Seven days after Santa Vall by the Traka, which in the surroundings of Girona launched the 2026 program of the Gravel Earth Series, the Gravelking UCI Gravel World Series also made a stop in Spain for the first European appointment of its packed calendar of races scheduled for this season: the Castellón Gravel Race. 

Unlike the challenge organized by Klassmark, the International Cycling Union's circuit of events opted for the rugged hinterland of the Alcalatén region in the Valencian Community for the second (the first on European soil) of the 47 races scheduled this year. This terrain proved ideal for Sofía Gómez Villafane and Romain Bardet (Factor Racing), winners of the elite women's and men's races respectively.

The Argentine, racing in the colors of Specialized Off Road, confirmed she is in excellent form by repeating the victory achieved a week earlier at Santa Vall with a performance that, in 3 hours 54 minutes and 57 seconds, allowed her to finish ahead of American Pas Racing's Morgan Aguirre by 17 seconds and Swiss rider Elena Hartmann by 43 seconds.

The Frenchman, already victorious at the RADL GRVL in January, achieved a more decisive victory, triumphing at the end of a race that featured 2,500 meters of elevation gain over 97 kilometers, with a 2'04" advantage over the reigning continental champion (and winner of Santa Vall seven days earlier) Mads Würtz Schmidt and 4'27" over Dutch rider Mathijs Loman of Canyon x DT Swiss All-Terrain Racing, who finished first in last year's final challenge standings with the Swatt Club jersey.

Speaking of Carlo Beretta's team, it was indeed a representative of the Italian squad who was the best (and only) Italian to cross the finish line in Llucena: after fighting hard for a top-ten position, Matteo Fontana (standout performer in 2025's Sahara Gravel) finished in 19th place, 10'43" behind Bardet, who at 35 years old and having spent barely twelve months in the gravel scene, is increasingly managing to combine success and enjoyment.

Photo credit: Castellon Gravel Race