rode this Fara F\/Gravel to third place in the Traka 360, and like many bikes in the 360 and 200, it was set up to maximize tire clearance as much as possible. (Photo: Alvin Holbrook\/Velo)
\n\"bikes<\/a>No UCI, No problem here. Photos don\u2019t do just how justice just how inward he had it levers. (Photo: Alvin Holbrook\/Velo)
\n\"bikes<\/a>Nordahl Svendsen rode a SRAM XX Transmission groupset rocking a 50T chainring and 160 mm length cranks. (Photo: Alvin Holbrook\/Velo)
\n\"\"<\/a>(And when I say he was maxxing out the clearance, I mean it. Tires were 29 x 2.1-inch Schwalbe Thunder Burt. Race day activities y\u2019all. (Photo: Alvin Holbrook\/Velo)
\nSofia and Annika\u2019s Specialized Crux gravel bikes take first and third at The Traka 200
\n\"bikes<\/a>Sofia G\u00f3mez Villafa\u00f1e<\/a> and Annika Langvad<\/a> grabbed first and third place at the Traka 200<\/a>, both on the Specialized Crux. (Photo: Alvin Holbrook\/Velo)
\n\"bikes<\/a>We\u2019ve featured G\u00f3mez Villafa\u00f1e\u2019s Crux in the past, and this bike sees few changes here. She\u2019s running a SRAM XX Transmission 12-speed group with a 46T chainring up front and a 10-52t cassette out back. (Photo: Alvin Holbrook\/Velo)
\n\"bikes<\/a>Oh, and you better believe she\u2019s maxxing out the Crux with these 50 mm Specialized Tracer tires. (Photo: Alvin Holbrook\/Velo)
\n\"bikes<\/a>She\u2019s also back on 38 cm wide Roval Rapide two piece handlebars and third-generation Hammerhead Karoo computer. (Photo: Alvin Holbrook\/Velo)
\n\"bikes<\/a>A look at Annika Langvad\u2019s Specialized Crux, featuring Specialized Tracer tires, a 46T chainring, and a 10-52t cassette. (Photo: Alvin Holbrook\/Velo)
\n\"bikes<\/a>Not to be outdone, Annika Langvad came in just a few minutes later on her own Specialized Crux. (Photo: Alvin Holbrook\/Velo)
\n\"bikes<\/a>Interesting to see someone on 172.5 mm cranks, but Langvad comes in at 175 cm (5\u20199\u2033) tall. (Photo: Alvin Holbrook\/Velo)
\nRosa Marie Kl\u00f6ser rolled to the podium aboard the Canyon Grizl
\n\"bikes<\/a>Rosa Kl\u00f6ser<\/a> \u2013 known in some circles as the Queen of Unbound<\/a> \u2013 finished 45 seconds behind G\u00f4mez Villafa\u00f1e for second in the Traka 200. She took to the course aboard the Grizl, Canyon\u2019s adventure-centric gravel bike. (Photo: Alvin Holbrook\/Velo)
\n\"bikes<\/a>Clearly, Kl\u00f6ser took full advantage of the tire clearance the Grizl has to offer \u2013 700c x 50 mm officially, but those RaceKing tires measure in a 29 x 2.2\u2033 (~55 mm). Kloser also used a SRAM X01 AXS rear derailleur with a 10-52t cassette and a 46T chainring. (Photo: Alvin Holbrook\/Velo)
\n\"bikes<\/a>These aero drop bars (which look an awful like the Enve SES Aero bars) have a set of grip tape at the tops\u2026 for grip? (Photo: Alvin Holbrook\/Velo)
\n\"bikes<\/a>Nice job, Rosa! (Photo: Alvin Holbrook\/Velo)
\nToby Andre R\u00f8ed raced both the Traka 360 AND the Traka 200
\n\"bikes<\/a>Trek Driftless<\/a> rider Torbjorn Andre R\u00f8ed<\/a> pulled up to Girona this weekend aboard the Checkmate<\/a>, Trek\u2019s race gravel bike. What race did he do? What race didn\u2019t he do? He doubled up and did both the Traka 360 as well as the Traka 200. (Photo: Alvin Holbrook\/Velo)
\n\"bikes<\/a>Trek might be notorious for understating its max tire clearances, but that Schwalbe Thunder Burt 2.1-inch tire (~57 mm) is far larger than Trek\u2019s claimed 45 mm. Does it fit well? \u201cOnly if there\u2019s no mud,\u201d says R\u00f8ed. (Photo: Alvin Holbrook\/Velo)
