IT WAS a jam packed weekend of racing around Gatehouse of Fleet at the weekend as hundreds of cyclists took part in The Gralloch 2025.
The three-day event in Galloway Forest Park saw riders take on a lumpy 111 kilometre course made up almost entirely of a gravelly double track and comprising 1761 metres of climbing, to claim the Scottish round of the UCI Gravel World Series.
Czech rider Petr Vakoč emerged victorious in the elite men’s race, claiming the title in three hours, eight minutes and 15 seconds, beating defending champion and Matthew Holmes.
It was a nail biting race to the finish as the top four riders raced toward the finish line in Garries Park together, but an unexpected puncture almost cost the Czech the race. He said afterwards that it was a day full of emotions, adding: “With 40 kilometres to go our gap was well over 90 seconds and I felt really great. Waiting for a good moment to attack and try to go solo to finish, things looked really good but then I had puncture, I had to stop to plug it and reinflate.
“I managed to keep calm and pace myself back but Matthew Holmes and Benjamin Perry came closer and eventually caught us with 20 kilometres to go. I did not panic, focused on the sprint and despite less than a perfect execution narrowly grabbed the win.
“It was such a burst of emotion when I passed the finish line.”
Meanwhile in the women’s elite race, it was a three-way sprint to decide the victor.
Tessa Neefjes won in a time of three hours, 44 minutes and 54 seconds but there were just centimetres between her and second-placed British cyclist Ffion Gilbert.
Tessa said: “So happy to make a comeback like this. It was only my second race of 2025 after months without racing. I had a rough start to the season, with no races until May due to a broken collarbone and surgery and now this.
“My favourite race on my favourite course, through a stunning Scottish nature reserve.”
