FROM SNOWPARKS TO GRAVEL FLOAT | GRAVEL EARTH SERIES Gérard Freixes is the brains behind Klassmark, the company that organises the Gravel Earth Series – of which Café du Cycliste is one of the title sponsors. He sat down with us to give us some insight into the events, and where they might go next. Are you a cyclist through and through? No, I wouldn’t consider myself a pure cyclist. Though I raced mountain bikes from a very young age, my career took a turn towards snowboard and constructing snowparks. That was where I began as an entrepreneur. How did you start riding gravel? I took my first steps in gravel via mountain biking. In 2014 I tried a gravel bike and fell in love with the discipline, and I haven’t stopped riding gravel since. I’ve always combined it with trail running, I appreciate the contact with the natural world. How would you define gravel? For me, ‘gravel’ evokes that special sensation of floating you get when you’re on gravel roads. It’s about adventuring on gravel tracks and feeling that combination of technique, float and contact with the earth that speed gives you. How did you get the idea for Klassmark and the Gravel Earth Series? The idea for Klassmark goes back over 15 years, a time when I was deeply involved in organising action sports events. The idea for the Gravel Earth Series came later – an attempt to capture the original essence of gravel and launch a world circuit that would recognise all athletes. The Gravel Earth Series has grown rapidly, why is that? How do you see it changing in the future? It has grown due to the growth in gravel enthusiasts around the world, and because our series of events foreground the fundamental values of the sport – and the discovery of diverse places. Tell us about the shape of the 2024 GES… For the 2024 season, we’ve come up with a more inclusive format, with more events on each continent, so as to reduce the number of long-haul flights – above all for the professional athletes. We’re also seeing longer formats (650km on the Migration Race). At the moment, our events tend to reward pure performance, but our vision of the future is to include more ultra events, long-distance challenges that require planning and organisation. What were you hoping from the season opener, the Santa Vall, and what about the season as a whole? We were pleased to hit our target of 300 entries at Santa Vall. We’re sure it’s going to grow, which is how it has to be for us after the first year of a new project. Next season is looking bigger and better – we’re planning to change the format to include three pure gravel stages, to attract even more participants. Anything more to add? It’s so important to me not only to work in something I’m passionate about, but also to try to contribute positively to society in general. I think that the Gravel Earth Series is well received by the community, and this is the most rewarding thing for me. I truly value being able to go to bed each night knowing we’re making a contribution to the sport and to the community, it brings a lot of satisfaction to our work. Read more about our 2024 gravel teams, and the first event in the 2024 series, the Santa Vall, where Café du Cycliste was a headline sponsor.

SOPHIE POTTER RIDES THE ATLAS MOUNTAIN RACE. Intrepid adventurer Sophie Potter has just finished the Atlas Mountain Race (AMR), an ultra mountain-bike event that crosses Morocco’s Atlas Mountains and passes via the Anti-Atlas to finish in Essaouira. It’s a serious business: 1,300km and 21,000m of elevation over sand, stones and colonial-era gravel tracks. Sophie explains how it went… You set off for Morocco three weeks early – was it all just tagines? Before getting there I’d spent two months on my home trainer, so I really wanted to get used to the bike again, without bags on. The time allowed me to refine my riding position and get an idea of the temperatures in Morocco at low and high altitudes, to choose the right clothing and sleep system. Unfortunately, I was ill those three weeks and ended up coughing so hard I cracked a rib. I had to rest a lot, and couldn’t recce as much of the route as I’d hoped. Tell us about the equipment you rolled on… I took a Scott hardtail that I’d bought second hand. Before the race I’d ridden around 3,500km on it, including the Silk Road Mountain Race and the Pamir Highway, up to altitudes of 4,700m. It’s specially equipped with lightweight but reliable parts… I added aerobars to take the pressure off my hands, but even so I lost feeling in six of my fingers. With my lightweight René Herse Fleecer Ridge tyres and custom cargo wheels, total weight was around 10kg." And what was in your bags? I took the lightest possible equipment, without skimping on the essentials to finish the race. Some people take risks because their goal is to finish first, but that wasn’t me. Nevertheless, I didn’t take anything ‘just in case’. In the frame bag I mainly had electrical equipment: two 10,000mAh battery packs, a charger, cables, a multitool, pump and a tubeless repair kit, as well as my documents, money and some food (I also had some supplementary food pouches). In my top tube bag, essentials for on the move – sun cream, sunglasses, moisturiser, lip balm. In my saddlebag, a first-aid kit, sleep system, warm jacket, leg warmers and gloves. I didn’t take a change of clothes. Every 12 hours I changed and washed my bibs, leaving the other pair to dry on the saddlebag. Because there’s not much water in Morocco, I used taps outside the little shops I passed to both ‘shower’ and wash my clothes! What couldn’t you do without in a multi-day race like this, in terms of repair kit? Chain oil – no hesitation! A tubeless kit, an inner tube fixed to the frame and tyre levers; two pumps (including a 30g back-up); multitool, cable ties and duct tape; two pairs of brake pads; pliers, a quick link and a derailleur hanger. And for sleeping? I prefer sleeping inside during races as I recover better. However, I knew that for the AMR this wouldn’t always be possible. So I opted for an ultra-light inflatable sleeping mat and a 450g sleeping bag rated to 2 ºC. How were the vibes pre-race? The afternoon before the race, Nelson, the race director informed us that the police had ordered a 24-hour delay to the start, because of storms that were about to hit. I’d been very stressed and hadn’t slept properly for three nights, so the news came as a relief – I’d have another night to try to rest. The start was uncertain even up to 16h00 the next day: Nelson said it wasn’t guaranteed, but we should go to the start line for 17h30… Did you have any rituals for the first intense 24 hours? Night fell quickly, so you naturally got tired straight away, but I forced myself not to sleep in the first 24 hours. Around 3h00 in the morning, after 120km, I took a mini-break at Checkpoint 1. The hours after that were the most difficult until the sun rose around 7h30 – when the adrenaline kicked in. I had an idea of where I wanted to stop, but I stayed flexible – I made decisions on the fly based on how I was progressing. Did you spend much time riding with other people? With more than 200 people racing, the first nights seemed busy, but then the gaps built up. In the first 24 hours I was often with a rider called Romain who shared a similar rhythm to me. Over the third and fourth days I regularly saw the same five riders; then, after a long break at Checkpoint 3 on the fifth day, I encountered new faces. Sometimes we chatted, sometimes not, sometimes sharing a place to rest. It was a first for me, and very enriching! What did you eat and where did you sleep? How did you manage your water in the desert? Food-wise I had 24 hours’ worth at the start, and then I relied on what I could find on the road. Little shops sold a range of biscuits, often individually wrapped, and I went for ones containing dates, which are rich in carbs. In the big towns there were restaurants and fast food, whereas elsewhere it was mainly Berber omelettes and bread. I slept out under the stars three nights and twice at checkpoints, around 4-5 hours each time. As for water, I planned it according to the distance between resupply points, but always had 2-3 litres with me, and sometimes more if I’d bought fizzy drinks. We followed you via the tracker and social networks, and saw you suffered from some health issues that slowed you down… I tried always to eat, drink and sleep well, but nevertheless some serious problems started on the fourth day: a lung infection, which I thought had healed, came back with the fatigue, effort and the dryness of the air. This changed into an asthma attack in the last couple of days. By the time I stopped at Checkpoint 3, I’d had swollen legs since day two, and was having an inflammatory attack, which I tried to manage with medication, but it didn’t work as I hoped. I never thought about abandoning. If I stopped, my inflammation would have won, so I got back on the road despite the pain, cutting the bottom of my bibs to relieve the pressure. I rode for a while with a guy called William, who was in jeans and Vans, and I began to get control. In the last 90km a headwind added to the challenge, but I gave everything I had left in my legs and overtook five people before finishing. At 5h00 on the morning of the seventh day Sophie, physically tired but in good spirits, crossed the finish line where her friends were waiting for her. After stamping her brevet, she rode to a hotel where fellow Café du Cycliste athlete Adrien Liechti bought her a delicious hamburger. Only the next day did the aches and pains get the better of her and a trip to hospital confirmed the asthma attack she’d been suffering in the race final. After a few days, however, all that remained were the good memories of rising to the challenge of this incredible adventure. For Sophie, the finish line was only the beginning: with Adrien in tow, she is now heading for Dakar, and is currently somewhere in the middle of the Sahara. Bonne route Sophie!

ROAD RACERS OFF ROAD For 2024 the Café du Cycliste women’s gravel team have some new teammates: four men from Team Nice Métropole Côte d’Azur, a UCI Continental team based in our home city of Nice. They will be seconded from their usual road racing duties to explore with us both the amazing gravel tracks of the Côte d’Azur backcountry and the growing calendar of competitive gravel events across the globe. Like the women (and we will be announcing the 2024 women’s team very soon) their programme will be based around the Gravel Earth Series, and will take in the Traka one-day race and Ranxo stage race in Spain, plus two other events from the global series. Given our long-time love of gravel, we’re excited to see the scene grow and evolve, and are super pleased to be sending along a double contingent of racers to this year’s Gravel Earth Series. We’re also sponsoring some key events – firstly the season opener Santa Vall stage race in Girona in February, and Ranxo, the finale, in October. Our women’s team has been winning gravel events since 2022, so perhaps they’ll be able to give the guys some tips – the four men, ranging from 21 to 25 years old, have long experience racing and are now in the upper echelons on the road, but are new to competing on the rough stuff. “I love gravel when I’m bikepacking, but I’ve never experienced it competitively,” said team rider Noah Knecht, a 23-year-old originally from Monaco just down the coast. “I don’t know how I’ll measure up, but I know I’m going to love it!” Gravel has been Café du Cycliste’s thing since before gravel bikes even existed, and we’ve also long supported local riders. Another team rider, in fact, recalls being given a jersey by Rémi, Café du Cycliste’s founder, at the (cycling) Grand Prix in Monaco when he was just 13 years old. It just shows that in cycling what goes around comes around, and that, sometimes, you really do get back out what you put in! Nice Métropole Côte d’Azur rose to the professional ranks after Nice hosted the Grand Départ of the Tour de France in 2020. Since then, it has represented the city over 90 days a year on the UCI calendar, investing in local talent and the future of cycling in the region, so it seemed natural for us to partner with them. More than just teammates, our four conscripts to the wild side are friends and true comrades on the bike, and are looking forward to expanding their horizons beyond the tarmac and getting lost in a new world of adventure. To find out more about the guys, their thoughts on gravel and hopes for the season, read our interviews here.

