Peter Stetina to Commentate Live Stream at Santa Vall; Deanna Mayles Wins Old Man Winter as Maddie Munro Goes Off Course

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Peter Stetina to Commentate Live Stream at Santa Vall; Deanna Mayles Wins Old Man Winter as Maddie Munro Goes Off Course

The Santa Vall event, marking the start of the 11-race Gravel Earth Series' fourth season, is set to provide a comprehensive live stream experience for its two-day, two-stage format near Girona, Spain. Adding significant star power to the broadcast, accomplished riders Peter Stetina and María Mayalen Noriega will serve as commentators, offering expert insights throughout the event. Coverage will include start-to-finish action for both the professional men's and women's divisions.

Peter Stetina, a former climber with a decade-long career on the WorldTour circuit spanning three teams, transitioned exclusively to gravel racing after the 2019 season. He has since become a prominent figure in the sport, setting professional standards through his compelling storytelling and impressive race results. His gravel victories include the Belgian Waffle Ride California, The Traka 360, and two podium finishes at the prestigious Unbound Gravel 200.

María Mayalen Noriega brings a wealth of experience from her six years racing on the road in Europe, where she earned two silver medals at the Spanish national championships. Her athletic achievements also include a silver medal at the 2012 London Paralympic Games as a pilot for Josefa Benitez Guzman in the road race. Noriega's intimate knowledge of the Santa Vall course and its competitors, gained from competing there for the past two years, coupled with her current role as a spokesperson for the Gravel Earth Series, makes her an invaluable asset to the broadcast team.

The Gravel Earth Series, now in its fourth year, features an ambitious 11-race calendar across six countries. The series culminates with a mandatory final round, The River by The Traka in Belgium on September 6, which will offer bonus points. A substantial prize purse of €25,000 will be distributed among the top 10 finishers in the professional men's and women's categories.

Gravel Earth Series TV is scheduled to launch its online streaming coverage on Friday, February 13, with the Athletes Presentation event commencing at 17:00 CET. Live racing coverage from Sant Gregori, Girona, begins Saturday at 8:00 a.m. CET with the pro women's start, followed by the pro men's start an hour later. Stage 2 on Sunday, February 15, will determine the overall winners, with the pro women starting at 9:00 a.m. CET and the men at 10:00 a.m. CET.

The route for Stage 1 on Saturday is anticipated to be 10km longer than initially planned (120km) due to high river levels in the region. This opening stage features 1,600 meters of elevation gain, with the most significant climbing concentrated on the ascent of Montigalar and within the surrounding Gavarres natural area. Stage 2 is projected to cover 85km with an elevation gain of 1,100 meters.

In other recent gravel racing news, Deanna Mayles (Specialized-SRAM) and Justin Peck (Los Gatos Bicycle Racing Club) claimed victories at the early-season Old Man Winter Rally mixed-surface race in Lyons, Colorado, on February 1.

The 75-mile (120km) Old Man Winter Rally course, traversing both gravel and paved roads along the Front Range of the Rocky Mountains, determines winners based on the combined time across two key segments. Mayles' impressive combined time of 3 hours, 43 minutes, and 32 seconds secured her the win, ahead of Annie Hines in second and Angela Martell in third.

While Maddie Munro (Liv Cycling), 23, had posted the fastest elite women's time, her race ended in disappointment. Munro, who won the muddy 2024 edition of the Colorado race, incurred a disqualification after taking a wrong turn on the course, despite holding a commanding 20-minute lead.

Mayles, 32, who made her debut at the Old Man Winter Rally in 2023 – her very first gravel race – experienced vastly different conditions this year. The previous year's event was marked by frigid temperatures, ice, and snow, whereas the 12th edition saw warm conditions, well above freezing and reaching a balmy 50°F, with a lack of recent frozen precipitation contributing to faster overall times.

For the men's elite field, two-time US collegiate cross-country mountain bike champion Justin Peck, 22, set the fastest time on the opening segment. He established a 39-second advantage over second-placed Luke Walter and third-placed Griffin Hopper. The pair were unable to close the gap on the final segment, leaving Peck, aged 21, to take the victory with a winning time of 3 hours, 10 minutes, and 58 seconds.

The Gravel Cycling Hall of Fame has announced its 2026 inductees: Jim Cummins, Paul Errington, Meg Fisher, and Kristen Legan. These selections were made by a distinguished panel of 60 electors, comprising past inductees, board members, independent athletes, race promoters, and industry professionals. Additionally, three new awards were introduced to honor community service and recognize Athletes of the Year.

Meg Fisher, a decorated Paralympian with four medals for Team USA, including a gold in the road time trial at the 2012 London Games, has become a prominent figure in gravel cycling post-road racing career. Her gravel achievements include winning the para category at major events such as Unbound Gravel, Rebecca's Private Idaho, Lauffen Gravel Worlds, and SBT GRVL. She remains a dedicated advocate for para divisions within the sport.

Kristen Legan boasts multiple podium finishes at the Unbound Gravel 200 and clinched the Unbound XL title in 2023. She continues to inspire fellow athletes through her coaching work and collaborates with cycling brands like Shimano and Lazer to promote and advance gravel cycling as a discipline.

Jim Cummins, a co-founder of the renowned Unbound Gravel event, was a natural choice for induction, following his counterpart Joel Dyke's induction in 2023. Paul Errington is recognized for his early advocacy for gravel as a participatory sport and his instrumental role in the global expansion of the Grinduro gravel series.

The newly established Community Impact Award aims to recognize individuals who have demonstrated exceptional commitment to giving back to the gravel cycling community over the past year. Chase Wark, who finished fifth at the 2025 US Gravel Nationals, received this inaugural award for his efforts in fundraising following the wildfires at The Mid South Gravel and for his role in establishing the Lunchbox Racing development gravel team.

Matt Beers and Rosa Klöser have been named Athletes of the Year. The official Gravel Cycling Hall of Fame induction ceremony is slated for May 27, 2026, at the Granada Theatre in Emporia, Kansas.

USA Cycling has unveiled a 10-race calendar for the second edition of its Junior Gravel National Series. The series is open to junior men and women aged 15-18. Winners of individual series races will earn complimentary entries into the 2026 USA Cycling Gravel National Championship, the series finale scheduled for September 12 in La Crescent, Minnesota.

Overall series champions in the Junior 17-18 categories (men and women) will receive an automatic invitation to a Talent ID Camp in Colorado Springs in October 2026. Junior 15-16 men and women will be evaluated for selection to similar opportunities based on their season-long performances.

Four returning races are featured: Valley of Tears, Sea Otter Classic, Unbound Gravel, and SBT GRVL. The series adds new events starting February 28 with Rouge Roubaix XXII in Louisiana. Two June events include the Rothrock Grit Gravel Race in Pennsylvania and the Dirty Dino Gravel Race in Utah. The late summer calendar includes the Dust Bowl 100 in Indiana and Core4 in Iowa, leading up to the US Nationals.

Participation requirements for the official overall series standings mandate that riders hold a valid USA Cycling license for 2026 and compete in a minimum of three races. However, a license is not required for participation in individual races.

Last year's junior series winners included Mason Wilson (Sugar Bottom Bikes) for the men's 15-16 division and Kate Elwell (Zangi Bikes) for the women's. In the 17-18 division, Ethan Shirey (Rouleur Development) and Kailey Knox (Team ANB) took the titles.

Ekhbary News Agency