UCI Gravel World Series: Rosa Klöser drops Marianne Vos to take solo victory at Sea Otter Europe, as Leon Kaiser sprints to win men’s race

(Image credit: Shimano Sea Otter Europe Costa Brava-Girona by Garmin.)

In the elite men’s race, Kaiser was first across the finish line in a time of 3:03:57, outsprinting runner-up Paul Voss (Rose Bike). Rabian Rabensteiner (Torpado Kenda FSA) took third, ahead of Georg Egger (Orbea x Speed).

The four riders pulled away in the first 40 kilometres and, working well together, built up a gap of over three minutes to the closest chaser by the time they crossed the finish line.

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Kaiser claimed his first win on his second gravel race of the season. His first race was two-stage Santa Vall by The Traka, where he finished a close runner-up on the second stage.

“I’m so happy. I think my last and also my first gravel race was in February, also here in Girona – Santa Val – and I think on their second stage I was just second, and I wanted to come back and win. I came back with a new bike from Avona, 32 inch, and winning, I think, I’m super happy,” Kaiser said.

“I think before the first feed zone, the group was made. I think then we were kind of good together, and I knew that my sprint is pretty good, but I suffered. I suffered so much during the race. But then, Georg Eger made a lead out for me, and then the last part of to the finish was super rough. But with the new bike, it was kind of ‘I just pedaled through’ and won. It was like kind of the perfect race for me.”

This year’s race featured a revamped 109km course with 980 metres of elevation gain. The route is considered less demanding than in previous editions, with significantly less climbing than last year, which organisers were hoping that it would encourage fast racing and allow larger groups to remain together deeper into the race.

After the start in Càrniques de Juià, the riders tackled an opening 5.2km climb averaging 6.2%, lead into the technical descent of Coll de Llumeneres at km 21, before reaching the faster section at kilometre 41. The Mas Llunas climb at kilometre 83, and a final short but demanding ascent at kilometre 100 provided the last opportunities to split the race before the finish at the festival.

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Elite women top 10

Position

Rider (Country) Team

Time Gap

1

Maria Rosa Klöser (Ger) Canyon-Sram-Maap

3:23:18

2

Larissa Hartog (Ned) Canyon x DT Swiss All-Terrain Racing

0:02:41

3

Marianne Vos (Ned) Visma-Lease a Bike

0:06:29

4

Geerike Schreurs (Ned) SPECIALIZED-OFFROAD

0:06:35

5

Carolin Schiff (Ger) Canyon x DT Swiss All-Terrain Racing

0:11:26

6

Nele Laing (Ger) Canyon x DT Swiss All-Terrain Racing

0:11:27

7

Giorgia Marchet (Ita) TORPADO KENDA FSA

0:13:20

8

Clara Koppenburg (Ger) Tudor Pro Cycling Team

0:15:32

9

Nicole Frain (Aus) NICOLE FRAIN

0:17:10

10

Jade Treffeisen (Ger) Canyon x DT Swiss All-Terrain Racing

0:17:35

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Elite men top 10

Position

Rider (Country) Team

Time Gap

1

Leon Kaiser (Ger) AVONA

3:03:57

2

Paul Voss (Ger) ROSE BIKE

0:00:01

3

Fabian Rabensteiner (Ita) Torpado Kenda FSA

0:00:01

4

Georg Egger (Ger) ORBEA X SPEED COMPANY

0:00:08

5

Floris De Tier (Bel) SWATT CLUB

0:03:13

6

Daan Soete (Bel) RIDLEY RACING

0:03:14

7

Jakob Dorigoni (Ita) Torpado Kenda FSA

0:04:29

8

Alexander Miller (Nam) SWATT CLUB

0:04:30

9

Petr Vakoc (Cze) FACTOR RACING

0:04:30

10

Anton Ferdinande (Bel) SHIFTING MANNEN

0:04:32