Café du Cycliste Gravel Team Café du Cycliste Gravel Team Women Café du Cycliste Gravel Team Café du Cycliste Gravel Team CAFÉ DU CYCLISTE GRAVEL TEAM 2024 For 2024, Café du Cycliste is bringing double trouble to gravel racing Our long-running female team is being joined by four men conscripted from the Nice Métropole Côte d’Azur Pro Continental road racing squad. All aged from 21-25 and based in and around the Côte d’Azur, the men will be taking time out from racing UCI road events to bring their athleticism and focus to the gravel arena. By bringing them into the Café du Cycliste fold, we’re investing in promising local talent – as well as showing the world the gravel playground that is the Nice backcountry. Needless to say, we will again be supporting women’s racing with a four-strong team of female riders. Returning for her third year is María Ögn Guðmundsdóttir, and she is joined by three new teammates. Read on for news on their race programme and interviews with all eight of our team athletes. So, men and women, bring it on in 2024! The Race Program 2024 This year the teams’ programme is again based around the Gravel Earth Series, where our women riders have scored some notable successes, including winning the Rift and the Traka (100km), both in 2022. In total, each team will race four events, including the infamous Traka, in Girona in May, and the series finale, Ranxo, also in Spain, in October, with the other two yet to be announced. On the women’s side of things, our veteran team member María Ögn Guðmundsdóttir will pass on all her experience to three new teammates, and hope to inspire them to new successes. For the men, top athletes as they are, the learning curve will undoubtedly be steep, but they are all eager to take on a new challenge in the dynamic world of competitive gravel racing. RACE CALENDAR 2024 16 Feb Santa Vall, Sant Gregori Spain A gravel stage race during three days to launch the season. + 01 May The Traka, Girona Spain Europe’s most coveted race and home to incredible tracks. + 15 Jun Wish One, UCI Race, Millau, France Qualifying round for the UCI World Championships in the heart of Aveyron. 20 Sep Falling Leaves, Gravel Earth Series, Lahti, Finland A Nordic race of the Gravel Earth Series in the heart of the Salpausselkä National Park. 12 Oct Ranxo, Ponts Spain The series final to decide the very best riders of the Gravel Earth Series. + FOLLOW THE TEAM Sign up to our Newsletter and follow us on social media to stay up to date with the team. Submit

LE PILGRIMAGE | DE SAINT ROCH | A GRAVEL JOURNEY INTO THE ALPES ‘I'll fear not what men say,
 I'll labour night and day, 
to be a pilgrim.’ The inaugural edition of Le Pilgrimage took place in auspicious circumstances, setting off in mid-September from Puy-Saint-Vincent, a small village in the Ecrins Massif, part of the Haute-Alpes. For this premier edition, Café du Cycliste was one of the official partners. St. Roch is the patron saint of Le Pilgrimage, an icon who allegedly took on ‘towering mountains and lush valleys’ during his time on earth. He was also rumoured to be a very nice guy, and Le Pilgrimage places a lot of emphasis on conviviality as well as incredible riding. 22 pilgrims in all set off on a journey across the most breath-taking terrain the high Alps can offer, pushing through mental and physical boundaries, and making friends along the way. A spiritual test and tribute to the gravel gods of Europe and the pursuit of happiness on two wheels. Did they discover any deities out there? They certainly needed to draw on their faith for good legs… This four-day gravel journey comprised of three self-supported stages out and back from the event’s basecamp Chalet AlpeLune, and one of these riders was Café du Cycliste’s very own Lucie Denis, from our HQ in Nice. Our woman on the ground takes up the story. The Pilgrim’s Progress I decided to take part in this event rather carelessly. Without looking too closely at the map and the figures indicating the climbs and kilometres to be covered. But I was enchanted by the concept. I just knew that I would feel at home there, in the heart of the mountains – ‘the sanctuary of the summit’ – in a rather intimate setting and an event with only a small group of people. I loved my time on the bike, because the longer the days in the saddle, the happier it made me. Pass after pass, despite the bad weather and sometimes tired legs; there was always a warm-welcome at the checkpoints, and on the way back to the chalets we all shared a moment together – chatting, dreaming and clinking glasses over good food. And even if some of us arrived as evangelists and others not at all, we were all there, and we all made a date for next year. DAY 1 STAGE 1 - 119 km / 3,510 m Checkpoint at Fort Janus (one of the Forts around Briançon on old military roads) The first day, predictably, we all set off like children, excited by majestic surroundings, the mountain air and new faces. On the way there's a delicious bakery in Briançon where we all stopped for pizza, pain au chocolat and coffee (of course) before dispersing, each at their own pace. A good pace is important on such an outing. The first climb is steep, in a forest on an old road that turns into a track. We climb higher and higher and see in the distance a little point with a flag flying – the checkpoint, that's where we're going. I look down to see that my giant 10-50 cassette has only one sprocket left… DAY 2 STAGE 2 - 131 km - 3,010m Col du Galibier + Vallée de la Clarée We reach the checkpoint called refuge des Drayères with hot coffee, slices of pie, a small omelette, cakes and more coffee. They also had a fire place, and Crocs shoes seem to be mandatory. It was hard for my body to get into the rhythm of a hilly first day and the ascent of the Col du Galibier in the rain and fog was no picnic. I just focused on pedal after pedal. I feel alone at this point, barely able to make out the silhouette of my route partner, Matthieu. But at the top, through heavy rain we see an open restaurant and bicycles in front of the door. Superb. Big smiles all round after a hard climb. We drink one or two cups of coffee and eat Snickers, since that's all we have left... Some of us buy expensive waterproof gloves. A smart move as now we have to descend into the wind. We take a track to a lake and a wild expansive landscape . “C’est beau” … The wind is blowing hard, but we don't care. Now we have to walk, run and hop, AKA ‘hike-a-bike’, along a long-distance footpath to get to the checkpoint. DAYS THREE & FOUR STAGE 3 - 250 km / 3,700 m Serre Ponçon, Ubaye & Tunnel du Parpaillon The checkpoint to be hit is up at the Tunnel du Parpaillon, a mythical place, between two valleys carved out by military engineers at an altitude of over 2600m. It is the fourth highest pass in the French Alps. A two-day tour with our saddle bags, we booked a refuge near Barcelonette with other pilgrims so that we could get together in the evening and share a bowl of soup, a bottle of wine and a night of snoring. The first day sees some beautiful roller coaster climbs through the woods, and a ‘chute’ on the first descent but nothing serious. Carefree, playful kids, that's what we are. We came across a few fountains but no coffee, it being Sunday in France. Almost in the middle of nowhere we meet a group of friends and family having a huge picnic. They offer us homemade apple juice, fresh water and cake. They laugh, they ask us questions and wish us good luck. At the end of the day we meet up with our refuge mates, with whom we make our way to our host for the night. We are nearly devoured by eight ferocious patous (big sheep dogs), but the situation was well managed by Matthieu, our dog whisperer. In the evening, we share the table with platters of local cheese and meats. We are drunk with tiredness and raise a toast to tomorrow’s final stage and the long-awaited magic spot – the Parpaillon tunnel. We wake up, aching all over, and spread our slices of bread with jam while it's still dark outside. Everybody is quiet. Two of our crew have already left at 4am to escape the forecasted thunderstorms, the brave ones... I tell myself it's going to be a long way to the tunnel, the only way is up, up, up. In the village of Barcelonnette we stop at a bakery. It's the only one we come across today, so we might as well make the most of it. Some of the other pilgrims have slept in town, so we'll pass each other and then naturally go our separate ways. It's 8am and we won't reach the summit before at least 1pm, just to give you an idea... Once up there though, you forget everything, the whole climb, the rain, the mud. An incredible view impossible to forget. Friends by the fire at the refuge lit by Simon (the organiser) our very own Saint Roch. The smiles, the victory, the beauty all around us. And two big Patous puppies who were much friendlier than their bigger cousins and followed us for cuddles in this wild and isolated place. We really have escaped up here. The storm is coming though. The thunder rumbles, the rain intensifies and we have to leave. We put on everything we had so as not to feel the cold of the mountains and not let the rain penetrate, but the long descent won't spare us. We were drenched. But another 80 km and we reach Basecamp at the AlpeLune chalet of Mountain Hotel Saint Roch. Welcomed by fellow pilgrims, a shepherd's bell, hugs and a plate of pasta. See you next year, my fellow pilgrims. Photo Credit: Yorit Kluitman READ MORE SOPHIE GATEAU | Adventure in the Ardennes. Forests alternate with steep valleys, peat bogs with verdant pastures, moors with rocky escarpments, and multiple rivers with ancient stone villages. The Major Seven - 3 riders, 7 mountains, 24 hours. Yes, it’s the adventure of the summer, the Forever Outsiders spirit, an unforgettable experience with a little bit of a laugh (and maybe some tears). Runpacking the Route of Nice Côte d'Azur by UTMB. In August we run-packed some of the route of the world renowned Nice Côte d’Azur by UTMB, an off-road 100 mile race through the Mercantour mountains. Ride of the Month: Tracing the tracks of the 2023 Ironman. The Ironman World Championship, which usually takes place in Hawaii, relocated to the French Riviera for the 2023 edition.

