WHAT HAPPENS IN GIRONA
REALLY IS SOMETHING SPECIAL
Starting a gravel team in early 2026 also means one thing: racing The Traka is a must. Looking back on the 360 and 200 categories, we take away two great race days, plenty of good vibes, and strong momentum in our development.
Kilian Koller and Jaro Bräunig delivered the strongest results for us – finishing 42nd and 69th respectively. For Kilian, The Traka was only his third-ever gravel race, while Jaro lined up for just his fifth.
Under near-perfect conditions around Girona, The Traka 2026 offered a demanding race on a course defined by early climbs and technical descents. Light rain in the days leading up to the event kept the dust low and temperatures in check.
The 200 started fast – and never let up. The opening climb did its job, stretching the field early and breaking it into small groups that were nearly impossible to bring back together. In an extremely competitive field, both Kilian and Jaro impressed with their commitment and growing race strength.
The guys are happy, and we’re proud to be establishing ourselves in the gravel scene as Pushbikers.
TRAKA 200
“After Traka, I’ve gained another boost of confidence. I actively tried to stay with the group on the climbs, use the flatter sections to recover, and position myself as well as possible within the field and the groups. When you suddenly find yourself racing alongside Lukas Baum and Georg Egger, you start thinking: okay, things can’t be going too badly.
I had a bit of bad luck early on – lost both bottles on the first descent and later dropped my chain. That cost me a few positions, because you quickly end up one or two groups further back, which as a gravel newcomer I can’t yet make up that easily.
But coming from cross-country skiing, I’ve got a strong engine, climbs suit me, and now I know I can also trust my instincts and try things out. For me, after Traka, it’s not just about the result – it’s about the progress.”
Kilian
“I never reached a point in the race where I didn’t feel like going on. There were moments when I was riding alone and it got mentally tough—but all the way to the finish, I was still really into it.”
Preparation was everything for us: training, course recon, and dialing in the right nutrition strategy. If you don’t eat enough, you get dropped. To make it through Traka in good shape, we relied not only on our 750 ml Berchtesgadener Milch bottles, but for the first time also used hydration packs from Deuter—meaning more fluids and more carbs for the riders.
Jaro’s takeaway from a nutrition perspective over 202 kilometers: a total of 13 gels, four large bottles, and two hydration packs—adding up to 7–8.5 liters of fluid and around 780 grams of carbs.
HIDEAWAY.
1,200 kilometers from Waakirchen to Girona—by Mercedes Vito or by plane. Our final destination on site: an old country house with a pool in the mountains. Breakfast in the winter garden. Cooking together. Preparing the bikes, talking through the race and our nutrition strategy. Exploring the course together on the bike—starting with the first 40 km and 1,110 meters of elevation on our initial recon ride, followed by the final 40 km with a technical trail section the next day.
Being there as a team, as a group of friends, sharing challenges and goals—this was just as much a part of our Traka experience, and a big reason why that week felt so special.
KILIAN
Distance 202 km / + 2.650 elevation gain / P 41 / 6:20:46 hours / 31,52 km/h average
JARO
Distance 202 km / + 2.650 elevation gain / P 69 / 6:39:17 hours / 30,06 km/h average
MARIAN
Distance 325 km / + 4.150 elevation gain/ P 112 / 12:56:18 hours / 25,12 km/h average
TRAKA 360
“Definitely a goosebumps moment: the start in the dark, followed by the first descent of the 325-kilometer course at sunrise.
My feeling over the first 120 km: things were going really well. After the first feeding zone, we reached the northernmost point of the course, with a beautiful view out over the sea. From there, it was 60 km of flat terrain to the next feeding zone.
From around kilometer 220, I started to struggle with taking in nutrition—my stomach just wasn’t playing along anymore. On the climb of the final long ascent in the midday heat, and again at the last feeding station, I briefly thought about calling it a day. It really becomes a mental battle at that point.
But after the last tough section and the run-up, my motivation came back strong. I just wanted to make it to the finish. And once you’re there, it’s pure relief—and an incredible feeling to finally not have to stay focused on riding anymore.
Marian
SEE YOU SOON, GIRONA!
If it were up to Kilian and Jaro, we’d just stay in Girona. For the next race—Ranxo Gravel in June—we’re heading back to Spain, marking our third event of this year’s Gravel Earth Series.
