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.
Last weekend, it was the turn of the German city of Singen to create a challenging course. Called Hegau Gravel, the event featured a 50-kilometer circuit, which was completed twice. With over 1,000 meters of elevation gain per circuit, it was a race for the climbers among gravel riders.
Sera Gademan, a rider for Team Bike Emotions and supported by Airoman.cc , was at the start of the Women's Age Group 19-34 category. With cyclocross as her main focus, this was only her second gravel race of the season. Yet, her ambitions were high: two weeks earlier, she had already achieved a respectable third place at Eislek Gravel Luxembourg in Vianden.
Before the race, Sera thoroughly scouted the course. So she knew what to expect: "The scenery was truly beautiful, it was pure enjoyment! I felt like there wasn't much gravel, but the gravel we rode on was absolutely perfect."
Sera started Sunday with "confidence, but no expectations." It quickly became clear it would be a chaotic race: the women's 19-34 age group started at the same time as the men's Age Group. This could only mean one thing: chaos. "The whole race was chaotic because of it," Sera confirms. "Starting directly with the men's Age Group is just not nice. There were over 200 people in the starting box, so you had no idea who the other women you were racing against were or where they were."
That situation forced her to follow her own plan from the start, choosing a pace she could confidently maintain. "I stuck to that plan for the entire race," she says. And that proved to be a good choice: at the end of the race, she still had power left and was passing others in droves.
Due to the chaotic conditions and a revised result, it took a while for the final result to be finalized, but after four hours of racing, Sera was once again able to don the Airoman Knitted podium socks and take her place on the podium—this time in second place. In short, a great day with a great result.
"I didn't see this coming—especially with the many elevation gains," she says. "A result like this really gives me a huge sense of accomplishment, and I'm looking back on a really good race!"
Two starts, two podium finishes. Then, of course, the question arises: what's next? Sera: "First, a little vacation. We'll add another week here in Germany, where I'll continue training, but also have some time to relax mentally. Regarding races, my schedule isn't entirely clear yet, because ultimately, the cyclocross season is the most important. We're building towards that now!"
Curious to see how Sera will perform in the cyclocross field? Follow her (and other Airoman.cc riders) on Instagram @airomancyclingclub or read more soon in Unpaved Chronicles .