Road cycling is inspiring because it takes you into nature — and there’s always a new route to discover. Gravel It’s an evolution — more nature, deeper experiences, and more technically demanding routes.
Gravel riding takes you to places you’d never reach on asphalt.
The Pushbikers are well known on the road and the track. For two seasons, we also had our own MTB team. But gravel riding is a “new territory” that we are exploring together with our elite athletes Daniel, Jaro, Moritz, Emma, and Laura. Their experiences are our experiences, and we’re especially excited that Daniel and Sarah have both qualified for the UCI Gravel World Championship this October in the Dutch province of Limburg. It’s their moment — one we’re already proud to celebrate with them.
„Until 2023, I was mainly focused on road cycling. Then a health-related break forced me to almost completely pause cycling. Everything changed in July last year: with my Argon 18 Krypton, I not only found my way back onto the bike — I discovered a whole new side of cycling through gravel biking. It didn’t just bring back the joy of riding, but also awakened a new passion. What started as occasional rides to unwind from everyday life has developed since the beginning of this year into structured training — with the goal of competing in races again.
Even though I’ve already raced major UCI road events, I was impressed by the organization when I entered the UCI Gravel World Series. With live timing, large expo areas, and well-planned feed zones, it all feels truly professional. While the distances are comparable to WorldTour and UCI women’s road races, the gravel races are much more demanding and selective, with a high level of intensity. It’s not just about physical fitness – bike handling skills and mental toughness are just as important. At the finish line, you can really feel the strain of the race in your body.
At first, I was unsure where I stood in this new discipline. At the first two races of the series at Wörthersee and Aachen, I cautiously started in the elite category. At Gravel Suisse in Switzerland, with 3,300 meters of elevation over 103 kilometers, I achieved 3rd place in my age group — securing my ticket to the World Championship. Now, my full focus is on preparation — and who knows, maybe I’ll even qualify in the elite category. I’m grateful for the exchange I get with the Maloja Pushbikers, for the support, and the opportunity to experience this new chapter in cycling with such a strong team.”
“I spent 19 years riding mountain bikes, four years on the road bike, and this year I’ve been on the gravel bike. Gravel combines for me the best of both worlds: the endurance and speed of road cycling paired with the technical skills and adventure of mountain biking. You ride on varying surfaces, from gravel roads to single trails, sometimes even over roots and rocks. It’s not just about strength, but also bike balance, line choice, and tire setup — all skills that bring me incredible joy.”
For this discipline, you need a lot of endurance, solid riding technique – which I bring from my MTB background – and the ability to adapt to changing conditions: from wet forest trails to dusty paths. My gravel bike is almost as fast as a road bike, but built for off-road terrain – a combination that excites and motivates me.
“I was able to qualify for the World Championship in Limburg, Netherlands, right at my first gravel race in 2025. Besides the Ötztaler Radmarathon, the Gravel World Championship is my second big goal. Currently, I’m ranked 26th overall in the Gravel World Series — although I’ve only competed in five of the 24 qualifying events so far. I’m confident that I can move further up the rankings in the upcoming races.”
Photo
— Nele Hüttig
— Sportograf
Photo
— Private