Argentina stepped onto the global gravel stage on Sunday as the Vuelta Altas Cumbres hosted the country’s first ever round of the UCI Gravel World Championship qualifying series, with riders competing across the stunning Traslasierra region of Córdoba Province.
After finishing second at UCI Gravel Brazil, Joaquin Plomer delivered a commanding performance to take the top step of the podium in the 120km men’s race, crossing the line in 3:53:52 — after railing the final 33km technical descent to the finish. American Lance Haidet pushed hard to finish second in 3:59:40, with Argentine German Dorhmann completing the podium in 4:00:35.
In the women’s race, Carolina Maldonado — the 2025 Pan-American MTB XCO Champion — led a dominant Argentine sweep, winning in 4:56:59 ahead of Fiorela Malaspina (4:59:11) and Maria Laura Bugarin (4:59:34). American Sydney Sitton was the top non-Argentine finisher in fourth place.
The event, in its 15th edition and traditionally a mountain bike race, integrated the UCI Gravel category for the first time this year, attracting riders from Argentina, Chile, Uruguay, Brazil, the United States, Portugal, Belgium and Colombia.
Finishers placing in the top 25% of their UCI age/gender category earn automatic qualification for the 2026 UCI Gravel World Championships, set for 10-11 October in Nannup, Western Australia.
Complete 2026 Vuelta Altas Cumbres Gravel results HERE
Photo Credit: Instagram/vueltaaltascumbres
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