Sauvage Squad @The Hills gravel race 2025
My first taste of "Gravel Race" – Between mud, fatigue and new perspectives.
I discovered the world of gravel much more recently than I'd like to admit. Luckily, just before it became the "trend of the moment." For me, getting back to cycling without the obsession of training, time trials, and rankings was a real relief. A return to my roots, to the reason I fell in love with cycling over a decade ago: the freedom to explore, the joy of losing yourself in new landscapes, immersed in nature and surrounded by friends who share the same passion.
I make this premise to explain my initial confusion when I first heard about "gravel racing." I wondered how it was possible: how could gravel become a race? Wasn't it perhaps the refuge of those escaping the pressure of performance, timetables, and results?
The truth is that competition lives within each of us. Some embrace it to outdo themselves, some to compare themselves with others, and some fear it because they feel judged—primarily by their own conscience. Perhaps competition isn't something we can truly escape. We can avoid it, of course, but eliminating it entirely seems more difficult than we think.
Ultimately, there's always been a challenge in gravel. A more intimate, personal challenge: against your own limits, against the difficulties of the route, against time and fatigue. Hours and hours of pedaling on asphalt, singletrack, walking trails, and rough roads. Without rules, without support, completely self-sufficient. For me, this is the essence of adventure.
But when the rankings arrived, the 100km races with "gravelized" road bikes, I thought: OK, gravel is over. Maybe it's time to find a new type of bike.
But I've learned that it's always better to try before judging. So I decided to sign up for The Hills Gravel Race , organized by one of the leading names in Italian gravel: Mattia De Marchi.
It was the perfect opportunity to involve some of the Sauvage team members , motivated and ready to take on the challenge with the right ambitions... and the legs to back them up. By October, we had already signed up, and before we knew it, we were driving towards Spresiano, at Lago Le Bandie (Treviso).
On paper, the route didn't even seem too challenging, almost mocking it: "If this is gravel... 180 km with just over 2,000 meters of elevation gain? Laughable!" Yes, there was also a shorter route, just 90 km.
Since I was in a dual role—that of "organizer" as well as (semi-)athlete—I opted for the short route. A wise choice, allowing me to also enjoy the arrival of our true "workhorses": Lore, Mala, and Ema.
The weather forecast, however, didn't promise anything good: rain, mud, and unfriendly temperatures. Yet, until the start, I never imagined such a… rocking day.
It only took a few pedal strokes for us to transform into mud statues. The bike screamed with every shift, the screeching brakes begging for respite from a hell that, as always, after the initial shock, we end up adoring. The route was anything but ordinary: very little asphalt, plenty of dirt, and trails perfect for a deluge of rain. Although the competitive spirit was palpable, in my group we joked, laughed, and competed to see who had the muddiest face.
It was four hours of authentic gravel riding, balancing fatigue, extreme conditions, and mental endurance. The short course saved me from going crazy, and I have to say: utmost respect for those who completed the true 180km "Big Hills."
Lore and Mala held their own in their first real gravel experience, while Ema managed the effort intelligently, arriving at the finish line with one of those smiles that say much more than any ranking.
Beyond the results, The Hills was a weekend packed with inspiration. A young, vibrant atmosphere, with a strong desire to embrace cycling not just as a sport, but as a lifestyle. The search for the right look, the most beautiful (and high-performance) bike , added that touch of atmosphere that transforms a cycling event into a true happening. And we love that.
If competition has to enter the gravel world, I'm happy it does so: with style, inclusion, music, and a lot of passion. A context that engages everyone, even those who don't own a bike. Gravel racing may not be my daily bread, but one thing's for sure: I'll definitely be returning to The Hills.
Words: Fabio Conti
Photographs: Andrea Pialorsi
