In Unpaved Chronicles, we delve into the world of gravel racing. This rapidly growing discipline combines the adventure of off-road riding with the intensity of racing. It's not about smooth asphalt and a peloton, but about gravel roads, steep climbs, and unpredictable terrain. The blend of endurance, technique, and tactics makes it a unique sport that attracts a growing number of riders. In every race, everyone gives their all for a good result, and in UCI races, that's even more the battle for a starting spot in the World Gravel Championships.
We follow the riders of Airom.cc closely during gravel races at home and abroad. From preparation to finish, from gathering dust to medal—this is gravel through their eyes.
After a short summer break, the gravel calendar kicked off again, this time on Sweden's west coast. In Halmstad, amidst open fields, dark forests, and winding gravel roads, the three-day Gravel Grit 'n Grind event was on the program. The setting: a landscape without any truly high mountains, but with endless hills and fast gravel sections that mercilessly tested riders. For three days, it was all about strength, endurance, and race insight.
Sera Gademan, a rider for Team Bike Emotions , supported by Airoman.cc and previously featured in the first part of Unpaved Chronicles , was at the start. "Sweden is truly a place where I can come home; I think it's such a beautiful country. The fact that we could race there for three days was fantastic." For Sera, the race also marked the end of a solid training block leading up to the cyclocross season. "My focus is on the upcoming cyclocross season, so it was crucial to have quality sessions. That's why I went to Sweden with lower expectations. These three days of racing were, in that sense, part of the training block." How that would translate into the race remained to be seen.
Friday - race against the clock
The three-day event began with a prologue-style time trial. No mass start, but every man for himself. Sera: "I saw it as a bit of a shortened cyclocross version, because it was quite a lot of twisting and turning." Sixteen kilometers, 130 meters of elevation gain, and a final climb over gravel: short but vicious. The loose surface made it especially challenging. "It was really a matter of finding as much grip as possible; that's where you could make the difference." With a clear race plan and Airoman.cc aero overshoes on her feet, she gave it her all. After half an hour of full throttle, she finished a narrow second. "It was a shame, of course, but not a big deal. It did create a competitive feeling right away, because the following days also counted towards a classification."
Saturday - the queen stage
Saturday brought the toughest day: 146 kilometers with almost 2,000 meters of elevation gain. A stage that wasn't just tough, but also counted towards the UCI gravel calendar. From the expansive Wapnö farms, the riders delved into the true backcountry: steep climbs, narrow forest paths, and technical descents made it a true battlefield. "It was a really cool course," said Sera, who, thanks to her experience last year, already had a good idea of what to expect.
The Age Group riders started alongside the elite women, creating a compact peloton for a longer period. Around kilometer seventy, the race really opened up. Sera initially ended up in the second group, but found herself alone around kilometer 100. "Because there were some last-minute entries, I wasn't sure who was riding and what position I was in." That was until another Age Group rider joined her, and her father called out at the last aid station that they were first and second. "Then you're going to ride for it." What followed was a woman-on-woman duel. Attempts to break away failed repeatedly, until seven kilometers before the finish. "I knew there was still a tough climb ahead, followed by a descent on loose gravel. I wanted to be in the lead there." She succeeded, and she created a small gap. "Then I really rode full throttle to the finish." After her second-place finish on Friday, Sera was now allowed to take the top step. "It was really fantastic. Both the win and the fact that I gained quite a few seconds for the overall standings."
Sunday: fight to the last meter
The final day brought 100 kilometers and 1200 meters of elevation gain. Much shorter than Saturday, but with two tough days under her belt, it was anything but easy. Moreover, Sera made a mistake early in the race that cost her dearly. "I threw away a full water bottle instead of an empty one, which meant I had to ride with a modified nutrition plan." Halfway through the race, the elite women pushed hard. A leading group of five formed, which Sera was able to join, but after a while she was dropped. In the chasing group, she encountered her direct rival for the overall victory. "I was quite surprised by that at first, because there was quite a big gap between the leading group and the chasers." There was no time to catch her breath, as a general classification was at stake. Ten kilometers before the finish, this battle erupted on a semi-asphalt climb. Sera had to give up there. "I really had nothing left. By throwing it away, I simply missed nutrition that I couldn't get by with just gels. Still, she kept fighting, knowing the stakes were high for the overall classification. "I knew I had twenty seconds to lose, so I kept riding flat out."
Her cyclocross background proved useful: the final was technical, with singletrack and a challenging descent. "I really threw myself down at breakneck speed. That morning during warm-up, I'd figured out which lines I could ride best. That gave me confidence. In the end, I closed the gap on that descent and finished only seven seconds behind." It earned her second place in the day's results, but more importantly: a victory in the overall standings.
A weekend to remember
All in all, a more than successful weekend for the rider from Gelderland. "My love for Sweden has only grown because of this." Not least because she received a special jersey for her victory in Saturday's UCI race. "It's my first ever cycling jersey, so I framed it right away at home. It's a bit of a collector's item for me, haha." Sera reflects on a successful three-day gravel race. "But," she emphasizes, "it's all about preparing for cyclocross. It's fantastic to take a victory like that, but ultimately, it's all about cyclocross!"
And she won't have to wait much longer, because the first race is fast approaching. Want to keep up with Sera (and other Airoman.cc riders)? Follow us on Instagram @airomancyclingclub or read more soon on Airoman.cc !