Aguirre and Perry dominant at Gravel Earth Series The Hills in Italy
With a spectacular debut at Lago Le Bandie (Treviso), in the heart of Italy’s Veneto region, a land of deep-rooted cycling culture, The Hills made its mark on the Gravel Earth Series calendar with 180 kilometers and 2,000 meters of elevation gain — delivering what will be remembered as one of the most epic days in the history of European gravel racing.
Italy hosted one of the most authentic gravel races to date. The first edition of The Hills brought together more than 1,000 participants from over 20 nationalities, turning the Veneto into the global epicenter of gravel for a day with raw landscapes, a committed gravel community, and nature at its fiercest. The Hills was the fourth round of the 2025 Gravel Earth Series.
From the very first kilometer, riders were thrown into a course carefully designed to balance challenge and flow, a route built to reward every effort with breathtaking scenery. Organisers had scouted the region for the most iconic gravel roads and panoramas, always prioritising safety and rideability.
But no map could have predicted what the skies had in store. Rain turned dust into sludges, trails into rivers, and every pedal stroke into a fight. They were caked in mud from head to toe, not a single inch of their bodies was spared. And yet, they never stopped pushing.
Real riders. Real conditions
What happened at The Hills wasn’t just about riding. It was about enduring. About showing up when nature does its worst and still crossing the line with a smile.
They were caked in mud from head to toe. Soaked. Frozen. Exhausted. You could barely see a face that wasn’t splattered in dirt, or a jersey that still showed its original colour. And yet, there was joy. Pure joy.
In the men’s race, Toby Perry (GBR, Classified x Rose) delivered a dominant performance, crossing the finish line first in 6h14’28”. He was followed by Diego Rosa (ITA, FOL MTB Racing Team) and Jasper Ockeloen (NED, Wielerploeg Groot Amsterdam), completing a podium filled with international experience and grit. The rest of the top ten included elite names like Petr Vakoc, Filippo Conca, Tim Wollenberg, Daan Soete, Seppe Rombouts, Samuele Zoccarato, and Thomas De Gendt.
In the women’s field, Morgan Aguirre (USA, PAS Racing / Orbea) proved unstoppable, winning in 7h26’38”. Behind her, Debora Piana (ITA, FOL MTB Racing Team) and Geertje Schreurs (NED, SD Worx Protime) completed the podium. The top ten also featured strong rides by Danielle Shrosbree, Hanna Nilsson, Wendy Oosterwoud, Karolina Migon, Nathalie Eklund, Anna Gabrielle Traxler, and Kyleigh Spearing.
Mud from head to toe. Faces you’ll never forget.
After hours of suffering, came celebration. The Hills wrapped up with a proper gravel-style afterparty — filled with tired legs, muddy shoes, and wide smiles. Stories flowed like the rain had, and a sense of shared resilience bound riders from all over the world.
“Mud. Then more mud. And just when you thought it was over… even more mud.” That was the shared anthem of the day. The Hills has arrived, and with just one edition, it’s already a classic.
Next stop: Terra de Campos, Spain
With five races already completed, the Gravel Earth Series keeps rolling. The next chapter takes us to Terra de Campos, where a different kind of challenge and terrain awaits. But the spirit stays the same: community, nature, and gravel at its purest.
The Hills has arrived, and it’s already legendary.
2025 Gravel Earth Series Men's Overall after 5 rounds
1 Petr Vakoc CZECZE CANYON Master 30 2035
2 Tim Wollenberg DEUDEU PROTECTIVE FACTORY TEAM Absolute 1859
3 Jasper Ockeloen NEDNED SOCKELOEN Master 30 1683
4 Alexander Miller NAMNAM SWATT CLUB Absolute 1562
5 Paul Voss DEUDEU AUTSAID X ROSE BIKES Master 30 1507
6 Daan Soete BELBEL RIDLEY RACING TEAM Master 30 1441
7 Seppe Rombouts BELBEL PAS RACING Absolute 1232
8 Luca Dreßler DEUDEU PROTECTIVE FACTORY TEAM Absolute 1199
9 Filippo Conca ITAITA SWATT CLUB Absolute 1166
10 Thomas De Gendt BELBEL CLASSIFIED X ROSE FUELED BY FOODMAKER Master 30 1144
2025 Gravel Earth Series Women's Overall after 5 rounds
1 Morgan Aguirre USAUSA PAS RACING Master 30 2035
2 Wendy Oosterwoud NEDNED PAS RACING Master 30 1529
3 Klara Sofie Skovgård Hansen DNKDNK Absolute 1452
4 Sophie Wright GBRGBR Absolute 1210
5 Annika Langvad DNKDNK SPECIALIZED OFF-ROAD Master 40 1100
5 Mie Nordlund Pedersen DNKDNK REVERB CYCLING TEAM Master 30 1100
5 Liv Pijpers BELBEL Absolute 1100
8 Geerike Schreurs NEDNED SD WORX - PROTIME Master 30 1056
9 Rosa Klöser DEUDEU CANYON CLLCTV Absolute 1012
9 DEBORA PIANA ITAITA FOL MTB RACING TEAM Absolute 1012