Ends of the (Gravel) Earth, Annabel Fisher reigns supreme So here we are. The finale of the Gravel Earth series marks a full stop for Team Gravel Café du Cycliste. While some of the girls will still compete individually in the world championships in a few weeks’ time, this finale represents the setting sun for the team in 2023. It's been a season full of highlights and high drama, with exceptional races ridden around the world – Traka (Spain), Migration Race (Kenya), The Rift (Iceland), Octopus (Switzerland). Each battle fought on challenging terrain, each seemingly more difficult than the last. In pure sporting terms some of these races were successes while others were less so and gave rise to moments of doubt. But all of them united the team, drawing them closer from a common understanding only available to those who appreciate the secrets of supreme physical and mental effort. Traka, run a lifetime away last April, marked the beginning of this Gravel Earth adventure. And from that very first race, American Amity Rockwell has been holding a solid series lead. At this point it would take an extraordinary effort, a combination of factors, a black swan if you will, to upset the overall standings. It's not a possibility uppermost in anyone's mind but Annabel Fisher, the leader of Café du Cycliste's team, certainly wants to shine in this final event. She’s been preparing well and her victory in Octopus and her consistently high rankings have shown she deserves her place in the top 4. Clearly there will be a battle and, in retrospect at least, perhaps even an extraordinary achievement. Cardona, Catalonia. The small town exudes history, culture, and Mediterranean charm. It’s famous for its salt mines, once among the largest in the world. What remains is a vast, earthy expanse marked by long whitish tracks; salt is still omnipresent, but its exploitation no longer seems to interest many, as illustrated by the abandoned facilities. Its impressive medieval castle perched on a hill overlooks the rugged terrain and numerous trails and paths, a veritable playground for Gravel riding. An impressive storm shook the sky the day before the race, soaking the already churned ground. The terrain will be muddy in places, adding to the challenge of this demanding 189 km course with 3100 meters of elevation gain. A first climb of 1500 meters awaits the riders and will set the scene. After a long flat section of nearly 100 kilometres, 40 more kilometres of steep slopes will greet those still racing. More than 1600 meters of elevation in this last section, testing legs, lungs and willpower. The men will start first and 5 minutes later the women will set off in pursuit. The field is uber competitive; the best from the series are here, with several having at least one victory on the circuit. For a handful of them, the overall podium remains a goal, and they will have to give their all today. After the first long climb a pattern is already emerging. Up front, a group of three women have engaged in battle and Annabel Fisher is at the heart of it. Behind them our the other team members are fighting their own battles. Lydia, still feeling the effects of the 760-kilometer Badlands race is struggling with weary legs. Isabelle maintains a steady pace and will not relent in her effort to conquer this gruelling day. Completing this race at the speed they are going is an achievement reserved for very few. Maria turns back shortly after the start, a worrying sign as her heart is pounds and won’t slow down; For her it's time for her body a rest. After more than 100 kilometres of toil and trouble, the leading group reaches the feeding station where all teams can assist their riders. Annabel is still among them and the report is good. She’s feeling fresh and good in the saddle. Filling bottles, greasing a struggling chain, and then charging into a decisive section – the leaders do not linger long. There is a race to be run. And on this final stretch, the last section, this end of the end of season is where magic begins to happen. Annabel pulls away from her competitors, increasing her lead as the elevation unfolds and track rises ahead of her. And as she crosses the finish line she is still pulling away. Winning this finale is no small feat and she has done it with both style and grace. There is jubilation, warm tears and big smiles fuelled by the knowledge of the effort and sacrifice it takes to experience moments like this. Back on the course Amity Rockwell, the leader of the overall standings, is struggling. She will finish only 8th and soon after she does, the loudspeakers come to life to announce Annabel Fisher as the champion of the Gravel Earth Series. Unexpected and almost unbelievable, the team celebrate together at this perfect ending to the year they have lived side by side. Gravel riding is exhilarating. Whether racing or shooting the breeze with friends. In racing the format itself is an enormous challenge, clearly evidenced by the special atmosphere at events and the bonds formed among riders and all those involved. Positions and places or winning and losing are not the only lines entered into the ledger at the end of each day. Determination, dedication and downright bloody mindedness are what it takes for anyone to complete these incredibly demanding events. They are, and have always been, a race against oneself as much as against others and long may that continue. VIEW MORE Gravel Advice: Women of the CDC GT. We sat down with the CDC GT, our female trio of Gravel racers, to talk about women’s racing and community, and how it feels to be a female athlete in a traditionally male-focussed sport. VIEW MORE The Lauf Life. Conceived on the windswept and desolate trails of Iceland, Lauf are the bike sponsor of the Café du Cycliste Gravel Team. Having begun their journey as a suspension fork manufacturer, this fledgling brand now also produce beautiful carbon fibre bikes for gravel racing across varied terrain. VIEW MORE The Gravel Team | 2023 Season So Far. So far, so Gravelled. The Café du Cycliste Gravel Team are well and truly off into their second season of racing. And it’s obvious they’re well-seasoned. VIEW MORE The Traka: The reference for European gravel. For the Café du Cycliste Gravel Team, arriving at The Traka is a little like visiting an old friend. There’s a familiarity born of previous experience and two of the team were winners last year (Annabel Fisher in the 100km and Lydia Iglesias in the 200km). VIEW MORE

The Rift: Into the Fire Travelling to the start of a race can often be an epic journey. Six hours earlier, the girls stood in line and looked on nervously towards the tarmac where their bikes, packed tightly into their cases, were waiting to be loaded onto the Airbus A320 which we were anxiously boarding. After a rough night between airports and hard plastic seats, the pilot has just announced the Airbus is beginning its descent to Reykjavik. And there, under the left wing, a bright light glints for our attention. It takes us a moment to realise what we are seeing through tired eyes... It’s perhaps the most dazzling thing anyone can witness – fire bursting out of a mountain. Fagradalsfjall erupted less than two weeks ago. The volcano is just a few kilometres from Iceland's main airport, and is now directly below us, spitting lava from its molten rivers skyward. A rare and hair-raising spectacle for visitors, to which the natives have nevertheless become accustomed. In under 15 years the natives in southwest Iceland have witnessed four eruptions across the Reykjanes Peninsula. As we swoop towards the landing strip we can barely believe it, magma bursting from the centre of the world is beyond magical, and simultaneously quite frightening. I don’t think we will forget this arrival to an airport in a hurry. The Icelandic landscapes are otherworldly. The flowing lava just adds to this extra-terrestrial vision. The ‘land of ice and fire’, is home to an incredible variety of geological formations: volcanoes, geysers, hot springs, glaciers, lava fields. And it is also the setting for one of the world’s most majestic gravel events, The Rift. A unique race, not only for the geological properties of the terrain but also for the effort it requires. 200km with 2200m of up, the route flanks Hekla, one of the 130 volcanoes on the island known for the extent of its black lava fields as far as the eye can see. Over the distance, wheels cross a wide variety of landscapes and come up against notable difficulties, with gradients whose percentages force even the leading riders to dismount and push. The bodies of all the girls on the team are still marked by the Migration Race, a multi-day event that they rode three weeks ago in Kenya. Other riders have certainly come here fresher and more combative, like Carolin Schiff who will be the first to complete this 2023 edition. Annabel Fisher, defending champion, was unable to keep her crown this year. The rain has been a stranger lately and the wide tracks of fine black sand are crispy, rutted and undulating. These repeated bumps will leave their mark in the organisms and the posteriors of the competitors. Rémi Clermont, creative director of Café du Cycliste, came to see the race last year, handing up bottles, cleaning bikes and encouraging our riders. Rémi decided to return on a bike himself this year. Not only a great test of the comfort of shorts or the breathability of a jersey he has helped to design, but a deeper understanding about this passion we are all sharing. He completes the race and declares to be ‘rinsed’, but with his eyes full of northern lights. The spectacle exceeds the promises of even the best-written tourist brochures. The effort highlights the desire for more preparation, more hours in the saddle. But that is often the case for a lot of us. Rémi will testify that The Rift is more than ever one of the most beautiful events in the Gravel Earth Series. Respect is paid to everyone involved. Lauf Cycling, the Icelandic bike brand and our partners, are at the helm of the race’s organisation. By coming to race here, we understand even more why their bikes endure the most punishing tests. And we especially recognise how their very particular suspension fork was designed and why it has gained such a reputation today. The land on which the equipment is developed and tested is incredibly demanding, unique, and a lot of fun, provided you have the correct tools. An appointment is now made for the final of the Gravel Earth Series in September. Until then rest will be necessary. Some time to cool off. The Rift has once again been burnt into our legs and forever our memories. Further Riding 2023 Season So Far So far, so Gravelled. The Café du Cycliste Gravel Team are well and truly off into their second season of racing. And it’s obvious they’re well-seasoned. VIEW MORE The Migration Race The Migration Race is a 600km Gravel race over four stages/days taking place in the territory of Masai Mara in the south-west of Kenya. VIEW MORE The Traka: The reference for European gravel For the Café du Cycliste Gravel Team, arriving at The Traka is a little like visiting an old friend. There’s a familiarity born of previous experience and two of the team were winners last year. VIEW MORE Aachen, Germany: UCI Gravel World Series The big race will once again take place near Veneto (Italy) at the beginning of October, a grand finale to a season of undoubtedly true and testing grit. VIEW MORE

The Gravel Team | 2023 Season So Far ‘My blessing season this in thee.’ So far, so Gravelled. The Café du Cycliste Gravel Team are well and truly off into their second season of racing. And it’s obvious they’re well-seasoned already. Not that they’re too old or too salty, but very well-conditioned you see. Our four intrepid women have each competed on two continents already, collectively clocking up over 5000km (don’t forget those thousands of climbing metres too), with numerous sharp and treacherous turns taken with grace. Mixed fortunes over the last three months, but then fortune inevitably favours the brave. From Spain to Kenya the riders have hopped potholes, topped podiums, spotted giraffes and got lost. All this makes a rich and vital experience that is ultimately what Gravel is all about. The journey, no matter what the outcome or choice of direction, will always be remembered. Following on from the 2022 season, where the team's riders reached the top of the rankings, 2023 has been a continuation of that spirit and determination. So, it’s worth taking a quick recap. TRAINING CAMP | PARIS–ROUBAIX Unveiling the team with an official get together and training camp, the group travelled to northern France to experience another kind of ‘off-road road-riding’ on the cobblestones of L’Enfer du Nord. Talk about mental and physical conditioning. A cold, damp and blustery time was had, but paying homage to the hundreds of riders (and thousands of soldiers) who suffered in this hallowed territory was just the wakeup call everyone needed ahead of a testing season on the rough stuff. LA TRAKA | SPAIN This was one bullish ride to kick things off and the first in the Gravel Earth series which makes up the lion’s share of the itinerary for this season. The location of La Traka in Girona is a cycling paradise, and the race is to gravel racing what Wimbledon is to tennis (minus the royal dignitaries); a real party atmosphere and very special terrain. Local favourite and last year’s winner of the 200km category, Lydia Iglesias, was hoping to make an impact in the 360km category. Our Catalan ace really got stuck in, rallying for almost 18 hours in the saddle and finishing in a very respectable eighth place. ‘The toughest race I've ever done.’ The rest of the team – Maria (who was also in the podium with Lydia in 2022), Isabelle and Annabel (who won the 100km category last season) – all competed in the 200km course. Maria rode home in 14th position with Isabelle coming in a few minutes later to take 15th. Maria it should be noted came 2nd in her age category but knowing her, this is irrelevant… Annabel took fourth spot and, knowing her, was somewhat disappointed. She would make up for it soon, however. AACHEN | GERMANY Two weeks later the team were off to Germany for a UCI qualifying event (to qualify for the Worlds in Italy at the end of the season), in Aachen on the border with Belgium and rubbing elbows with some of the best in world cyclocross. This circuit was a relentless and muddy affair suited to punchy type riders. 130 kilometres of undulating and increasingly sloppy terrain thanks to a shed load of rain the day before. A very tough race by all accounts, shorter than usual yet at a brutal intensity, where it was every rider for themselves. Annabel placed fourth on GC making qualification. Not your typical ‘Gravel’ encounter, but good for the legs and a great test of kit and hardware. The Lauf Seigla bikes and Hutchinson tyres performed effortlessly, and Petra Shibori jackets and Elsa cargo shorts stood up to the conditions in style. THE MIGRATION RACE | KENYA The next stop on the Gravel Earth Series was something special – a stage race in the territory of Masai Mara in the south-west of Kenya. The Masai Mara makes up one of the largest nature reserves in Africa, a vast expanse of grassy plains, savannah and hills, and home to an incredible diversity of wildlife. Over four days, the Café du Cycliste Gravel Team rode 650km with 8000m of climbing. A truly unforgettable journey. Mixed fortunes here, but nothing worth doing is easy. The first day of racing saw Annabel ride the 140-kilometres to first place, with Lydia in third. Our Icelandic warrior Maria and Belgian adventurer Isabelle finished in the top ten – a superb start. Day two is mountainous, 170 kilometres long with 2800m of climbing. 10km in Lydia crashes and buries any hope of finishing the day in contention. Annabel also suffers misfortune, falling ill. But Maria remains focused on the race, and over the next two days draws on her vast racing experience and steely spirit to take third place in the GC. A beautiful result that can only be matched by seeing a herd of giraffes wander across the horizon on the penultimate evening at camp. What an experience for everyone involved. From the cobbled farm roads of France to the dusty hills of Spain; tough laps in the mud to the vast African plains. The Café du Cycliste Gravel Team have already covered a lot of varying terrain, epic distance, and myriad conditions. And they’re only halfway there. Next stop is the formidable topography of The Rift in Iceland, Maria’s home gravel, on the 22nd of July. Stay tuned and stay out there. READ MORE The Migration Race The Migration Race is a 600km Gravel race over four stages/days taking place in the territory of Masai Mara in the south-west of Kenya. Aachen, Germany: UCI Gravel World Series The big race will once again take place near Veneto (Italy) at the beginning of October, a grand finale to a season of undoubtedly true and testing grit. The Traka: The reference for European gravel For the Café du Cycliste Gravel Team, arriving at The Traka is a little like visiting an old friend. There’s a familiarity born of previous experience and two of the team were winners last year (Annabel Fisher in the 100km and Lydia Iglesias in the 200km). Gravel Advice: Women of the CDC GT We sat down with the CDC GT, our female trio of Gravel racers, to talk about women’s racing and community, and how it feels to be a female athlete in a traditionally male-focussed sport.

