{"id":902950,"date":"2026-09-20T14:04:17","date_gmt":"2026-09-20T14:04:17","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/902950\/"},"modified":"2026-09-20T14:04:17","modified_gmt":"2026-09-20T14:04:17","slug":"uci-gravel-world-series-rosa-kloser-drops-marianne-vos-to-take-solo-victory-at-sea-otter-europe-as-leon-kaiser-sprints-to-win-mens-race","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/902950\/","title":{"rendered":"UCI Gravel World Series: Rosa Kl\u00f6ser drops Marianne Vos to take solo victory at Sea Otter Europe, as Leon Kaiser sprints to win men&#8217;s race"},"content":{"rendered":"<p id=\"elk-97e9090a-b464-11f1-87c6-af96ef58b830\">Rosa Kl\u00f6ser (Canyon-Sram-Maap) soloed to victory at Sea Otter Europe in Girona, claiming her first <a data-analytics-id=\"inline-link\" href=\"https:\/\/www.cyclingnews.com\/uci-gravel-world-series\/\" data-url=\"https:\/\/www.cyclingnews.com\/uci-gravel-world-series\/\" data-hl-processed=\"none\" data-article-category=\"pro-cycling\" data-mrf-recirculation=\"inline-link\" data-before-rewrite-localise=\"https:\/\/www.cyclingnews.com\/uci-gravel-world-series\/\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\">UCI Gravel World Series<\/a> win this season. In the elite men\u2019s race, Leon Kaiser (Avona) came out on top in a four-way sprint to take the win in Girona, Spain.<\/p>\n<p>Kl\u00f6ser, the Traka 360 winner, claimed the victory in a time of 3:23:18, crossing the line 2:41 ahead of second place, Larissa Hartog (Canyon x DT Swiss All-Terrain Racing). Marianne Vos (Visma-Lease a Bike) took third with a time of 3:29:47.<\/p>\n<p><a id=\"elk-seasonal\"\/><\/p>\n<p id=\"elk-97e9090a-b464-11f1-87c6-af96ef58b830-2\" aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"kiosq-b\">Kl\u00f6ser and Vos pulled away soon after the first climb, and worked well together for one hour before being caught by a men\u2019s group, causing an acceleration which Vos could not match.<\/p>\n<p>Latest Videos FromCyclingnews<\/p>\n<p aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"kiosq-b\">Kl\u00f6ser continued on solo as multi-time world champion Vos dropped back to battle for second place with a surging Hartog.<\/p>\n<p aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"kiosq-b\">\u201cI&#8217;m of course super super happy and proud. I actually found out two weeks ago that I had a parasite, so this is my first race post-antibiotics and everything. So it was really like a wonderbag today so I didn&#8217;t really know how my shape was, but then in the end, I decided to just race aggressively,\u201d Kl\u00f6ser said.<\/p>\n<p>            You may like<\/p>\n<p aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"kiosq-b\">\u201cAnd at the first climb in San Jui\u00e0, I put some pressure on the other girls, and I got away with Marianne Vos. And then the two of us really committed. We really worked well together, and I think we were leading the race for more than an hour together, the two of us. And then in the end, some men groups came from behind, and I guess then it was a bit more survival mode.\u201d<\/p>\n<p aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"kiosq-b\">\u201cMaybe I had a bit better snap at one moment, so I could manage to get away, and then in the end it was really a solo TT for me to the finish line. I was so scared that someone would come from behind with another men&#8217;s group and catch me, so I was really happy when I finished the finished first.\u201d<\/p>\n<p class=\"newsletter-form__strapline\">The latest race content, interviews, features, reviews and expert buying guides, direct to your inbox!<\/p>\n<p aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"kiosq-b\">\u201cYou know it&#8217;s going to be hard in the start with the climb, and then we were away with the two of us, but when the man caught up, the speed got up,\u201d Vos said. \u201cHad to let the group go, and I was on my own. So then it&#8217;s a difficult fight.<\/p>\n<p><a id=\"elk-66b4172c-b4d6-11f1-9d95-1f1e690ce574\" aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"kiosq-b\"\/>Kaiser sprints to victory in men&#8217;s race<\/p>\n<p class=\"vanilla-image-block\" style=\"padding-top:66.70%;\">\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/09\/9dxqUEVscKbSRVfSaPp8SE.jpg\" alt=\"Leon Kaiser leads the men's race at Sea Otter Europe 2026\"   loading=\"lazy\" data-new-v2-image=\"true\" data-original-mos=\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/09\/9dxqUEVscKbSRVfSaPp8SE.jpg\" data-pin-media=\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/09\/9dxqUEVscKbSRVfSaPp8SE.jpg\" class=\"rounded-[var(--image--border-radius,0)] inline\"\/>\n<\/p>\n<p>(Image credit: Shimano Sea Otter Europe Costa Brava-Girona by Garmin.)<\/p>\n<p id=\"elk-97e90a2c-b464-11f1-b6f8-3d8632831e9d\" aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"kiosq-b\">In the elite men\u2019s 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).<\/p>\n<p aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"kiosq-b\">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.