Former Tour de France superstar Romain Bardet (FACTOR RACING RCC) and 3x Life Time Grand Prix Champion Sofia Gomez Villafane (SPECIALIZED OFF-ROAD) opened the 2026 European off-road gravel season in Spain with wins at UCI Castellon Gravel Race on Sunday.
Starting and finishing in the mountain town of Llucena, the Frenchman Bardet, 35, completed the sunny and dusty 97 kilometer long route with over 2500 meters of elevation gain solo in 3:16. European Gravel Champion Mads Würtz Schmidt, 31, of Denmark finished in second place, with the Dutch Mathijs Loman, 26, third. Last year’s champion Alejandro Valverde finished eighth.
Villafane also won solo, crossing the finish line in the women’s competition arms raised in 3:59. The 31 year-old Argentinian with dual American citizenship bested fellow American Morgan Aguirre, 32, and 2024 Swiss National Time Trial Champion Elena Hartmann, 35, who finished in that order.
Over 850 graveleurs from 40 countries competed in UCI Castellon Gravel Race, with those finishing in the top 25% of their category quyalifying for the 2026 UCI Gravel World Championships planned in Australia next October.
Complete 2026 UCI Castellon Gravel Race results available HERE
Photo Credit: Instagram/castellongravelrace
© 2019-2026 All Rights Reserved Gran Fondo Daily