Barroso wins against Valero in a nail-biting finish, and Fischer dominates in Alcaraz to become the Spanish gravel champions

A long, demanding, and selective route through the Sierra de Alcaraz decided the new national champions after more than three hours of effort. Alberto Barroso (SCOTT Cala Bandida) took the men's title after beating David Valero in a nail-biting finish, while Natalia Fischer (Extremadura Ecopilas) delivered an undeniable performance to win gold solo.

Natalia Fischer asserts her dominance and Alberto Barroso clinches the Spain Gravel Championship in a sprint

The Spain Championship was contested over a route of 120 kilometers in the men's category and 93 in the women's, featuring a profile marked by fast tracks, technical sections, and several key climbs that ultimately broke the race apart.

In the men's race, the peloton rolled compactly in the early stages until the terrain began to harden. The expected names remained at the front, with Alberto Barroso and David Valero (Klimatiza Orbea) among the most active alongside other riders who managed to keep pace in that first split.

RECOMENDADO

Why do most cyclists wear their glasses outside their helmets?

Why modern cyclists are spending less and less time standing while climbing

New leak of the Garmin wristband competing with Whoop: it could be the most expensive on the market

Cherry juice: the mysterious red drink that cyclists drink at the end of each stage

The time of day you train can affect your performance on the bike

This is how the UCI put a stop to the most radical revolution in bicycle design

Barroso and Valero managed to break away and contested the championship in a final sprint on the streets of Alcaraz.

 

 

 

View this post on Instagram

A shared post from SCOTT CALA BANDIDA (@scottcalabandida)

The rider from Huelva read the finish better. He held on to every previous move and launched his final effort at just the right moment to cross the finish line in first place with a time of 3 hours, 24 minutes, and 6 seconds. Valero had to settle for second place after a sustained effort throughout the day. The third place went to Raúl Rodríguez, who had no chance of contesting the victory after fading in the last kilometers.

Behind, the race left a classification with very different profiles. Specialists from other disciplines like Felipe Orts finished within the top ten, while names from the road also made their presence felt in prominent positions, reflecting the cross-disciplinary nature of gravel.

Fischer breaks the race and wins solo

The women's race had a completely different script. Natalia Fischer did not wait until the end. She took advantage of the most demanding climb of the route to launch an attack that proved decisive, and from that moment on, she rode solo to the finish.

The rider from Málaga, who had won the Spain XCM Championship the previous week, managed her lead flawlessly and ended up delivering one of the most solid performances of the championship. She stopped the clock at 3 hours, 2 minutes, and 32 seconds, never giving her rivals a chance at any moment.

Behind her, a chase was organized, but it never became truly effective. Lidia Castro crossed the finish line in second place after conceding several minutes, while Marta Beti completed the podium after winning a tight finish within the chasing group.

The event in Alcaraz brought together hundreds of riders and once again showcased the moment of expansion that gravel is experiencing in Spain. A demanding route, high-level participation, and the presence of very diverse profiles created a race where endurance and effort management made more of a difference than isolated attacks.