The 2026 edition of The Hills Gravel Race took place under completely different weather conditions compared to a year ago. Organized by Mattia De Marchi on the enchanting hills of Prosecco, the race counting as the second round of the Gravel Earth Series was held last Saturday under brilliant sunshine but, despite this, the technical difficulty and harshness of the course (124 km with 1,916 meters of elevation gain) still managed to give considerable trouble to all those who lined up at the start.

At the elite level, among the men, it was the American national champion Bradyn Lange who prevailed, thanks to a remarkable 40-kilometer solo effort, winning in 4 hours 21 minutes and 10 seconds (average speed over 28 km/h), resisting in the final the comeback attempt of former Alpecin and Quick-Step rider Petr Vakoc (2nd at 11") and Frenchman Célestin Guillon (3rd at 33"), admired on the road last year wearing the Van Rysel Roubaix jersey.

Just off the podium, and the first Italian to finish, was last year's runner-up Diego Rosa who, like those ahead of him, managed to keep his gap to Lange under one minute, a task that, conversely, the MTB superstar Nino Schurter failed to accomplish. However, making his absolute gravel debut, he nonetheless impressed greatly, finishing 5th at 1'48" and confirming he has the engine to have fun and play a leading role in the discipline in upcoming outings.

In the women's category, completing the triumphant day for Canyon DT Swiss ATR, Dutch rider Larissa Hartog made her mark by crossing the finish line in Susegana first in 5 hours 1 minute and 44 seconds, a time that allowed her to secure her first personal victory of the season with a comfortable margin. Behind her, at 1'41", an excellent Erica Magnaldi (expected soon to undertake altitude training to prepare for the Ardennes classics and subsequently La Vuelta Femenina) honored her European champion's jersey with a reassuring second place, getting the better of Swiss rider Elena Hartmann in the final.

Fourth place went to Axelle Dubau-Prevot (sister of Pauline) who, in her alternation between road and gravel, pocketed what has been her best placement of 2026 so far, while last year's winner Morgan Aguirre could not do better than seventh place (nearly ten minutes behind Hartog).

With the curtain falling on the engaging Italian event, the Gravel Earth Series will now continue in Spain where the Gravel Desert by The Traka will take place first (scheduled in Grañén in two weeks) and then, on May 1st and 2nd, the unmissable The Traka in Girona.

MEN'S ELITE FINISHING ORDER

1. Bradyn Lange (USA/Canyon DT Swiss ATR) 4:21:10

2. Petr Vakoc (CZE/SK Velo Praha) +11"

3. Célestin Guillon (FRA/Gravel Nation) +33"

4. Diego Rosa (ITA/FOL Racing Team) +55"

5. Nino Schurter (SUI/Scott-SRAM MTB Racing) +1:48

6. Dario Cherchi (ITA/Lee Cougan Basso Factory Racing) +1:59

7. Hugo Drechou (FRA/Gravel Nation) +2:49

8. Magnus Bak Klaris (DAN/Magnus Bak Klaris) +3:05

9. Fabian Rabensteiner (ITA/Torpado Kenda FSA) +3:10

10. Floris De Tier (BEL/Swatt Club) +5:19

WOMEN'S ELITE FINISHING ORDER

1. Larissa Hartog (NED/Canyon DT Swiss ATR) 5:01:44

2. Erica Magnaldi (ITA/UAE Team ADQ) +1:41

3. Elena Hartmann (SUI) +1:48

4. Axelle Dubau-Prevot (FRA/Education First Oatly) +2:28

5. Nele Laing (GER/Canyon DT Swiss ATR) +3:23

6. Hanne Van Loock (BEL/Reverb Cycling 3T) +5:56

7. Morgan Aguirre (USA) +9:58

8. Olivia Hottinger (SUI/Scott Offroad Racing) +11:25

9. Clara Koppenburg (GER/Tudor Pro Cycling Team) +11:40

10. Elena Duskova (SVK/Reverb Cycling 3T) +12:43

Photo credit: Gravel Earth Series