Alberto Barroso and Natalia Fischer claimed the Spanish Gravel Championship titles at the Gran Fondo Sierra de Alcaraz, a 120-kilometre race through the Albacete highlands that drew over 700 competitors.
Rain the previous day had settled the multi-surface terrain without making it treacherous, delivering ideal racing conditions across a course that mixed greenway sections, ravines, technical climbs and fast open tracks with asphalt — suiting riders who could shift gears tactically as well as physically.
The men’s race started at 9:00 with a compact lead group of around 40 riders holding together through the early kilometres. Selection came on the climb to Carboneras, where the field was whittled down to a lead group of seven: David Valero, Alberto Barroso, Raúl Rodríguez, Luis Francisco Pérez, Aniol Morell, Raúl López and Francisco Crespí. After Masegoso, the faster terrain opened the race to attacks. Valero and Barroso broke clear and settled the title in a long sprint on the streets of Alcaraz. Barroso (Scott Cala Bandida) took the national jersey ahead of Valero (Klimatiza Orbea), with Raúl Rodríguez (Extremadura Ecopilas) completing the elite podium. Barroso, a cross-country mountain bike specialist making his mark on gravel, looked genuinely emotional at the line — a rider finding his second discipline at the right moment.
Fischer’s victory was more emphatic. She attacked on the hardest climb of the women’s 93-kilometre race and rode clear of the field, with Maier Olano (Massi Baix Ter) chasing alone but unable to close the gap. Fischer (Extremadura Ecopilas) crossed the line as champion well ahead of the bunch sprint, in which Lidia Castro (Mirat Team) took second and the junior title, and Marta Beti (Cantabria) third and the under-23 crown.
Fischer, also the reigning Spanish XCM champion, had finished second here in 2025 on her gravel national championship debut. This time, she left no margin for debate.
Gravel championship titles were also awarded to age group competitors from young juniors through veteran masters.
Complete Gran Fondo Sierra de Alcaraz results HERE
Photo Credit: @RSALANOV
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