CANYON SIGNS ON FOR TOP-TIER PARTNERSHIP WITH THE TRAKA GRAVEL RACE

Canyon and Klassmark plan to make The Traka the world’s biggest gravel party, bringing global athletes and fans along with ambition to double female participation.

Embargoed until 11 am CET, Friday 24th January 2025 – Canyon Bicycles, one of the leading global brands for high-performance road, gravel, mountain, triathlon and urban bikes, and Klassmark, organisers of The Traka, one of the world’s most popular gravel races, have teamed up for a partnership from 2025 onwards and set themselves the target of increasing female participation at the event.

Starting in May 2025, Canyon’s presence at The Traka is set to elevate this benchmark event to a new level through their long-term partnership.

With Canyon on board, race entrants will be promised one of the most fun and inclusive gravel experiences around thanks to the big name backing of an industry leader set to bring fan engagement activities, as well as a number of high-profile athletes on Canyon’s gravel roster who will be on hand to meet fans and share their gravel race tips.

But far from being content with the ambition to turn The Traka into the world’s most popular gravel party, Canyon is also committed to helping Klassmark, owners of The Traka, to promote greater inclusivity in the sport of gravel racing.

Currently The Traka attracts over 800 female riders. But Canyon is looking to support Klassmark in doubling that number over the next few years through targeted outreach and specific on-site activities. This will raise female participation from approximately 18% of entrants in 2024 to 36% by 2027, bringing about an improved gender balance in the gravel racing community.

Canyon brand manager Laura Claus: "Together with The Traka, it’s our mission to celebrate the gravel scene and establish The Traka as the world’s leading gravel event, welcoming riders from all corners of the globe. Whether you’re an experienced gravel enthusiast or new to the sport, The Traka is committed to creating an accessible, fun, and inclusive event for everyone, especially one where female riders feel comfortable taking part. We’re thrilled to partner with Klassmark on The Traka and can’t wait to connect with thousands of riders this May celebrating the vibrant and diverse global gravel community."

The Traka began seven years ago with its first event in 2019 and has since grown to become Europe’s premier gravel race and a bucket list event for riders around the world. This year The Traka will offer four main distances, suitable for all levels of gravel riders, from two inspirational 560 km and 360 km ultra-distance events, to the highly popular 200 km, or the 100 km route, which is the perfect objective for anyone looking to complete their first major gravel event.

Plus riders have the possibility to double up for those brave enough: the 560 km starts on Thursday 1^st May, the 360 km is on Friday 2^nd May, the 200 km is Saturday 3^rd, and the 100 km race is on Sunday 4^th May.

Multiple riders racing under Canyon’s gravel racing banner will be on the start line in Girona, ready to witness the hype that has made The Traka one of the world’s hottest races on the calendar.

Those that have already committed to The Traka 2025 include three former winners. Pete Stetina will return to defend his Traka 360 title, and Caro Schiff and Petr Vakoc will be competing in defense of their Traka 200 victories last year.

Pete Stetina: “Experiencing Traka last year was a mind blowing experience, and I realized that regardless if one is racing others or themselves, this is a bucket-list event. The location, the course and the vibe are unlike any other on earth. The 360 is no walk in the park and I can’t wait to be on the start line to defend my title. Whatever happens it’s guaranteed to be a beautiful adventure.”

Carolin Schiff: “Last year I specifically worked on my descending skills in preparation for The Traka. With those new skills I was able to win the Traka 200 for the second time in my career. It was a truly special and fun atmosphere - my favourite moment of 2024. I can’t wait to be back in 2025.”

Fellow Canyon gravel athletes including Jasper Ockeloen, Rosa Kloser, Jade Treffeisen, Klara Sofie Hansen will be up against Caro and Petr in the 200 km race, Heather Jackson and Freddy Ovett will be battling Pete Stetina in the 360 km distance, plus Liam Yates laid down a big statement of intent by registering for the 560 km distance.

Klassmark CEO and Founder Gerard Freixes said: "We are obsessed with making The Traka experience unique and memorable. With the power of Canyon’s brand momentum and its ability to inspire fans, we’re expecting Traka to be off-the-scale in 2025. We aim to become the largest gravel event in the world, but we want to achieve this growth organically and sustainably. Our focus is on ensuring a quality experience for all participants, remaining a benchmark for quality and experience, and reducing and offset participants CO2 emissions. We’re thrilled to have the support of such a progressive partner who truly matches our ethos, and who brings the vibe of fun, inspiration, community and personal performance in equal measure."

"From the moment participants arrive at the village, we want to impress them with the setup and organization. They’ll also find the best global brands offering exceptional activations, a professional team delivering race numbers without queues and with a smile, and services that enhance every detail of their experience."

Held in Girona, a stone’s throw from both the city’s cobbled streets and the network of singletrack and farm tracks in the surrounding hills, it’s the perfect destination to combine racing with a post-race party, complete with a multitude of accommodation options. Plus, for overseas visitors, Girona is a short train ride from Barcelona international airport.

So, whether your preferred riding style is performance or party pace, and whatever post-ride recovery method you choose, The Traka and Canyon promise an inspiring event to suit all gravel riders and racers this spring.

The 2025 version of The Traka takes place between 1-4 May. For more information and to enter, visit: The Traka Gravel - Klassmark