Some weeks simply pass by. And some weeks leave a mark.
The Traka week in Girona is, without a doubt, one of the latter.
This year, at Gobik, we wanted to go beyond the competition. Beyond performance. Beyond even gravel itself. We wanted to become part of the city, its rhythm, and its community. And that’s how The Gravel Times by Gobik was born.
THE GRAVEL TIMES: A NEWSPAPER TO EXPERIENCE GRAVEL
In a world dominated by digital, we chose the tangible. What you can touch, flip through, and share over coffee at a table.
The Gravel Times was our physical newspaper, an editorial piece created to accompany everyone experiencing Traka from the inside and the outside. In its pages, you could find:
- Gobik’s story
- Interviews with athletes and ambassadors
- Teams and key figures in today’s gravel scene
- Restaurant recommendations in Girona
- Games, horoscope, and more lifestyle content
- A selection of race favorites
- A nutrition plan for competition together with 226ERS
- And much more
We distributed thousands of copies throughout the city: cafés, hotels, shops, and restaurants. But we wanted to go one step further.
We collaborated with two of Girona’s busiest newsstands, where we created a space dedicated exclusively to Gobik and the newspaper. An improvised meeting point where gravel slipped into the city’s daily routine.
WHEN THE STREET BECOMES THE STAGE
One of the most special moments of the week came when our ambassadors took to the streets.
Over the course of one morning, they handed out newspapers and croissants to everyone passing by. The result was immediate: smiles, spontaneous conversations, and hundreds of copies in the hands of people who probably weren’t expecting to start the day that way.
It was a simple activation, but a powerful one. And it confirmed something we had already sensed: gravel is not just a sport, it is a community.
THE TRAKA: RACE DAY
And then race day arrived.
Traka is not just a race. As of today, it is the biggest gravel event in Europe. A challenge that demands months of preparation, precision in every detail, and extreme effort management.
This year, we had top-level representation:
- Daan Groseman and Tiago Ferreira in the demanding 360 km distance
- Alejandro Valverde, the Movistar Squad and Bixs Racing Team in the 200 km distance
Each one with their own goal. Each one with their own story.
Tiago Ferreira (13th overall), who was taking on a distance like the 360 for the first time, highlighted the challenge and the learning experience:
“A completely new experience, as I had never done anything this long before. In the end, it was a race that went well for me. I need to work a bit more on not being afraid of what might happen to you physically later on. I’m super happy with my overall performance, and in the coming years I’ll keep doing the 360, since it has much more history and is very different from everything I do during the season.”
For his part, Daan was unable to finish the race, but he gave us brilliant moments at the front:
“Traka demands a lot: preparation, hours of training, nerves, and great physical wear. But it also gives back so much. For me, this year was not about glory, but about learning: understanding the body and how far to push the limits. And together with the energy of the gravel community, it makes it all worthwhile and leaves me really excited for what’s to come.”
Two different views of the same race, but with one thing in common: Traka demands, but it also gives back.
MORE THAN A CARRERA
If this edition leaves us with anything, it is the confirmation that gravel is at a unique moment. It is growing, evolving and, most importantly, connecting.
At Gobik, we wanted to be part of that connection from every angle: telling stories, being out on the streets, supporting our athletes and experiencing the race from the inside.
Because Traka is not only raced on the bike. It is lived in every corner of Girona.
THANK YOU GIRONA.
