UCI Gravel World Series: Simon Pellaud and Natalia Franco solo to wins at high-elevation Bogotá Gravel - Canada News Beep

Simon Pellaud (Cervelo-Assos-Maxxis) and Natalia Franco (ENVE) soloed to victories at the inaugural Gravel Bogotá in the Colombian Andes. The freshly minted gravel race in South America was one of three GravelKing UCI Gravel World Series events held this past weekend, spread across three continents.

A former WorldTour rider from Switzerland, Pellaud has lived in Colombia for the past decade. He had scouted the roads for the 127km route and used an early attack to ride away from the field, finishing in 3:44:37. The final podium spots were decided in a sprint between Colombians Camilo Gómez and Carlos Julián Quinteros nine-and-a half minutes back, Gómez surging to the line in second.

The route featured 1,886 metres of elevation gain, with the start in Chía at 2,564 metres above sea level. Most of the climbing was featured on three ascents in the opening 45km, which Pellaud called “the toughest part”. Two smaller climbs broke up a long valley section surrounded by towering sandstone canyon walls on the northernmost section and then a return through Tocancipa connected with a shorter route for the finish on grass in Chía.