The Migration Race There are certain rides and races that truly leave their mark. The Migration Race is more than just Gravel cycling, more than a race, it is a miraculous human experience, for the participants, organisers, and communities of Kenya (human and animal). Rare moments of life shared. The Migration Race is a 600km Gravel race over four stages/days taking place in the territory of Masai Mara in the south-west of Kenya. The Masai Mara makes up one of the largest nature reserves in Africa, a vast expanse of grassy plains, savannah and hills, and home to an incredible diversity of wildlife. Beyond its extraordinary herds of zebras and giraffes, the Masai Mara is home to the rich and vibrant culture of the Maasai (note the difference in spelling) people. Traditionally semi-nomadic, the Maasai tribe, despite the oppressive creep of modernity, succeed in the 21st century in preserving their ancestral traditions and enjoying a way of life in harmony with their natural habitat. This week of racing would not be possible without men from the Maasai, omnipresent in the organisation, piloting the motos for photographers and journalists, setting up camp, watching over the whole entourage established in wild spaces that they know like the back of their hands. These men would also brighten up our evenings with their songs, dances and beautiful demeanour, always smiling. A curious contrast to the Maasai’s simple approach to life out here, the cyclists from all over the world arrive with bleeping mechanisms and technological paraphernalia. The natives casually stoic, draped in their tartan shukas, machete on their belts, observe our trivial concerns for tyre pressure and GPS battery life as ‘modern’ humans a thousand miles from their own daily lives. They are constantly confronted with these quirks – their homeland attracts tourists from all over. Yet these two-wheeled tourists bring commerce, and this bike race happens to be one of the more curious (and dare we say it beneficial) forms of tourism that invades the pastoral life they have inherited. The first day of racing for the Café du Cycliste Gravel Team was a thunderous affair. British racer Annabel Fisher rode the 140-kilometre-long stage to first place, with Spaniard Lydia Iglesias in third. Our Icelandic warrior Maria Gudmundsdottir and Belgian adventurer Isabelle Beckers rank in the women's top ten – a superb start. For the male competitors, the race is even faster, with many of Europe’s top Gravel aces making the trip. The African riders are breath-taking, with Team Amani showing many how it’s done on this incredible terrain. The first night’s camp felt like it had magically appeared in the middle of nowhere. Individual tents were set up, with showers and toilets, a refectory, and enthusiastic cooks already in action to feed 200 very hungry bellies. Over four days the organisation also succeeds in the remarkable feat of washing every rider’s bike, offering hot showers, and a mechanical service. The quality of the logistics is very impressive considering how everything must traverse difficult terrain – often steep, stony and muddy to places that aren’t often easy to find. Day two is a mountainous one, the equivalent of a stage of the Tour de France but on tracks. 170 kilometres with 2800m of vertical that promises much for our riders. 10 kilometres after the start, however, Lydia falls. With hindsight, seeing the depth of the hole, the state of the smashed rim, the violence of the impact, the accident could have been much worse. Exhausted, she knows it means leaving her third place in the mud, and she cannot contain her tears. She can get back on the bike the next day though and that's all that matters, she didn't hurt herself too much. At the same time Annabel has struggled with food poisoning; she will maintain her first place but not for long, the bug has made life difficult. And then Isabelle gets lost; a victim – like many during these four days – of a temperamental GPS. Lost in the bush without a GPS, she confessed to us on her arrival at the camp her anxiety out there in the middle of the wilderness. But Maria remains focused on the race, and the next days will smile on her...even if her bruises make her suffer. She finishes the stage in the top three. Annabel understands that her intestinal problems have got the better of her excellent form, and Maria and Isabelle ride steady, Maria for the classification, Isabelle for the pleasure. That evening at camp a spectacle of rare grace, like a hallucination, presents itself. Over there on a ridge sway a tower of giraffes, the elegance of their wandering is sumptuous. The athletes have their tired eyes glued to the horizon. Our Maasai hosts are more numerous than usual too. The women have improvised a craft market, the men have lit a fire and are grilling meat for the group. A beautiful atmosphere for the penultimate night out here under African skies. The fourth day offers a final stage of contrasting fortunes involving numerous occurrences and wild animals: Maria sees her steady efforts pay off and takes third place in the GC, thanks to her vast racing experience and determination. (The team is more than proud of her.) Annabel will endure another exhausting day – with just under 20km gone of the course her derailleur breaks and she is stuck in one gear for the remaining 150 kilometres. The stage also has some 1800 metres of elevation. But Annabel being who she is, she wants to finish, and arrives at nightfall. Mixed feelings, but a truly memorable experience, nonetheless. These racing memories will occupy our minds for a long time, an indelible journey. What landscapes, what encounters, what emotions... The Migration Race is special, it's much more than just a Gravel ride. READ MORE Gravel Advice: Women of the CDC GT We sat down with the CDC GT, our female trio of Gravel racers, to talk about women’s racing and community, and how it feels to be a female athlete in a traditionally male-focussed sport. The Lauf Life Conceived on the windswept and desolate trails of Iceland, Lauf are the bike sponsor of the Café du Cycliste Gravel Team. Having begun their journey as a suspension fork manufacturer, this fledgling brand now also produce beautiful carbon fibre bikes for gravel racing across varied terrain. The Café du Cycliste Gravel Team A new year and new season on the horizon for the Gravel Team. The all-female squad will once again test their endurance, spirit and commitment on an international circuit. The Traka: The reference for European gravel For the Café du Cycliste Gravel Team, arriving at The Traka is a little like visiting an old friend. There’s a familiarity born of previous experience and two of the team were winners last year (Annabel Fisher in the 100km and Lydia Iglesias in the 200km).

NEW BIKEPACKING COLLECTION 2023 Somewhere between a smouldering campfire and rolling along the banks of a tree-lined river, bike-packing is an experience of pure freedom. There are no bills to pay or deadlines to meet out here, the grid has been truly shaken. Your closest companions are your bicycle, your bib-shorts and your bivouac. Of course, you need other tools and cargo, so what you take with you and how you pack is key to a successful voyage into the wild. To help you with such adventures, Café du Cycliste have an expanded range of bike-packing luggage for 2023. Designed to endure whatever conditions may appear on your journey, there is everything you need to get lost: a 10-litre Saddle Pack, 4-litre Frame Bag, Top Tube Bag, Small Tool Pouch and new Handlebar Bag – all constructed with weatherproof fabrics and durable components for functionality around the clock. Each piece is finished with updated branding, featuring the Flying Fish motif – a symbol of the spirit of adventure that fuels Café du Cycliste design. READ MORE The Ultimate Bikepacking Guide How to, what to, where to. You can too. VIEW MORE Tracing the Torino-Nice Rally A legendary gravel ride travelling from Italy to France. Sophie Gateau and Mathias Riquier explore the route ahead of the start of the Rally this September. VIEW MORE Bike-Packing Conférence - Riding Above and Beyond French bike-explorer Axel Carion wheeled into town last Thursday night to discuss his feats of ultra-distance cycling across the globe. Axel’s stories of adventure also included advice on kit and equipment choices, plus the all-important bike preparation. VIEW MORE Giro di Cappuccino : Bike-packing in northern Italy Friends Clara and Melli embarked upon a summer bike-packing vacation into northern Italy. Fuelled by cappucini and armed only with a camping stove and sleeping bags, their adventure was a whistle-stop tour of Southern Tyrol and Lombardia, finishing in the fair city of Verona. VIEW MORE

