The first big gravel event of 2026 took place this past weekend (14/15 Feb) outside Girona, Spain. The Santa Vall by The Traka had riders from all over the globe testing new setups, new equipment and of course new tires. Even with all those variables to consider, Mother Nature decided to throw in a raging waist-deep river where earlier there was a moderate stream crossing. We caught up with one of our ambassadors to ask about their race and tire selection.
Jules Bouchard, congrats and thank you for chatting with us! Looking back, was your tire choice correct for Santa Vall?
Thanks, Yes, honestly, I made the right choice. I ran the Getaway Pro 45c TLR, mainly because my bike allows clearance up to 50mm. Mounted on my 60mm deep gravel wheels, the measured width was a true 50mm, which meant maximum comfort and a really solid footprint on the ground.
For Santa Vall, comfort and traction were absolutely key. The course was demanding and technical, especially early on, and having that volume gave me a big advantage in terms of stability and confidence.
What tire pressures did you run?
I ran 1.6 bar front and 1.8 bar rear. I decided on that after reconning the first 40km of stage one. It had rained the day before, and I could already see how technical and slippery the course would be. There were steep climbs, up to 20%, with mud and deep ruts.
Because of that, I knew I needed to run low pressure to maximize grip and traction, especially on the seated climbs. The lower pressure also helped absorb the constant roughness of the terrain.
How did the tires feel in the various conditions?
Loose gravel: Very stable. The large volume helped the tire float and stay planted rather than digging in unpredictably.
Steep muddy climbs: This is where they really impressed me. As long as I stayed seated and kept steady power, I was one of the only riders still pedaling while others were slipping or walking. The traction was genuinely impressive.
Fast sections: Surprisingly fast for a 45 mm tire. I didn’t feel penalized in rolling speed, which was important over such a long and demanding course.
Technical descents: Very good stability and braking control. The only moment where I slightly noticed the limits was in tight hairpin corners, sometimes I could feel a small loss of side grip. Nothing dramatic, but in those specific moments, slightly more aggressive side knobs could have helped.
Overall, how was your race experience? What made Santa Vall particularly challenging or special?
It was honestly incredible. It was my first gravel race and first stage race, so everything was new. The first 60km were extremely technical and really put both the riders and the equipment to the test.
No punctures. No sealant leaks. No pressure loss, even running very low pressure. That reliability gave me peace of mind and allowed me to focus fully on racing.
If you raced it again tomorrow, would you change anything?
If the conditions were the same – wet, technical, muddy, I might consider a tire with slightly more aggressive side knobs. Maybe something like the Gravel Grinder, just to gain a bit more confidence in tight hairpins.
But it’s a trade-off: I lose something on long climbs? Would it roll slightly slower? That would need testing.
If the race were drier or less technical, I would 100% go with the exact same setup again. I found it incredibly versatile – fast, comfortable, and very secure. And honestly… the tan walls look amazing too.
Choosing CX Tires – The Wyman Method