<\/p>\n<p>            What to read next<\/p>\n<p aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"kiosq-b\">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.<\/p>\n<p aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"kiosq-b\">\u201cI&#8217;m so happy. I think my last and also my first gravel race was in February, also here in Girona &#8211; Santa Val &#8211; 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&#8217;m super happy,\u201d Kaiser said.<\/p>\n<p aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"kiosq-b\">\u201cI 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 \u2018I just pedaled through\u2019 and won. It was like kind of the perfect race for me.\u201d<\/p>\n<p aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"kiosq-b\">This year\u2019s 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.<\/p>\n<p aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"kiosq-b\">After the start in C\u00e0rniques de Jui\u00e0, 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.<\/p>\n<p id=\"elk-0675353c-b466-11f1-8b7b-a1d3360d20c5\" aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"kiosq-b\">Subscribe to Cyclingnews for comprehensive race coverage of both the UCI Road and Gravel World Championships, alongside the final monument of the season, Il Lombardia. Subscribers get unlimited access to exclusive analysis from our expert columnists, in-depth features and industry-leading tech insight. Plus, the Cyclingnews app lets you follow the action wherever you go! <a data-analytics-id=\"inline-link\" href=\"https:\/\/www.cyclingnews.com\/subscription-paid\/?utm_source=Referral+link&amp;utm_medium=Website&amp;utm_campaign=WORLDS26\" data-url=\"https:\/\/www.cyclingnews.com\/subscription-paid\/?utm_source=Referral+link&amp;utm_medium=Website&amp;utm_campaign=WORLDS26\" data-hl-processed=\"none\" data-article-category=\"pro-cycling\" data-mrf-recirculation=\"inline-link\" data-before-rewrite-localise=\"https:\/\/www.cyclingnews.com\/subscription-paid\/?utm_source=Referral+link&amp;utm_medium=Website&amp;utm_campaign=WORLDS26\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\">Join today<\/a>.<\/p>\n<p><a id=\"elk-results\" aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"kiosq-b\"\/>Results<\/p>\n<p>Swipe to scroll horizontally<\/p>\n<p>Elite women top 10<\/p>\n<p>Position<\/p>\n<p>Rider (Country) Team<\/p>\n<p>Time Gap<\/p>\n<p>1<\/p>\n<p>Maria Rosa Kl\u00f6ser (Ger) Canyon-Sram-Maap<\/p>\n<p>3:23:18<\/p>\n<p>2<\/p>\n<p>Larissa Hartog (Ned) Canyon x DT Swiss All-Terrain Racing<\/p>\n<p>0:02:41<\/p>\n<p>3<\/p>\n<p>Marianne Vos (Ned) Visma-Lease a Bike<\/p>\n<p>0:06:29<\/p>\n<p>4<\/p>\n<p>Geerike Schreurs (Ned) SPECIALIZED-OFFROAD<\/p>\n<p>0:06:35<\/p>\n<p>5<\/p>\n<p>Carolin Schiff (Ger) Canyon x DT Swiss All-Terrain Racing<\/p>\n<p>0:11:26<\/p>\n<p>6<\/p>\n<p>Nele Laing (Ger) Canyon x DT Swiss All-Terrain Racing<\/p>\n<p>0:11:27<\/p>\n<p>7<\/p>\n<p>Giorgia Marchet (Ita) TORPADO KENDA FSA<\/p>\n<p>0:13:20<\/p>\n<p>8<\/p>\n<p>Clara Koppenburg (Ger) Tudor Pro Cycling Team<\/p>\n<p>0:15:32<\/p>\n<p>9<\/p>\n<p>Nicole Frain (Aus) NICOLE FRAIN<\/p>\n<p>0:17:10<\/p>\n<p>10<\/p>\n<p>Jade Treffeisen (Ger) Canyon x DT Swiss All-Terrain Racing<\/p>\n<p>0:17:35<\/p>\n<p>Swipe to scroll horizontally<\/p>\n<p>Elite men top 10<\/p>\n<p>Position<\/p>\n<p>Rider (Country) Team<\/p>\n<p>Time Gap<\/p>\n<p>1<\/p>\n<p>Leon Kaiser (Ger) AVONA<\/p>\n<p>3:03:57<\/p>\n<p>2<\/p>\n<p>Paul Voss (Ger) ROSE BIKE<\/p>\n<p>0:00:01<\/p>\n<p>3<\/p>\n<p>Fabian Rabensteiner (Ita) Torpado Kenda FSA<\/p>\n<p>0:00:01<\/p>\n<p>4<\/p>\n<p>Georg Egger (Ger) ORBEA X SPEED COMPANY<\/p>\n<p>0:00:08<\/p>\n<p>5<\/p>\n<p>Floris De Tier (Bel) SWATT CLUB<\/p>\n<p>0:03:13<\/p>\n<p>6<\/p>\n<p>Daan Soete (Bel) RIDLEY RACING<\/p>\n<p>0:03:14<\/p>\n<p>7<\/p>\n<p>Jakob Dorigoni (Ita) Torpado Kenda FSA<\/p>\n<p>0:04:29<\/p>\n<p>8<\/p>\n<p>Alexander Miller (Nam) SWATT CLUB<\/p>\n<p>0:04:30<\/p>\n<p>9<\/p>\n<p>Petr Vakoc (Cze) FACTOR RACING<\/p>\n<p>0:04:30<\/p>\n<p>10<\/p>\n<p>Anton Ferdinande (Bel) SHIFTING MANNEN<\/p>\n<p>0:04:32<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"Rosa Kl\u00f6ser (Canyon-Sram-Maap) soloed to victory at Sea Otter Europe in Girona, claiming her first UCI Gravel World&hellip;\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":902951,"comment_status":"","ping_status":"","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[445],"tags":[49,48,635,82],"class_list":["post-902950","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","category-cycling","tag-ca","tag-canada","tag-cycling","tag-sports"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/902950","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=902950"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/902950\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/902951"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=902950"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=902950"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=902950"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}