The Traka | postcards

Finally we put our nose outside of Italy. The Traka was our first foreign trip and we couldn’t wait to jump on a flight and be in Girona. 

Today it’s not the case to talk about sport performances, numbers and stats – maybe we will take some time next week, we are still looking at the Garmin and we think it could be interesting to analyze those digits.

Today we asked some thoughts to the four lucky mates who made it to Spain (the other four are pretty jealous). 

Before leaving it to them, we can say that following their adventures and misadventures from home has been a hell of a ride! Missing covid documents at the airport (isn’t it Fede), Van stuffed of bikes and people, a Panda engine melt to take pictures along the Traka’s routes. 

Let’s say there would be lots and lots to talk about but maybe it’s better just waiting for Tommy’s video. Now time to leave the stage to the ones who went through this adventure. We asked them to throw out some quick thoughts and here they are!

I left for this trip with my priorities well defined in my mind: I wanted to visit the city and have a great brunch at The Fabrica in Girona. I am proud of myself to accomplish all this by Saturday, putting myself in the best mood possible to undertake the 200 km waiting for me early Sunday.

Okay, not so fast! I must say that as every day before a competition, just like the good old time, late in the afternoon some anxiety kicked in and kept me awake for a good bit. However some euphory and awareness did their job too, knowing that this time I would have competed by myself and there was no team car next to me in case of need. I’ve always raced without worries, if I had a problem a mechanic or my coach would have fixed it for me… now if I raise my hand calling for help I would find that very same hand to help me. 

Finally, the big day comes and at 7:00 am the race starts! Everyone is moving fast. I soon jump in my bubble and I start thinking that it’s just me, my bike and the surrounding landscapes… I want to get the most out of everything!

I went through places that gave me chills and I would not be able to put into words. I enjoy them in part alone, in part with some French mates. Things were just perfect. Indeed, at 100 km from the start problems begin to rise. And with problems comes the fun, isn’t it?

I had a flat and some problems with the shifter…a bit overwhelmed I called Jacopo who explained to me how to fix the shifter. I quickly get on pace again but I am left alone. This is definitely not a problem and I deeply enjoyed the ride until I found some mates to end up the race with. Luckly, because during the last 50 km fatigue kicked in and the wind blowing in my face was definitely annoying. 

I was the first woman crossing the line but this is definitely not important. Probably I would have been happy just the same arriving last. My goal was to challenge myself in a new situation and I would say I am pretty happy with how things unfolded. I felt really lucky to be there doing what I love… I felt alive. So alive that for a second I wished I would have done the 360 km instead. 

At night we partied, the day after we were tourists in Barcelona and as always when I do something with my Enough crew I would have freeze time and live that moment forever. 

Describing this trip to Girona just with numbers would be fairly quick and easy. Some data? 360 km on the bike, 10,800 cal burned and 120 bpm average. These numbers give an idea of what it has been but there is way more to it. 

I started the race with my Miss Grape bags full and I crossed the finish line that they were empty: all the food was gone and all my clothes were on me, due to the late night arrival. Speaking on the whole trip things went differently: I left home with almost empty luggages and I came back with them full packed. Because the bike came back home with me safely and, way more important, I brought home some meaningful experiences. 

Opening my luggages now, I can find great memories of my mates : the joyful Frank, the obstinate Mattia, the spontaneous Asja, the gritty Mauro, the peaceful Chiara and the cheerful Tommy. Each one here for a different reason but everyone deeply necessary to make the most out of this expedition.

I can find postcards and beautiful images that I won’t forget for a while. On top of the others there are the amazing sceneries around Girona – a gravel paradize – and my pedal is deciding to take a day off.

Yes, my pedal is by far the main character of my trip: it left me with a foot flying around after 90 km from the start, during one of the toughest sections, turning my day into a great challenge, looking for solutions rather than competing in a sport event.

I have never considered the option to drop off: if you do it one time you’ll keep doing it over and over. This is one of the first lessons long distance cycling teaches you. Dropping off is not an option, with grit and determination you can overcome almost everything. 

It’s not about heroism, it’s about learning to keep your composure and think out of the box to find a way out. Some tape and ziplocks I managed to reach a little village where I found a bike mechanic who sold me a pair of pedals. Needless to say they were flat pedals!

My luggage is almost empty – there is only one more thing left inside: the emotion of crossing the finish line and not being able to realize that I made it, no matter all the adversities I had on my way. 

It was a long time since I haven’t pushed hard and I have missed a good bit of that electric feeling before the start, the willingness to step in the game and try my best. Also, I have missed pouring out all my thoughts and just thinking about pedaling hard!

On top of that I wanted to taste some freedom again. Even better sharing it with some people close to me. With my teammates and with all the other people we met in Girona, which was, by the way, a wonderful place with a firing cycling culture and interesting characters.

I competed by myself but the four days on the trip I have been surrendered by my beautiful friends. It was the first foreign trip for Enough and everything was perfect, aside all the logistic confusion of the trip. Asja surprised me, being new to the off road game but already comfortable in every type of situation. Federico is a master of perseverance and dexterity. Frank is always ready with a joke and some new words to teach us. And last but not least there are Chiara and Tommaso who had the toughest job, busy filming and taking pictures for four days straight. Mauro travelled with us too, and although he hasn’t the purple jersey he is 100% Enough. We already knew it and this trip proved us right one more time. 

We will talk about the competition further down the road, there is time for that. It’s been a blast and I cannot wait to be on the startline again.

The Traka has been really meaningful to me: it’s been way more than just an event to enjoy with dear friends. It’s been a new start on something I was fairly sure to have left behind me forever. 

Holding in my hands a bib number again has been thrilling and I can’t hide that before the start I was a bit anxious, although I had no reasons whatsoever to feel that way since I didn’t come to Spain to compete. 

I went through moments of pure joy with my mates. The company was awesome and even with the guys I’ve met for the first time not long ago the chemistry is already there.

With Enough it’s never boring; we spent some solid moments together and overall it’s been a pretty full and tiring expedition but if you ask me, I would be ready to leave again tomorrow.

The competition was fine, although I fell at some point I had a lot of fun! The route was beautiful and the people as well. 

Everybody always speaks about Girona as a cycling paradise. Never considered it much but they are right! This made me thinking quite a bit: why don’t we have something like this in Italy with the landscapes and cycling iconic spots we have?