Transcordilleras

The 2026 gravel season has officially kicked off!

 Following a successful altitude training camp in Colombia, I lined up for the Transcordilleras Gravel Race as the defending champion. Kicking off on February 22nd, this 8-stage race across the Andes is renowned for its brutal course and unpredictable weather. It was the perfect occasion to test myself and the new gear on a demanding mission, right on a terrain I know well.

The race started perfectly with a win on Stage 1.
But as we know, not everything always goes to plan...

A couple of days prior, I had hit my knee on a car door. It seemed fine at first, but the pain started flaring up late in Stage 1, preventing me from pushing the pedals the way I wanted. I tried to start Stage 2 as normal, but after 30 minutes, the sharp pain returned and I made the hard decision to stop.

It is tough to withdraw from Transcordilleras as a leader… but we have a long season ahead!