23rd January 2025
Michele Miani | GRAVAL EXTREME
When we recieve updates and photos from our supported riders, we love to share them with you. And when an email or an Instagram post comes in from our Italian friend Michele Miani, bursting with joy and emojis, it always makes us smile. Mic has a way of writing that sums up the excitement he feels about riding and racing.
So here, for your enjoyment, unedited, is Mic's account of his successful GRAVAL EXTREME 2024 on his MASON Bokeh.
Hold on for a bumpy ride...
"Here we are towards the end of this 2024....many races, many adventures... But every now and then I feel the desire to spice it up a little... To have a Race!. Let's fly! Yes it goes! Back to Spain. Another Gravel race similar to the one in July.... but with departure and arrival in Valencia. 830 km x 14000d+.Arrival Friday.... The city is beautiful.... I collect the race package and attend the briefing and sleep in the hostel and we leave tomorrow morning .
"The next morning it is still dark when we all gather for departure....
Go!
"The first 60 km.... they were really fast, all flat and accompanied by a fantastic color in the sky while the Sun was born...
"Then... The group began to break up.... and there were about five of us left in the lead.
"The first climbs have also begun..the young people didn't slow down and I tried to resist.... Up to about 330 km and almost 6000 d+... It was 1 am and basically breaks for drinks and a sandwich for dinner aside., we had pedaled continuously ..... I was starting to feel sleepy while the others wanted to continue..... ok... I didn't let it influence me.... (I know myself and have enough experience) and so I decided to take a break to rest. It was a small town and I lay down in front of an entrance to several apartments... Right in front of the door... because it was the most sheltered place since the night was cold anyway.
I was starting to feel sleepy while the others wanted to continue
"Not even after half an hour a girl arrived and wanted to enter the house.... I got up and she questioned me about what I was doing....
"So he insists on letting me come in warm and eat something.... After a long time, I accepted and dove into the bed he had offered me, setting the alarm after half an hour. How good!!!! On a bed and warm!!!!. Half an hour later the alarm goes off... All asleep I take the phone, the bike, say goodbye and hug the Spanish girl and set off again. the road was asphalted but there was a long climb.... and when I finally got to the top... after about an hour I realized that my bag was open and my documents were not there!!
"Don't panic.... but I was really angry with myself because then I realized that I had forgotten them in the bed where I had slept!!!!
"So I reverse and go back down to the village.... I arrive in front of the house and I'm about 20 bells ahead!!!!
"Now what will it be!!??
"it was around 3 in the morning and I started playing everyone!!!!! Nothing to do.. I felt like crying because I was wasting time.
"So after a bit of insistence I gave up and sat in front of the door with the hope that sooner or later someone would wake up.
"Miracle!!! after about 20 minutes the girl with her husband appeared from outside because they had found my documents and had gone out to look for me!!
"Optimal!! Last hug and off we go!!!
"From then on I continued cycling until the next night. I had to catch up!
"And I did it! I got to second position and then it was late at night again, dead tired I lay down on a dirt road in the middle of the woods and took a 30 minute nap.
"Next... The last big climb that led to an altitude of 2300 was missing.....
"it never ended and there was a strong wind.... I arrived at the top after cycling and even walking at 7 in the morning where I found the organizer taking some photos.
"I was happy to see someone and even more so when he told me I was first!!! What a satisfaction!!! the old man still manages to assert himself!!!
Here we go again... Very long descent, not easy... Full of big rocks... And soft gravel..... In fact, almost at the end the boy who was behind me was riding a mountain bike, he was much faster and got me back to come by.....
when I arrived in the valley there were about 150 km to go and I tried to recover.....
Maybe the first 100 km I almost succeeded but then the final 50 km were really hard.... Technical and his mountain bike was certainly more suitable and faster.
But you never give up.
Here we go again... Very long descent, not easy... Full of big rocks... And soft gravel.....
"and so after 3 days and a few hours I arrived at the finish line.... Exactly 30 minutes after the other competitor
"That's fine too... I was super happy! A nice handshake, a chat... And a beer together. It was a good fight.... And a great race. This was my third time/race in Spain in this 2024.... And I have to say that I really like it.
"My MASON BOKEH was phenomenal as always. It is always a great satisfaction to carry and represent "MasonCycles" around the world in your name.
"now let's end the year with just having fun and planning for 2025.
"Stay tuned
Mic."
Well done on your excellent 2nd place, Mic! Especially given the challenges you dealt with on the way. Keep on riding!