THE TRAKA 2025. PATH TO THE TRAKA 360

Friday’s Traka 360 was true to its reputation: a long day out across 360 kilometres of fast, open farm roads and some of the steepest, roughest climbs in the region. For Daan, it was a day full of highs and lows, where even a poorly timed puncture – as if there’s ever a good one – couldn’t derail the effort completely. He even had the legs to take the fastest time on the Garmin segment up Els Metges.

“Going into the Traka, I wasn’t quite sure where I’d end up or how I’d feel, but after the opening section, I knew I was good enough to push myself" – Daan.

"Although an unfortunately timed puncture dashed my chances of staying with the front group, I rode my own race and managed to survive the flat section through the Empordà. With some energy left in the tank – and a fair bit of built-up frustration – I pushed up Els Metges and kept going to the finish, riding myself into a top-20 spot.

That ever-present feeling of ‘what if’ makes it hard to fully enjoy the result, but I’m proud of how I performed and how I held my own in such a strong field. And I suppose there’ll be more chances to come.” – Daan.

Legs are still heavy, but the mood is high.