The second edition of La Monsterrato, an Italian Trek UCI Gravel World Series event and the ultimate precursor to the UCI Gravel World Championships, exceeded all expectations, drawing more than twice as many participants as the previous year, with over 600 riders at the starting line.
This challenging race unfolded over a picturesque yet demanding 125km course in Monferrato, nestled between Asti and Alessandria in Piemonte, Italy. The best rider in the men’s race was Petr Vakoc, a former world tour rider from the Czech Republic, who claimed victory with an astonishing 6-minute lead over another former pro rider and Tour de France yellow jersey wearer, Jan Bakelants from Belgium. In a thrilling finish, Bakelants outpaced Sebastian Schonberger from Austria and two other competitors to secure second place.
In the women’s event, Annika Langvad, a former MTB marathon world champion hailing from Denmark, notched her first triumph in the series. Her victory came with a slight edge over Karolina Migon from Poland, while Rosa Maria Kloser from Germany clinched the third spot, just one and a half minutes behind. The podium boasted an international flair, with representatives from six different nationalities gracing the top positions.