\n\"bikes<\/a>R\u00f8ed spent the weekend aboard SRAM Red XPLR AXS groupset<\/a>, featuring a 1\u00d713 10-46t cassette and a 48T chainring. (Photo: Alvin Holbrook\/Velo)
\n\"bikes<\/a>In case you wondered whose SRAM AXS battery this belonged to\u2026 its Toby\u2019s. (Photo: Alvin Holbrook\/Velo)
\nCUTE
\n\"bikes<\/a>This rider (didn\u2019t catch your name, sorry!) rode the Traka Adventure (560 km\/ 348 miles), and spent the last bit riding in with their kid. Love it. (Photo: Alvin Holbrook\/Velo)
\nSICK SICK ALTRD
\n\"bikes<\/a>Jules Foulongne<\/a> pulled up to the Traka 200 aboard this Altrd gravel bike. Obviously, this is a one-off, but one that he and his fried designed and built together. Total time from conception to being complete was roughly 6 hours because his friend has a day job. (Photo: Alvin Holbrook\/Velo)
\n\"bikes<\/a>Why the raised chainstay? \u201d I really thought the first Allied Able looked cool, and so we made this. Its great,\u201d says Jules. The tubesets come courtesy are Columbus Spirit HSS \/ Zona. (Photo: Alvin Holbrook\/Velo)
\n\"bikes<\/a>Things like this guided rear brake hose bridge shows the care put into the frame. (Photo: Alvin Holbrook\/Velo)
\n\"bikes<\/a>He also has an Enve SES AR In-Route One Piece handlebar, though the duck on the bars is the best part. (Photo: Alvin Holbrook\/Velo)
\n\"bikes<\/a>Would Jules make any changes? \u201cThe back of the bike looks cool, but its not very stiff.\u201d Makes sense. (Photo: Alvin Holbrook\/Velo)
\nHELLA COOL OMNIUM
\n\"bikes<\/a>Allan Shaw (@allanshawphoto<\/a>) is a rider of many convictions, including riding this Omnium Titanium Cargo bike first in the 1800 km (1118 miles) long Silk Road race. And now? Shaw pulled up to the Traka Adventure (560 km) aboard the same Omnium. \u201cI think I was a bit more ambitious than I needed to be with this,\u201d says Shaw. (Photo: Alvin Holbrook\/Velo)
\n\"bikes<\/a>The combination of SRAM AXS blips, Classified slider shifter, and the aero bars make this a truly one-of-one cargo bike. (Photo: Alvin Holbrook\/Velo)
\n\"bikes<\/a>Shaw used a SRAM Rival AXS rear derailleur paired with a Classified crankset, chainring, and two-speed hub. (Photo: Alvin Holbrook\/Velo)
\n\"bikes<\/a>What would Shaw change if given the chance to ride The Traka Adventure again? \u201cI\u2019d probably ditch the kickstand. It\u2019s kinda heavy,\u201d Shaw told Velo. (Photo: Alvin Holbrook\/Velo)
\n\"bikes<\/a>Anodized in place for everyone to know exactly what\u2019s going on here. (Photo: Alvin Holbrook\/Velo)
\nTHE DUDES REALLY ARE RIDING RACE KINGS
\n\"bikes<\/a>Frank rode the Traka 200 aboard this Scott Scale hardtail mountain bike. He did it despite having a Cervelo Aspero at home. Why? \u201cThe Scale is faster out here. No regrets bringing this over.\u201d (Photo: Alvin Holbrook\/Velo)
\n\"bikes<\/a>The SRAM XX Transmission derailleur and 10-52t cassette are common sights at the Traka this year, but the smaller chainring is limited by the frame\u2019s clearance. (Photo: Alvin Holbrook\/Velo)
\n\"\"<\/a>While Frank was happy with the SQ Labs inner bar ends that offer a secondary (or tertiary) hand position, converting the Scale from flat bars to drop bars appears to be on the list of possible upgrades. Maybe big tire gravel bikes and drop bar mountain bikes have more in common than we thought. (Photo: Alvin Holbrook\/Velo)<\/p>\n