Pete Stetina, the defending champ, details his experience returning to the Traka 360 in his latest race recap. This "Unbound of Europe" gravel event has boomed in recent years and is proving to be one of the toughest events on the calendar.
Last year, winning The Traka 360 was the most beautiful win of my career. Not only was it a season-defining result, but the way in which it happened was a fairytale, from the race itself (a come-from-behind story) to having old friends I hadn’t seen in years play support crew, it was a memory I will cherish until the day I die.
Being the defending champion is always a tough hurdle. The expectation exists to repeat: The public, my sponsors, and myself all know it’s possible. It can feel as if even 2nd place would be a step back. While my training had gone perfectly and fitness was better than 2024, I knew that for real success I needed to recreate the stress-free environment we’d had the previous year.
Big Tall Wayne (my mechanic) and I replicated nearly everything: We dined at the same pre-race restaurant, slept in the same quiet hotel room instead of the sponsor’s free housing offers, and even did the same volume of recon rides. Things were jovial, and the only nerves were those of excitement.
The Traka is Europe’s equivalent to America’s Unbound Gravel, and I must say is growing exponentially. The event comprises at least 4,000 riders spread over 4 days of different distances with my 360 km race designated as the preeminent event. It’s slightly longer than Unbound’s 200 miles, with more vert and also has a greater variety of terrain due to Girona’s world famous topography.
We started at 5:50 am with the first 45 minutes, including a skittish dirt descent, being in the pitch black. Lights were required. For the most part, I made the right selections, never wasted energy, and kept out of trouble over bridges, through mud bogs, and single-tracks. Alas, my number came up and I had to stop for 2 minutes to play damage control. This led to a 30-minute solo chase to regain contact while others were sitting in and preparing for the looming mountains. These bullets spent would eventually be my undoing in a 12-hour race where every bit of energy matters. I would regain contact and fight with all I possess, but ultimately roll across the line in a lackluster 7th.
All-day races like Unbound or Traka are like entire lifetimes compressed into one day: There are highs and lows. Racing is, like life, rarely a fairy tale. That’s why the perfect days are so much sweeter. It’s perspective that gives one an appreciation for the best moments. And it’s also perspective that allows me to leave the race result at the finish line and look for the silver linings elsewhere. While hungry to rectify and perfect my next race, I can also appreciate all the other moments that made this trip so fulfilling and enjoyable. If one can only find joy in the placing on the results sheet, then maybe one is missing the point in this whole thing. It’s about the journey and the process.
Conveniently, I have another all-day odyssey one month from now: Unbound is on the horizon.
What's in Pete's Pocket?
The short answer: a lot of gels.
Pete: [This is] the longest race I’ll do all year. For those in 🇺🇸 this is similar to Unbound: One needs to be self sufficient outside of 3 dedicated checkpoints.
Pete broke his fuel down by hourly needs and the time between each aid station. For example, he shot for 110g + of carbs per hour with 4.5hr, 4.5hr, 1.5hr, and 1.5hr between all the aid stations and finish. This allowed him to plan what he'd need to consume by each aid and grab from each aid.
Starting heavy on the carbs, via gels like Carbs Fuel, Amacx Turbo, and Maurten Gel 100 specifically. On top of that, he has big Race Day Bottles and USWE Outlander Packs to support the carb needs but mostly to ensure he's getting enough fluid and hydration. These fluids transitioned from carb-focused to hydration-focused as the day goes on and the heat ratcheted up. Keeping singles of Liquid IV and Styrkr SLTs in his pockets. This was a priority, as you can't come back from dehydration in an event of this magnitude.
Photo Credits: The Traka
