Traka organizer Klassmark responds to criticism

Harry Talbot, Gruber Images

Gravel racing is in its awkward teenage phase, all limbs and growing pains, and Klassmark, the organization behind the wildly popular The Traka, as well as a collection of other events across Europe, is not immune.

On Monday, we published a piece by Joe Laverick, a pro racer and writer who has raced Klassmark events and lives in the Girona area where the event is held. That story focused on the tendrils of controversy that emanated from The Traka's race weekend. Significant safety concerns, startline chaos, some alleged course-cutting, a somewhat confusing onboard camera rule; it was all on the menu.

Safety concerns, camera bans and startline chaos: A post-Traka debriefEurope’s biggest gravel race had plenty of drama in 2026, almost none of it about the racing.Escape CollectiveJoe Laverick

We've heard similar complaints out of almost every major gravel event for the last few years, as the sport grapples with its incredible boom in popularity and the fundamental and wide delta between what the pros experience and require and what regular riders are there to do and enjoy. These are difficult problems to solve, it is worth acknowledging, but not impossible ones.

We noted in that story that we had reached out to Klassmark to offer the opportunity to respond to a number of specific points brought up in that piece, part of our normal journalistic practice. I sent those requests for comment and clarification last Friday afternoon, but hadn't received a response by publishing time mid-day (US) Monday, and so we posted the piece indicating that fact.

Into my inbox early Tuesday morning dropped a significant response from Gerard Freixes, Klassmark's founder, addressing a number of the key questions that came out of The Traka over the weekend. Some of his answers have popped up elsewhere (in Velo's reporting, for example) but not all.

Normally, we don't publish such responses in full. We might quote them, where relevant, to ensure accuracy in our reporting and a balanced look at issues. But in this case, given that Klassmark took the time to respond in relative depth to topics that have been the focus of the gravel world for coming up on two weeks, it only feels right to put their words in front of the crowd. Let them say their bit.

What follows is a lightly edited Q&A. In places, Freixes answered multiple questions at once, so we've combined those questions so it's clear what he's responding to. His email begins with a broad initial statement.

Gerard Freixes: At Klassmark, we value any constructive analysis of The Traka. We are fully aware of the scale the event has reached and of the responsibility that comes with it — towards the riders, the territory, the professional field, the media, and the wider gravel community.

The Traka brings together competition, adventure, nature and community. This coexistence between professional racing and the experience of thousands of participants is one of the strongest values of the event, but it also requires us to constantly review and improve our protocols. After this edition, we have spoken with riders, teams, staff members and other stakeholders in order to understand what worked well and what needs to be improved.

Regarding the points you raised, please find our position below.

Caley Fretz: Multiple riders and professionals raised concerns about the presence of open traffic on the course, including a specific incident at a road crossing during the 200 km witnessed by a photographer. Racer Jil Brunger reported waiting over an hour for medical attention after crashing on a descent. A since-deleted video was shared on Instagram appearing to show a driver filming from the lead car during the neutral start of a pro race. And multiple members of staff, media, and organisation were present past the finish line during an incoming sprint for second place in the men's 200 km. Would Klassmark like to comment on these specific instances or on safety concerns more generally?

GF:**** Safety is, and will always be, an absolute priority for Klassmark. The Traka takes place in a real and open environment, with gravel sectors, secondary roads, villages and remote areas. This requires complex planning and constant coordination. That said, we fully acknowledge that there were specific situations that must be reviewed and improved.

This post is for subscribers only

Become a member to get access to all content

Subscribe now