The Traka : The reference for European gravel As dawn breaks over the small town of Girona it is not only the birds which are warming up. Barely past 6 o'clock and the clamour that rises around almost any start at almost any event like this bursts into life. Hundreds of riders jostling for position and mentally jousting for a clean line, some of them knowing that taking on the 360km route means they’ll still be in the saddle as darkness eventually falls again. For the Café du Cycliste Gravel Team, arriving at The Traka is a little like visiting an old friend. There’s a familiarity born of previous experience and two of the team were winners last year (Annabel Fisher in the 100km and Lydia Iglesias in the 200km). But this familiarity breeds the polar opposite of contempt with all four riders fully aware of the steep challenge ahead. The Traka is perhaps one of the most rewarding Gravel races on the European calendar. It’s an event where everyone seems to be having a great time, an event where, if the word is still allowable, the ‘vibe’ is just consistently good. Of course this doesn’t happen by accident and Gerald Freixes, who leads the event organisation, has to take a lot of the credit. He’s a constant presence on the course and around every corner, greeting and encouraging, helping and fixing. Ensuring not only that everything runs smoothly but that the unique identity and atmosphere that has been built up since its inception is nourished for the years ahead. At a time when Gravel, now an official UCI event, begins to enter the realms of pure competition, it is reassuring to find such a large number of people determined to ensure it doesn’t lose its original renegade spirit. Traka is certainly an event where this holds true and the approach is proving successful as it lays claim to becoming perhaps the most important European Gravel rendezvous. This year saw over 2500 riders heading to the start line and what greeted them was nothing like the plethora of road bikes and 32 tires along with the much too clean and far too smooth paths of the last world championships. Here, Gravel reasserts its roots, taking riders on the type of course which built the genre, alternating between ascents, single tracks and long dusty tracks. Time to roll; The Traka marks the first race of the season, an important step on a four month long journey. For some preparation has been going on for months while for others, as they hang up their skis or wait for blue skies, this will be a baptism of fire to begin the new racing year. Either way the course will be long, and ultimately it will be tough for everyone. When Maria, Annabel, and Isabelle start the 200km and the Costa Brava sun starts to make itself felt, they are under no illusions about the task ahead. And as for Lydia, at this point she has already been riding for an hour. Along with 500 others, she is tackling the 360km course. A group of riders for whom the length of the effort is directly connected to the pleasure gained. She will have to stay in the saddle for more than 15 hours, braving not only the sun and the wind but also the rain that will sweep in as night falls. When she crosses the finish line around midnight, many of fellows will still have to spend long hours in the darkness to complete the race. Lydia Iglesias finishes in eighth place. "The toughest race I've ever done," she tells us. Not discouraged though, because after all that often only holds true until the next time ...For our three other warriors, the 200km are just as demanding an adventure. The pace at which they must be ridden is impressive, an average speed of 25 km/h to 28 km/h on a route including 2000 meters of elevation gain and an omnipresent wind. They will complete the race in under 8 hours, placing them all in the top third of the race. Annabel Fisher places fourth in 7H13, narrowly missing out on the podium.The Traka is done for another year. Box ticked and far far more than that, memories created. Of the landscapes that start to feel a little like home, of the friends found, the experiences shared and the event itself. A race that will continue to go from strength to strength, delighting both the best and the amateurs, as long as it continues to plough its own unique farrow. The Gravel Earth series is run very much in the same spirit and will play a big part in the team’s 2023 season but next stop is Germany. A UCI qualifying event which will present a whole raft of different challenges to our four exceptional riders. More from the Gravel Team The Café du Cycliste Gravel Team A new year and new season on the horizon for the Gravel Team. The all-female squad will once again test their endurance, spirit and commitment on an international circuit. VIEW MORE The Traka 2022 Girona’s location and laidback atmosphere make it irresistible to Gravel enthusiasts. The surrounding countryside is riddled with trails as far as the eye can see and, unsurprisingly, The Traka has established itself here as the benchmark European Gravel race. VIEW MORE Gravel Advice: Women of the CDC GT We sat down with the CDC GT, our female trio of Gravel racers, to talk about women’s racing and community, and how it feels to be a female athlete in a traditionally male-focussed sport. VIEW MORE The Traka - Sound and Force Café du Cycliste’s Gravel racing trio tackled their first event in Girona on Saturday May 1st 2022. Annabel Fisher took top spot in the 100km distance, her first ever Gravel race. VIEW MORE

An Interview with Lauf’s Ólafur Thorarensen Conceived on the windswept and desolate trails of Iceland, Lauf are the bike sponsor of the Café du Cycliste Gravel Team. Having begun their journey as a suspension fork manufacturer, this fledgling brand now also produce beautiful carbon fibre bikes for gravel racing across varied terrain. We spoke to Lauf’s Ólafur Thorarensen to discover more. Could you give us a brief history of the Lauf brand? Lauf was founded in Iceland in 2011 by bicycle enthusiast, engineer and weekend XC MTB racer Benedikt Skúlason. He imagined a simplified, yet more responsive and maintenance-free carbon suspension fork, and would not stop until he turned that idea into reality. What happened next? Benedikt teamed-up with lifelong friend Guðberg Björnsson and together they spent countless days and nights designing and building a series of prototypes. To an outsider, it probably all looked a bit crazy and far-fetched. But, a few years later this crazy idea became a leading suspension fork for gravel bikes. What would you say is Lauf’s ambition? Just like in the beginning, Lauf is still driven by a desire to invent. The desire to change the game for the better and leave a lasting mark on the industry. With so many bike brands making gravel machines, what is the Lauf schtick? We want to create bike technology that is pure and harmonious. We are all about performance, but fundamentally Lauf is about riding more. And, riding more means you have more fun, and when you have more fun, you go faster. Why did you specialise in gravel technology? We sometimes feel like gravel chose us. First, we invented our suspension technology, then we realised where it would be the best fit. And that was on gravel bikes, which is thankfully close to home, as the company was initially born from our love of old-fashioned MTB XC, which happens to be a lot like the gravel riding we see today. How did the partnership with Café du Cycliste come about? Naturally we became aware of Café du Cycliste when looking at bike apparel, and when we required clothing for a photoshoot, we approached them. They generously provided us with some clothing and about a year later, we were contacted about bikes for their photoshoot in Iceland where they collaborated with 66º North. We happily obliged, and our partnership has only strengthened and expanded over the years since. What was it about the gravel team project that appealed to you? The fact that it was based in Europe, was a female team and was created by Café du Cycliste. Lauf had been searching for people to sponsor in Europe and when Café du Cycliste approached us about the team, we couldn‘t resist. The second season of the partnership, you must be happy with it. Absolutely. We are excited to see the girls race this season, from Iceland to Kenya, and watch how our Seigla bike handles different terrains. Tell us about the Seigla, the bike the girls will be racing on. It was obvious to us they should get the Seigla [say-glaa]. It is our latest iteration of how a fast gravel bike should be. It takes the concept of our older True Grit gravel bike and simply drives it further. Reliable, comfortable, and fast! What would you say makes the Seigla stand out? The main underlying philosophy is that a smoother ride makes you move faster on gravel, as long as excess weight and friction isn’t added to the formula; and the rider position remains fast and efficient. The Seigla goes all-in on maximizing frame compliance and being able to fit extreme gravel tyres without resorting to a compromised geometry, pivots or other heavy (and maintenance requiring) mechanisms. Anything about the bike you’re particularly pleased with? Suspension is of course our forte, so we are always pleased to showcase the potential of this. Fun fact: Our Seigla’s ICE’d rear suspension technology provides approximately the same amount of compliance as other bike manufacturers do with pivot mechanism. Only with substantially less weight and complexity. Further Riding The Café du Cycliste Gravel Team A new year and new season on the horizon for the Gravel Team. The all-female squad will once again test their endurance, spirit and commitment on an international circuit. VIEW MORE The Traka - Sound and Force Café du Cycliste’s Gravel racing trio tackled their first event in Girona on Saturday May 1st 2022. Annabel Fisher took top spot in the 100km distance, her first ever Gravel race. VIEW MORE Gravel Advice: Women of the CDC GT We sat down with the CDC GT, our female trio of Gravel racers, to talk about women’s racing and community, and how it feels to be a female athlete in a traditionally male-focussed sport. VIEW MORE

Paris Roubaix: the Gravel Team on the Cobblestones of L’Enfer du Nord This weekend of April 8/9th 2023, the professionals will set off on the 120th edition of France’s most famous cycling monument: Paris-Roubaix. For the men on Sunday 250 kilometres of the toughest roads and cobbled sectors, the women will complete a 125 km course the day before. Created in 1896 by Théodore Vienne, who was promoting his newly built velodrome in Roubaix by organising a race that would highlight the most robust and enduring cyclists. The event became known in the press as the ‘Hell of the North’ which characterizes its parcours well. No real relief or decisive col here, the original idea was to take the most difficult roads possible between Paris and Roubaix, passing through cobbled paths and sections of unpaved farm tracks to create a race that would not only be a test of speed and endurance, but also a challenge for the riders' technical skills. Gravel racing on an epic scale, before there was such a thing. But on road bikes. On April 19, 1896, 37 riders took to the start over a total distance of 280 kilometres, more than 70 km of which were cobblestones. The winner of this first edition, Frenchman Joseph Fischer, covered the distance in just over nine hours. The race has evolved, changed, but has always kept its unique and difficult character. Cobblestones often poorly maintained and increasingly uneven, make punctures, falls and the injuries they cause an occupational hazard for the riders, not to mention the chaots caused by roadside spectators (and their dogs). So, what better testing ground to start a gravel season for the four athletes of the Café du Cycliste Gravel Team? What better conditions to put the mechanics of the suspension fork which equips the Lauf Seigla machines ridden by the team. As they reach the infamous Arenberg sector, the girls have stopped talking, and the pace has just hardened. The cobblestones keep their promise when the bikes launch at high speed on the cobbles. Faster is the only only way to become ‘comfortable.’ It’s time to see where everyone is after the winter break. A moment chosen to welcome Isabelle to the team for this 2023 season; the Belgian rider who seems at ease on this course in weather that is part of a landscape that she knows well, a little local stage. Maria the Icelandic, the northernmost member of the team, went into exile for part of the winter in Spain to escape the cold, Lydia and Annabelle for their part shone in cross-country ski races. Today’s effort will emulate what they will have to produce this year on the saddle of their bike, this day on the roads of Paris-Roubaix is a great warm-up. The mud-strewn bikes spin along the smooth banks of the historic Roubaix velodrome. The four could turn again and again in the wake of racers who for years, decades, gave life to the legend of Paris Roubaix. Eddy Merckx, Bernard Hinault, Tom Boonen, Peter Sagan, Lizzie Armistead… just a few names on the list of winners in an exceptional race. Entering the showers of the velodrome is like entering one of the holy places of bike racing, the names of heroes are engraved on each of these concrete cubicles. The girls whisper as they go around the space, this place has a soul, a deep history, they have been in the shadows of some of the greatest. April and Easter weekend is the time of Paris-Roubaix, and the time of new beginnings. It is also the time of a return to competition for the Café du Cycliste Gravel Team. The first race to come is the Traka in Spain, coming back to the place where last season Annabel and Lydia won the 100 km and 200 km races respectively. Paris-Roubaix will also have been raced, and we will discover who will enter the hallowed Roubaix velodrome victorious. Further Riding The Café du Cycliste Gravel Team A new year and new season on the horizon for the Gravel Team. The all-female squad will once again test their endurance, spirit and commitment on an international circuit. VIEW MORE The Traka - Sound and Force Café du Cycliste’s Gravel racing trio tackled their first event in Girona on Saturday May 1st 2022. Annabel Fisher took top spot in the 100km distance, her first ever Gravel race. VIEW MORE The Rift The Rift is an unmissable event on the Gravel calendar with a course offering volcanic landscapes, and a highly unique terrain. There’s nothing else in the universe quite like it, especially not for Annabel Fisher who rode to victory in the 200km. VIEW MORE Team Spirit in Monsterrato Gravel, more so than other cycling disciplines, prides itself on its pioneering spirit. It is apt, therefore, that it puts both genders on equal footing. Women compete with men over equal distances, from the same start line. VIEW MORE

