The Traka is Europe’s premiere gravel event. Taking place in Girona, Spain on gravel roads across five race distances, it lures some of the biggest names in pro cycling – and presents an opportunity for cycling brands to show off their latest wares.
We headed to this year’s edition, which runs from 29 April to 3 May, and spied four new gravel bikes. Here’s everything you need to know, in brief:
- Canyon Grail CFR: The unreleased Canyon Grail appears to be a more aggressive version of the go-fast gravel bike, which is influenced by the latest Endurace CFR. The bike also sees tyre clearance increase significantly from 42mm to at least 53mm.
- Factor Sarana: Canadian Rob Britton took to the Traka 560 aboard the new Factor Sarana. Designed with input from the 2025 Unbound XL winner, the Sarana combines a 40mm suspension fork with aerofoil tubes. Britton used the new Black Inc Forty Six gravel wheelset, wrapped in 2.1in Schwalbe Thunder Burts.
- Factor prototype: Alongside the Sarana, there is a Factor prototype at the Traka, which takes inspiration from the One aero bike. The prototype has a similar wide-splaying fork to Factor’s radical road bike, even if the design is less extreme.
- Ridley ‘RS2’: Another unreleased bike at the Traka that leans into aero optimisation is the Ridley ‘RS2’. It has a deep head tube, similar to the latest Noah aero bike, and a seat tube that hugs the rear tyre. But the bike still has clearance for massive 57mm tyres.
Are wide gravel tyres a trend to embrace? Simon von Bromley argues you shouldn't buy a gravel bike with less than 50mm of clearance.
