The Traka, Spirit and the Orbea Family

The cobbled streets of Girona were already buzzing long before dawn broke over the Catalan hills this past weekend. Cyclists gathered in a nervous murmur, an exciting mix of languages, bikes, and people from all over the world. In early May, The Traka, the largest gravel race in Europe, becomes the very center of the world.

Among the thousands of participants, one very special group stood out: the Orbea envoy. It wasn’t a conventional race team. This wonderfully diverse group brought together Orbea employees, ambassadors, elite athletes and a full support crew including mechanics and communication staff. They weren’t just there to compete, it was a family weekend.

The Traka is not just a race; it’s a personal challenge. Whether you’re an ultra-endurance specialist chasing a podium in the 560, or a first-timer tackling the 100, The Traka demands everything: mud, sweat and mental toughness. No matter your fitness level, once you arrive in Girona, grit is what really counts.

For the Orbea team, this weekend was a key moment on the calendar.
“Some of us had never done anything like this. We created the Terra, spent countless hours on this fantastic mix of tubes and components; but racing with it here, with the rest of the Orbea expedition cheering at the feed zones, brings the Terra to life in a truly special way.”

Even for veteran brand ambassadors, some of them former professionals, the experience was unique: “You ride next to someone who just bought their first gravel bike and someone else who’s won Grand Tours, but out there, we all face the same wind, the same rocks.”
At their base camp, the Orbea team shared meals, fine-tuned bikes and swapped advice. They supported one another at every checkpoint. The mechanics worked through the night. The content team captured agony and joy alike. As the kilometers and days passed, the lines between employee, ambassador and athlete blurred.

Morgan Aguirre showed up with focus in her eyes and power in her legs. A rising gravel star and part of the Orbea envoy, she wasn’t just there to have fun — she came to win. For many kilometers, Morgan set the pace in the lead group, handling the dust and climbs with skill and precision. But an unsealing puncture forced her to swap wheels and race alone for a long stretch. Though the win slipped away, she proved she belongs among the elite, inspiring the whole Orbea expedition.

For Enol Costales (Road Sponsoring at Orbea), the 360 wasn’t just about speed, it was about closure. Last year, just 40 kilometers from the finish, his derailleur broke and he had to abandon. “It was just bad luck, but that moment haunted me all year,” he admitted.
This time, he returned stronger and with a teammate. Enol and Eloy Barja (Road and Gravel Community Manager) reached their goal: finishing before nightfall. As they crossed the line under Girona’s afternoon sun, there were no mechanicals or regrets — just a rewritten story.

Gravel isn’t a discipline where DNFs are rare. Any plan, any strategy can blow up at any moment. The 2025 edition saw punctures, crashes, severe allergies, even temporary blindness.

The flawless plan of Speed Company Racing fell apart when Lukas Baum had to withdraw due to an allergy that made breathing nearly impossible. Saleta Castro held on until halfway through the 360 before having to quit, and Joseba Arizaga rode 60 km with only one functioning eye, blinded by mud, before it became clear he couldn’t continue.

Mikel Díaz, Ashleigh Jones, Georg Egger — the weekend was full of stories worth telling.
Many of which might have ended differently without Orbea’s Head of Mechanics. Parris and his brother Guille listened carefully and understood what each rider needed, tuning each Orbea Terra to face the unpredictable.

Whether the goal was a podium finish, healing old wounds,or just surviving, one common factor carried the Orbea team through Girona’s relentless gravel: Orbea Terra.
Each rider set up their bike differently: from drivetrains focused on durability and simplicity to lighter systems geared for efficiency. Tires, gearing, even handlebar ergonomics varied. Terra isn’t just a tool, it’s a loyal companion on Girona’s unforgiving gravel.
It’s amazing how one bike can mean so many things to so many people. But that’s exactly what Terra is: adaptable and responsive.

As the sun set over Girona on Sunday evening, with many still crossing the finish line after grueling hours on the gravel, the Orbea team came together, dusty, exhausted, and elated.
The Traka did what it does best: it broke them down; and in doing so, built something even stronger.