Café du Cycliste Gravel Team The Traka: The Reference For European Gravel Aachen, Germany: UCI Gravel World Series The Migration Race, Kenya The Rift, Iceland Café du Cycliste Gravel Team: 2023 Season Launches Café du Cycliste Gravel Team 2023 A new year and new season on the horizon for the Café du Cycliste Gravel Team. The all-female squad will once again test their endurance, spirit and commitment on an international circuit. In 2023, Maria, Annabel, Lydia and the team's newest athlete, Isabelle, will be competing in the biggest gravel races on the planet. During the 2022 season, the team's riders reached the top of the rankings, with individual victories in renowned events like The Traka (Spain) and The Rift (Iceland), racing over distances of 150 to 200km. The international dimension of the team, made up of women from different nations and racing across a range of cycling disciplines (MTB, road, gravel, cyclo-cross) is at the heart of this project. The 2023 version of the team, more international than ever, will consist of: Isabelle Beckers (Belgium), Annabel Fisher (Switzerland), María Guðmundsdóttir (Iceland), and Lydia Iglesias (Spain). The 2023 Race Programme In addition to a qualifying round for the UCI Gravel World Championships in Aachen, Germany, the team will be involved in the Gravel Earth Series, taking to the start of The Traka in Spain once again, The Migration Race, a four-day stage race in Kenya, and The Rift back in Iceland. The team will also compete in the final race of this exciting international series in Catalonia, Spain. If the ambition to appear at the top of the rankings remains intact, the desire to extend the distances and increase the difficulty also drives the team. The Migration Race, over four-stages in Kenya will undoubtedly mark the high point of the season. Team Partnerships On the sponsorship side Café du Cycliste Gravel team is continuing its collaboration with LAUF, whose Seigla model has proven itself over thousands of trails, tracks and roads. The bikes will be fitted with Hutchinson tyres, made in France, and the team renews its trust in POC for head protection. The training and racing power supply is entrusted to Punch Power. The team, which has become known for its black and white chequered kit, will race in new designs for 2023 including new gravel shorts and jerseys and jackets from the new Shibori collection by Café du Cycliste, inspired by the Japanese dyeing technique. They will also be racing in the brand's all-new Outlands Gravel shoes, equipped with premium carbon soles for gravel racing and long-distance rides, without compromising on performance. ANNABEL FISHER LYDIA IGLESIAS MARIA GUDMUNDSDOTTIR ISABELLE BECKERS RACE CALENDAR 2023 29 Apr La Traka, Girona Spain Europe’s most coveted race and home to incredible gravel tracks. + 13 May 3Rides Race, Aachen Germany A UCI Gravel World Championships Qualifier over gravel and cobbles. + 20 Jun The Migration Race, Kenya A four-day stage race through the wilderness of the Maasai Mara, Kenya + 22 Jul The Rift, Iceland Between glaciers and volcanoes, a breath-taking race against the elements. + 16 Sep Gravel Earth Series, Cardona Spain The series final to decide the very best riders of Gravel Earth. (The unofficial world championship.) FOLLOW THE TEAM Sign up to our Newsletter and follow us on social media to stay up to date with the team. Submit

Gravel en Beaujolais: Winter in the Land of New Wine Beaujolais is a wine-making region located in the south of Burgundy, about fifty kilometres north of Lyon. Known for its red wines made from the Gamay grape variety, this appellation is above all famous for its new wine, marketed every year on the third Thursday of November, better known as Beaujolais Nouveau. The vines that grow here date back to the time of the Romans and later, monks of the Middle Ages contributed to the viticulture in the region. In the 1950s and 1960s Beaujolais experienced a surge in popularity thanks to the promotion of the ‘Nouveau’ wine in the UK and USA. This stroke of marketing genius has continued to enjoy great success with French and foreign consumers. Apart from the new, fruity and light wine, other Beaujolais styles produced in the region are complex and elegant, made from the grapes that grow on this beautifully cultivated terroir. The new wine of the season had already been well celebrated when a couple of local cyclists ventured to follow ex-pro and Café du Cycliste ambassador Jérôme Cousin around the vineyards. The course displays 35km for 1200m of elevation gain, nothing very difficult on paper. The thermometer displays -6°C, this beginning of December is absolutely freezing. The cold wave, an artic flow from the landmass of Russia, petrified the centre of France in no time. The weather forecast predicts sunshine, yet the paths are frozen, the vines glinting white with frost. On the square in the small village of Clochemerle, the sun is struggling to warm our cyclists and when the bikes descend the first slope, our riders are frozen stiff. Everyone is eager to attack the first gradient for the rise in body temperature an uphill effort inevitably brings. But it’s difficult to find grip in these conditions and at more than 15% inclination, the rear wheel slips, the legs get carried away, the bikes wobble and slip. These 35 km which, on paper, looked like a saunter through the estate, will quickly turn out to be more challenging. Steeply sloping paths lead through undergrowth strewn with dead leaves, hindering motor skills, putting a strain on organisms already well occupied with fighting the cold air. The stop beside the chapel of Mont Brouilly at an altitude of some 484 m offers a well-deserved respite. The mist invades the space around us. Sitting on the wall of the Church precinct, an improbable couple toasts to their health, clinking glasses in this surreal atmosphere. It's 12:30 p.m. and not many people outside, few candidates for an al fresco aperitif in this weather. It's an appetizer for the second part of the course, heading to the summit of Pierre Blanche. The paths take us up to nearly 750 metres where a thin layer of snow is makes it difficult to progress on paths strewn with pebbles that are treacherous because they are invisible. Sweating is another peril, with damp clothes turning into human wine coolers. The cold does not seem to make Jérôme suffer, he has known much worse on the roads of the Tour de France when in the middle of July, at the top of an Alpine passes, temperatures below zero descending in summer kit. The descent into the darkness of the long slender fir trees makes you forget the cold though; the spectacle was and is always grandiose. Returning to Clochemerle marks the end of this winter sojourn. This region keeps its promise of an extraordinary terroir. The vineyards rub shoulders with exceptional mountains and forests, the typical villages complete the picture postcard aesthetic. The place deserves a longer summer getaway and more ‘dedicated’ visit to its beautiful wine estates. Giro di Cappuccino Friends Clara and Melli embarked upon a summer bike-packing vacation into northern Italy. Fuelled by cappucini and armed only with a camping stove and sleeping bags, their adventure was a whistle-stop tour of Southern Tyrol and Lombardia, finishing in the fair city of Verona. View more Liam Yates Suddenly it’s the middle of 2022 and riding our bikes around Europe is normal again... But, the world being as it is, there’s no time to waste. Grateful to the cycling gods, I’m always looking at where to go on the next adventure. View more Gravel in Gruyère La Gruyère is in the canton of Fribourg, and has become famous for its cows, mountain pastures and the cheese of the same name produced here. The small Swiss enclave of just under 500km2 is a favourite place for cyclists who love natural beauty and plenty of elevation. View more Lyon: Ride of Lights Every year, on the first weekend of December, thousands flock to the heart of the city to see light shows that will animate the streets for four nights. The illuminations of historic buildings are one of the highlights of the Festival of Lights. View more

Lyon : Ride of Lights In 1852, the terrible cholera epidemic that has ravaged the city of Lyon has come to an end, and the inhabitants decide to dedicate a collective event to the Virgin Mary, the Festival of Lights. Since then, it has become a major cultural event. Every year, on the first weekend of December, thousands flock to the heart of the city to see light shows that will animate the streets for four nights. The illuminations of historic buildings are one of the highlights of the Festival of Lights. From the Notre-Dame de Fourvière basilica to the Museum of Fine Arts via Place Bellecour, light displays are the backdrop for music concerts, pyrotechnics and other performances. It's 2022 at 9 am, the city is waking up. The streets still bear the scars of the long night that shook the city. The crowd ended up deserting the public places and in this freezing cold December, the silence that reigns around is almost deafening next to the echo of empty bottles being swept up. In front of Grimpeurs Cyclist House, in the heart of the old town, a small group is bustling about, a dozen cyclists unstoppable by last night’s partying or an icy winter morning. They’re ready to do battle on two wheels – a 70-kilometre tour through the mountains of Lyon. The leader of this small peloton is ex-pro road racer Jérôme Cousin, he’s just the man for this chilly job. Grimpeurs Cyclist House (grimpeur is French for ‘climber’ just in case you needed reminding), is a renowned place for cycling enthusiasts in the region. This large modern space offers all the services and amenities a cyclist could dream of and the place offers easy access to cycle paths and surrounding mountain roads. Many cyclists meet here, it is the starting point for infinite adventures on two wheels, plus pre and post-ride fuelling. After dipping a slice of cake in black coffee at the counter of the store, we tear ourselves away from the ambient heat to join the horde outside. This is undoubtedly the opportunity to ride with a pro who has pushed these fellows outside on such a bitter cold day. It is certainly for the same reason that the small peloton leaves the city at a steady pace, a pace that it will maintain all morning. The original itinerary will, however, be modified. With the thermometer reading -5°C, the small road that the group must take on the Monts du Lyonnais is totally frozen. To venture there would be to run the risk of finding oneself collectively on the deck. The group is unanimous, no one wants to spend Christmas with a leg in plaster or an arm in a sling. The outing will continue along the plains around Lyon. The group reaches the banks of the river Saône. The old 12th century building in front of which the bicycles now pass is a Mecca for French gastronomy. Collonges-au-Mont-d'Or Abbey has belonged to the Bocuse family for over 100 years. It was the famous chef Paul Bocuse who created this establishment, which he managed for more than 50 years, famed throughout the world. A credo of excellence: highlighting traditional French cuisine using high quality local ingredients. The interior of the restaurant, decorated with original paintings, wood panelling and works of art, creates a luxurious atmosphere on a par with the cuisine on offer. The cyclists will perhaps come back to eat and revel here another time, the hour is already well advanced, and the successive punctures of one of theirs has caused the average tempo to drop and cool the organisms of every riding body. Back inside the Grimpeurs Cyclist House, the cookies and cappuccini offered by the Barista put a smile on faces still tense with the cold air. Outside the streets are already filled with many tourists gearing up for another night of illuminations. In a few hours, night will fall on the city, the facades will light up, music will resound from all sides, the Festival of Lights will be in full swing. FURTHER RIDING Giro di Cappuccino Friends Clara and Melli embarked upon a summer bike-packing vacation into northern Italy. Fuelled by cappucini and armed only with a camping stove and sleeping bags, their adventure was a whistle-stop tour of Southern Tyrol and Lombardia, finishing in the fair city of Verona. View more Liam Yates Suddenly it’s the middle of 2022 and riding our bikes around Europe is normal again... But, the world being as it is, there’s no time to waste. Grateful to the cycling gods, I’m always looking at where to go on the next adventure. View more Gravel in Gruyère La Gruyère is in the canton of Fribourg, and has become famous for its cows, mountain pastures and the cheese of the same name produced here. The small Swiss enclave of just under 500km2 is a favourite place for cyclists who love natural beauty and plenty of elevation. View more Between Two Waters At The mouth of the Loire marine waters mix with fresh water and the phenomenon of the tides is felt over more than 100 kilometres back up the river. The landscapes of the estuary and its wild wetlands meet the shipyards and their hyper-industrialized mechanisms. View more

