Nearly six months after claiming the European title in Avezzano, Italy’s Erica Magnaldi returned to Gravel racing, proudly wearing the European champion’s jersey and riding a custom-made Colnago G4-X.
It was an emotional yet extremely demanding day, ending with an excellent second-place finish for the UAE Team ADQ rider at The Hills Gravel Race, one of the most anticipated and competitive events on the calendar, held today in Susegana (Treviso), Italy.
The course was both scenic and challenging, winding through the iconic Prosecco vineyards over a distance of 124 km, with 1,915 meters of elevation gain. The start list featured several top-level riders.
In the women’s race, victory went to Dutch rider Larissa Hartog, who, after a controversial finale, crossed the line 1’41” ahead of a strong Magnaldi. Switzerland’s Elena Hartmann completed the podium.
For Magnaldi, this result confirms her strength in the Gravel discipline, where she currently holds the European champion title. The Italian rider will now head straight to Sierra Nevada for a high-altitude training camp with the team, aiming to prepare for the Ardennes Classics and later La Vuelta Femenina.
(ph. @Colnagoworld – @error.johnny)