Gravel in Gruyère The weekend has finally landed. So it’s time to put bodies and equipment to the test on a breakaway in Gruyère. Bringing together athletes from different backgrounds – Annabel Fisher, the pro cyclist and winner of multiple Gravel races this year; Etienne Hubert, the Caravan kayaker; and Adrien Liechti, a Genevan bicycle courier who has become one of the best specialists in long-distance racing. The three of them will feature in this voyage of discovery in the Swiss alps. La Gruyère is in the canton of Fribourg, and has become famous for its cows, mountain pastures and the cheese of the same name produced here. The small Swiss enclave of just under 500km2 is a favourite place for cyclists who love natural beauty and plenty of elevation. And it is under an almost incessant rain that Gruyère will reveal its Alpine charm to us, if somewhat wet and muddy. As we begin our journey of a hundred kilometres and 3000 metres of elevation, a curious clamour rises from the adjacent forest. Screams, bells, and hoofbeats. The last Saturday of September in Gruyère is the time of the ‘Désalpe’, the day when the herds descend onto the plains after more than four months spent up on the higher pastures. This time of the year gives locals the opportunity to adorn the cows with their most beautiful cowbells, crown them with flowers and admire the elegance of their somewhat nonchalant demeanour. The view is the perfect snapshot of the Swiss mountains. The log cabins all look like model homes, the green meadows seem to be mowed weekly, the streams glint and twinkle, the evergreen forests impart a soothing tranquillity upon the landscape, and the cows seem straight out of a casting for the Swiss tourist board. We imagine what this place must look like under sunlight… This first small, paved road that climbs towards Teysachaux sets the tone. Here all the slopes are steep. These high gradients will follow one after the other throughout the route. It makes the ride even more epic, amongst the beauty of this landscape is the build-up of lactic acid and search for more gears. These are slopes that inexorably attack one’s morale, and in the rain no less. The search for grip on wet stones is constant, the water that runs down the face, onto our Alizée jackets, along the legs to finally penetrate the shoes. The added wetness plays with the nerves of the less valiant. Annabel, however, climbs the trails with disconcerting ease, and our kayaker seems not even to feel the water. Two sizes that nothing brings together, Etienne is almost twice the weight of our cyclist, the styles are opposite, but their respective efficiency is convincing and also does some damage to the rest of the troop. They'll be waiting for us up the stairs. We regroup and take a break in the village of Gruyère, the heart of life around here. The imposing modern building we see by the roadside is the dairy. Protected Designation of Origin (PDO) does not necessarily mean obsolescence of manufacturing processes, and we look around the impressive cellar in which lie hundreds of wheels of the world-famous cheese. A small forklift engages in a curious ballet to rotate each cheese horizontally by 180°. We are starving, gobbling up a whole wheel wouldn't scare us. Higher up, beyond the cheese factory, the small medieval city is worth the detour for its quiet alleys reserved for strolling pedestrians, and for its gastronomic appeal of course. Remarkably, no less than four museums are located here, including the most improbable of them, the museum-bar of HR Giger, the ‘biomechanics’ artist and production designer for Ridley Scott’s sci-fi horror movie, Alien. Adrien Liechti is passionate about Giger, throwing his bike down and dragging us inside an otherworldly bar. We couldn’t take pictures here, so you must search for this place yourself. Adrien is so passionate about Alien that he tattooed one of the artist's images on his body, but again you must research this yourself the next time you encounter him somewhere in this treacherous galaxy. At our evening repose, in an improvised bivouac in the basement of a cable car bay, we preferred to ask Adrien about his long-distance racing experiences. After spending most of the day soaking wet, we feel good in warm, dry clothes. We do not really know what makes the eyes of the cyclists gathered in the darkness of this cellar sparkle, but the thrilling stories of Adrien combined with a small metal flask of Génépi (herbal liqueur popular in the Alps) that passes from one hand to the other no doubt helps. Our cycling clothing and shoes are not exactly dry in the early morning but is this really a problem? The key is to successfully put them on wet because, despite encouraging weather forecasts, the rain will continue to fall throughout the rest of the day. Col de Jaman, the last difficulty of the day but certainly not the least as, once again, the percentages make you shudder. And the rain makes the descent to Les Paccots somewhat tricky, with brakes squealing at times. And then, as a final meteorological provocation, the sun appears as we enter the village. End of journey. Tireless Adrien and Annabel have not ridden enough, so they set off again to attack a pass, more at ease on a bike than with their feet on the ground. FURTHER READING Gravel Tour with Etienne Hubert After the last few months of training and the Olympics in Japan, I find myself constantly craving nature. I’ve thought about doing a Gravel tour of Mont Blanc for so long, so this seemed like the perfect time. View more CDC GT Annabel Fisher In this video we go behind the scenes, speaking to the first of our three athletes, Annabel Fisher at the Traka, Girona - her first ever Gravel race. View more Adrien Liechti Adrien Liechti seems to be in his absolute element whenever he’s outside on a bike. A whirling phenomenon of endurance and speed, we spent two days with him near Geneva, where he lives in-between racing around the world. View more Caravan: Étienne Hubert As a World Champion sprint canoeist, cycling has always been a key part of my training routine but also a great way to socialise and explore hidden routes. View more

Liam Yates : West to East Suddenly it’s the middle of 2022 and riding our bikes around Europe is normal again... But, the world being as it is, there’s no time to waste. Grateful to the cycling gods, I’m always looking at where to go on the next adventure. When I suggested cycling from north to south Germany to a few riding friends, the general consensus was: ‘maybe something shorter?’ I consulted the map again and thought: let’s just flip it 90º and travel across from west to east. Fast forward a few months and a group of six of us are lubing chains and filling bidons in an Airbnb in Aachen on the western border. Ready or not we’re here to take on this next adventure. The route is 660km of mixed terrain, and we plan to do it in five days. Crossing the country, with a combination of camping and accommodation along the way, we all felt pretty excited. Day 1: We set off without too much faffing, rolling out to the sound of church bells and it was a smooth introduction to the Rhineland. 160km on mostly paved roads and cycle paths as we began our journey eastwards. After some climbing at the start of the day, followed by that all important downhill, the final 50km was almost completely flat as we rode alongside the river Rhine to finish in the city of Koblenz; where the Rhine joins the river Moselle. The name Koblenz is in fact a derivative of the Latin for confluence. Day 2: We started with breakfast in Koblenz at Canyon bikes’ showroom and café. It was super cool to see the HQ and check out some of their radical machines. Obviously, it’s great to be associated with the brand, and we probably wouldn’t be here without them. From here we continued along a mostly tarmac route with just a few surprise off-road sections to keep everyone on their toes. We finished the day with a five–star supermarket dinner, before rolling about until we found a suitable camping spot for the night. Day 3: Wild camping meant we were up nice and early, the sunrise and birds made sure of it. We packed up and dropped down along the route until we found the next town. We came across a wonderful smelling bakery and stopped for breakfast and chatted about the day ahead. Whatever we might have expected, day three in fact turned out to be a pretty epic. About midday the weather started to change as big rain clouds closed in on us, Alizée rain jackets at the ready we continued until the heavens opened completely and didn’t show any sign of stopping. The group split as we all tried to stay warm and in brief moments of communication beneath the downpour we all decide to continue to the town of Eisenach. After three hours in the rain (thanks again to another of our sponsors) we made it, and decided that camping didn’t seem such a fun idea. It was a hotel and a bed for the night! We were resting our heads peacefully having made it to pretty much the centre of Germany. Schlaf gut! Day 4: As you might agree, the fourth day is always a bit of a hump, and the legs are either singing or crying (or maybe a bit of both). We were now well into our adventure and climbing out from Eisenach on our way to join the Rennsteig ridge trail. This well-established route traverses the Thüringer Forest from Hörschel to Blankenstein. This section would make up for a significant amount of our off-road kilometres, as well as most of the climbing on the trip. One of the best things about this trail is that every 5/10 km there refuge huts available for people to hangout in when bad weather hits, or indeed spend the night in. After a sublime day of riding forest trails followed by another stellar supermarket dinner, that’s just what we did. In Scotland they call them bothies, in Germany a schutzhütte. Whatever you call them they are a bike-packer’s dream. We slept well. Day 5: It was the final day of our west to east bike-packing expedition; and we left our log cabin shelter and continued along the trail. Today featured more downhill and we made some good progress, with everyone hitting their stride. As we left the forest trails we joined an old tank service road, and it was one of the most amazing stretches I've ever ridden. It really made you think about the history of this great country and the worlds beyond us in the east. We finished the trail at the town of Blankenstein and from here followed a more standard tarmac route to the border. The town of Cheb was our finish point, a welcoming place with plenty of accommodation and food options for the hungry cyclist. What a cool feeling seeing a spontaneous idea turn in to a real-life experience just a few months later. Prost! FURTHER RIDING Il Giro dell'Ichnusa. Sophie Gateau explores Sardinia, the second largest island in the Mediterranean Sea, which boasts landscapes of breath-taking beauty. The legend goes that the island was imprinted by the giant foot of a Greek god; the Greeks may have started that one but it’s easy to imagine when you look at the map. View more Tracing the Torino-Nice Rally. Tracing the Torino-Nice Rally. A legendary gravel ride travelling from Italy to France. Sophie Gateau and Mathias Riquier explore the route ahead of the start of the Rally this September. View more An Atlantic Adventure. If there is an ideal route for embarking on your first bike-packing adventure, the Vélodyssée is in an excellent option. The 1200 km route gives riders of all abilities a true taste of the diversity of France and all its topographical richness. View more Between Two Waters. At The mouth of the Loire marine waters mix with fresh water and the phenomenon of the tides is felt over more than 100 kilometres back up the river. The landscapes of the estuary and its wild wetlands meet the shipyards and their hyper-industrialized mechanisms. View more

Giro di Cappuccino : Bike-packing in northern Italy The original plan for our summer vacation by bike was to take unknown paths and ride from our home in Innsbruck through Austria to Slovenia and finally into Croatia. Since the time was limited, the stages were somewhat ambitious. A covid infection that Melli caught shortly before we were due to start meant a two day delay of our departure, so the routes were redesigned, which led to a shorter, but no less exciting tour. The plan was still to rely on our sleeping bags, allowing the greatest amount of flexibility for where we’d spend each night. Day One: Brenner - Bolzano The goal was Bolzano in beautiful South Tyrol on a well-developed bike path. After a short train ride to get us in range, we set-off from Brenner (or Brennero) in sunshine towards our first Italian cappuccino under some palm trees. After 45km we arrived at Brixen, the perfect break spot. This was followed by another 40km along a river. There were a few bike packers on the route, most of whom had Lake Garda as their destination. In Bolzano, we had a snack before we started thinking about our place to sleep. After much back and forth looking for a safe spot in the city, Clara used her negotiation skills at a small hotel to secure us a bed for us despite it being high season. Day Two: Bolzano - Molveno Feeling well rested and starting the day with a double espresso, we set off on what was probably the most strenuous stage of the tour. From Bolzano our next destination was Lake Molveno. With mixed feelings we rolled 40km alongside the Adige river to a small village called Mezzolombardo. Whilst Meli was suffering as it was not even a week after her infection the cappuccino in Mezzolombardo awakened the motivation to dive further into Italy. Two hours later we had already reached the top and looking back it wasn't half as wild. And above all, it was worth it. &nbsp &nbsp &nbsp &nbsp &nbsp &nbsp &nbsp &nbsp &nbsp &nbsp &nbsp &nbsp &nbsp &nbsp &nbsp &nbsp &nbsp &nbsp &nbsp &nbsp &nbsp &nbsp &nbsp &nbsp &nbsp &nbsp &nbsp &nbsp &nbsp &nbsp &nbsp &nbsp &nbsp &nbsp &nbsp &nbsp &nbsp &nbsp &nbsp &nbsp &nbsp &nbsp &nbsp &nbsp &nbsp &nbsp &nbsp &nbsp &nbsp &nbsp &nbsp &nbsp &nbsp &nbsp &nbsp &nbsp &nbsp A turquoise blue lake with a unique mountain panorama awaited us, perfect for an after-ride dip. After the obligatory Aperol spritz and pasta, we looked for a place to sleep by the lake. Everything would have been too perfect if we hadn't been startled by lightning, thunder and raindrops. Although it was relatively warm, our Café du Cycliste rain jackets were our saviour. Luckily there was a public bathroom a few hundred meters away, which at least protected us a little from the storm. Admittedly, a toilet floor is anything but a romantic place to sleep. However, adventure was what we were here for. Day Three: Molveno - Riva del Garda After surviving our somewhat uncomfortable night, we were all the happier to see the sun the next morning. The weather forecast for later wasn't ideal, but we started towards Lake Garda with healthy optimism. A few metres of altitude awaited us, after which we were rewarded with a beautiful descent to Lago di Tenno. After a lunch break in Riva del Garda, we decided to take advantage of the good weather and continue along the west bank to Limone Sul Garda. Quite a stressful affair to be honest in high season on a busy road. Since the sky was already getting dark again, we soon made our way back to Riva. We arrived together with the thunderstorm. We didn't feel like spending another night in an outhouse and luckily found shelter in a friend's holiday apartment. Day Four : Riva – Desenzano del Garda After a good salad and a glass of wine for dinner, we started the day with yoghurt and fruit by the lake, and, of course, our morning coffee brewed on our gas stove in the little Bialetti.What we would have done without this we do not know, it always gave us power to begin each stage. Melli’s coffee must have been particularly strong as she had a lot of power today and I wanted to enjoy the view along the long-awaited dream of cycling by Lake Garda. So I sent Melli ahead and we met after the first break for a cappuccino in Garda. I wasn't that slow after all. After a short break we set off again in the direction of Desenzano, our destinaiton for day four. After rewarding ourselves with extremely good pizza we had the sleeping arrangement question to contend with again – this time we had no toilet floor and no friend to help us. &nbsp &nbsp &nbsp &nbsp &nbsp &nbsp &nbsp &nbsp &nbsp &nbsp &nbsp &nbsp &nbsp &nbsp &nbsp &nbsp &nbsp &nbsp &nbsp &nbsp &nbsp &nbsp &nbsp &nbsp &nbsp &nbsp &nbsp &nbsp &nbsp &nbsp &nbsp &nbsp &nbsp &nbsp &nbsp &nbsp &nbsp &nbsp &nbsp &nbsp &nbsp &nbsp &nbsp &nbsp &nbsp &nbsp &nbsp &nbsp &nbsp &nbsp &nbsp &nbsp &nbsp &nbsp &nbsp &nbsp &nbsp So we rode a bit out of town and looked for a meadow or a roof where we could spread out our sleeping pads and bags. After about 10 minutes we discovered the perfect spot: a large, beautiful green meadow with an incredibly beautiful view of Lake Garda. Perfetto! I have to say that I slept really well until it got wet, not wet because it was raining, but wet because this meadow was equipped with an automatic irrigation system. Not so perfect. We moved a few metres away to a dry spot and we laughed at each other but soon fell asleep again. But this automatic watering system fooled us again, and soon we were soaked even more. Day Five: Desenzano - Verona We rose early having managed to dry off and prepared breakfast, ready for Verona. Melli rode off quickly and with full motivation for our final leg, but then there was a sudden BANG and Melli's tire burst. Thankfully it was the final day and we weren’t in the wilderness, and the cycling gods kindly offered up a bike shop 100m further up the road. With Melli’s bike feeling good again we started in the direction of Verona through beautiful vineyards, small Italian villages and quite gorgeous roads. A few hours later we were standing in the spectacular Piazza delle Erbe admiring the Madonna Verona. Dirty and tired, we were glowing with a real sense of achievement, proud of ourselves that we’d mastered the whole way by bike and that everything worked out so well. We enjoyed our last cappuccino and headed to the station to take our train back to Innsbruck. What a journey. We sweated a lot, laughed a lot, covered many kilometres and meteres of altitude, but we made it. Thanks to Café du Cycliste we were able to sit on our bikes for hours and enjoy riding long distances. Thanks to everyone who made this dream come true and supported us, we hope for more adventures soon. Clara & Melli FURTHER RIDING Between Two Waters At The mouth of the Loire marine waters mix with fresh water and the phenomenon of the tides is felt over more than 100 kilometres back up the river. The landscapes of the estuary and its wild wetlands meet the shipyards and their hyper-industrialized mechanisms. View more An Atlantic Adventure If there is an ideal route for embarking on your first bike-packing adventure, the Vélodyssée is in an excellent option. The 1200 km route gives riders of all abilities a true taste of the diversity of France and all its topographical richness. View more Il Giro dell'Ichnusa Sophie Gateau explores Sardinia, the second largest island in the Mediterranean Sea, which boasts landscapes of breath-taking beauty. The legend goes that the island was imprinted by the giant foot of a Greek god; the Greeks may have started that one but it’s easy to imagine when you look at the map. View more Tracing the Torino-Nice Rally A legendary gravel ride travelling from Italy to France. Sophie Gateau and Mathias Riquier explore the route ahead of the start of the Rally this September. View more

What in the World is Gravel : The CDC GT at the UCI Worlds Will the question ‘what is Gravel?’ have been answered in the aftermath of the first ever UCI World Championship Gravel race? Many racing at this inaugural event may have glimpsed what Gravel is for a split second; like that fleeting ‘moment of clarity’ alcoholics often experience. Or perhaps it has just thickened the plot even more. Don’t drink and ride though, especially when representing your home nation. The victories of Pauline Ferrand Prévot and Gianni Vermeersch gave Gravel the air of nobility needed to establish the discipline in its own right on Planet Cycling. On-off-road racing might be the new black with rainbow stripes for professional (and amateur) cyclists. After this first World Championship, Gravel will have shown its dirt-splattered face to the general public, a far cry from the good old days of riding 25mm tires on fire roads. Gravel bikes, apparel, teams and more now exist in the Planet Cycling. In its UCI form, Gravel appears to be more of a rolling route with somewhat crunchy roads, without any major technical difficulty. But is sport ever a level playing field? Not in bike racing. Shorter in length than your average grinder, this UCI-mapped course was more of a Sunday country glide for all the family. Far from the format of the great adventure races which forged the reputation of Gravel, far even from the qualifying heats of these same World Championships. Perhaps it was to attract the pro riders, those who for the most part this Sunday were riding road bikes fitted with tires barely bigger than usual. Perhaps it was simply because everyone deserved a nice easy finish to the season. Certainly it was the price the general public paid for the TV motos being able to ride easily on the course and film the action. For the Café du Cycliste Gravel Team this World Championship marked the culmination of a first season of excellence. Our warriors have all qualified with art, heart and humility. They descended into the arena during the selection rounds, fought with all the commitment and bravery that we know of them to obtain the key to unlock this Venetian final. Racing for a good part of the course alongside the Frenchwoman who will be crowned the first champion of the world in the discipline, Annabel Fisher abandons due to a puncture at the 101st kilometer. Danielle Larson, Lydia Iglesias Bares, Maria Ögn Guðmundsdóttir will give the best of themselves in their respective categories, and the podium passes just under the nose of Lydia, the Spanish rider of Team Café du Cycliste. At the same time as this race in Veneto was officially occuring, in other places, far from spotlights and televisions, other Gravel rides were taking place. Bands of friends were making sudden diverions of the tarmac and racing each other on bumpy roads, laughing, hurting and feeling free. Others in search of adventure loaded their bikes to cross passes and borders for days on end. More than ever, Gravel is taking on new further dimensions beyond rules and regulation tyres. Having a World Championship race will not change anything. And the question therefore remains: ‘what is Gravel?’ FURTHER RIDING Team Spirit in Montserrato Gravel, more so than other cycling disciplines, prides itself on its pioneering spirit. It is apt, therefore, that it puts both genders on equal footing. Women compete with men over equal distances, from the same start line. View more The Rift The Rift is an unmissable event on the Gravel calendar with a course offering volcanic landscapes, and a highly unique terrain. There’s nothing else in the universe quite like it, especially not for Annabel Fisher who rode to victory in the 200km. View more Traka Girona’s location and laidback atmosphere make it irresistible to Gravel enthusiasts. The surrounding countryside is riddled with trails as far as the eye can see and, unsurprisingly, The Traka has established itself here as the benchmark European Gravel race. View more Unbound In terms of Gravel racing there is Unbound, and then there is the rest. For Gravel enthusiasts, Unbound is more than a race, it's a pilgrimage, a baptism of dirt and fire that every follower dreams of one day living. View more