Maria Ossowska and Gerald Grundner fastest at inaugural 2026 La Stelvio Santini Gravel
La Stelvio Santini officially opened its cycling weekend in Bormio with the inaugural edition of the Gravel event, held in partnership with 3T. Two routes were offered across the gravel roads and climbs of Alta Valtellina, with rankings determined by timed uphill segments.
On the Long Route, the decisive challenge proved to be the climb of Boscopiano leading to the Cancano Lakes. Claiming victory on the 70 km route were Austrian rider Gerald Grundner of Radl-Eck Racing Team and Maria Ossowska of Team RV Einsiedeln. On the 44 km route, success went to Belgium’s Marijn Kemper of Barbob Cycling Team and Spain’s Ana Martinez Romero of Team Sulawesi Adventures.
The Stelvio Santini 2026 cycling weekend officially got underway this weekend, marked by the major new feature of this year's event: the inaugural edition of La Stelvio Santini Gravel, held in partnership with 3T, which brought off-road enthusiasts onto the gravel roads and forest tracks of Alta Valtellina.
The day successfully combined adventure, competition and the chance to discover the region, while staying true to the philosophy that has always defined the event: experiencing the mountains and cycling safely, while sharing the effort and beauty of a unique experience.
The Gravel event adopted the well-established format of the Road edition, with rankings determined exclusively by timed segments located on the climbs. This approach, strongly supported by the organisers and included within a broader range of participant safety initiatives (which also include the mandatory use of the event's official jersey), allowed riders to tackle descents and more technical sections with greater confidence and awareness.
Two routes were available, both taking riders through some of Alta Valtellina's most iconic landscapes. The Short Route covered 44 km with 1,400 metres of elevation gain and featured one timed segment, while the Long Route stretched over 70 km with 2,000 metres of elevation gain and tested participants across two timed climbs.
On the Long Route, the decisive challenge came on the beautiful yet demanding Boscopiano climb, a 4 km ascent gaining 542 vertical metres (an average gradient of 12.8%). Leading up to the Cancano Lakes, this gravel climb proved a true test of power and endurance and ultimately played a decisive role in determining the final standings.
In the long course, victory went to Swiss rider Maria Ossowska of Team RV Einsiedeln and Austrian rider Gerald Grundner of Radl-Eck Racing Team. From the very first kilometers, participants had to tackle the demanding gradients of the Burat Wall, one of the course’s signature climbs. This section immediately put the riders’ legs and endurance to the test, helping to set the pace for the day and offering an early taste of the challenges that characterized the route.
In the short course, Belgium’s Marijn Kemper of Barbob Cycling Team and Spain’s Ana Martinez Romero of Team Sulawesi Adventures claimed the top honors. This route also featured several technical and spectacular sections that were particularly appreciated by the participants. Among them, the single track through the forest in the Madonna dei Monti area once again proved to be one of the most popular parts of the course: a nature-immersed section that required both focus and bike-handling skills while providing a highly engaging experience for all those who chose the shorter distance.
"Over the past year, we have worked intensively to introduce a gravel version of our event because we see the discipline as a natural extension of road cycling," commented Paola Santini, Marketing Manager at Santini Cycling. "This first edition has already given us plenty of ideas and feedback to work on for the future. For now, we're very pleased with the debut."
The inaugural Gravel event therefore provided the perfect start to La Stelvio Santini weekend, once again confirming Bormio and Alta Valtellina as one of the leading destinations for international cycling, offering spectacular routes, authentic challenges and immersive experiences for all cycling enthusiasts, both on and off-road.
"To launch the gravel edition of the event, we invited five European journalists specialising in road and off-road cycling to experience firsthand our two-event weekend format. The feedback has been unanimous: positive and encouraging from all our guests," concluded Paola Santini.
2026 La Stelvio Santini Gravel Men's 70 km Podium
1. Gerald Grundner – Austria – Rad-Eck Racing Team – 00:37:56
2. Thomas Bormolini –00:41:02
2. Thomas Bormolini –00:41:02
3. Markus Glettler – Austria – Rad-Eck Racing Team – 00:43:26
2026 La Stelvio Santini Gravel Women's 70 km
1. Maria Ossowska – Switzerland – RV Einsiedeln – 00:53:39
2. Matilde Bolzan – Italy – 00:57:20
3. Claudia Avanzi – ASD PEDALE BAGNOLESE – Italia – 01:02:32
2026 La Stelvio Santini Gravel Men’s 44 km
1. Marjin Kempen – Belgium – Barbob cycling team – 00:19:23
2. Nicolas Tufarolo – Switzerland– Velo Club der Armee (CH) – 00:19:50
3. Josep Maria Soler Torradas – Spain– Sulawesi adventures – 00:19:53
2026 La Stelvio Santini Gravel Women’s 44 km
1. Ana Martinez Romero – Spain– Sulawesi Adventures – 00:23:45
2. Elena Martinello – Italy – ACSI Roma – 00:25:34
3. Elien Goris – Belgium – BarBob cycling team – 00:25:43
2026 La Stelvio Santini Gravel Link to Results: https://www.endu.net/it/events/stelvio-santini-gravel/results
2026 La Stelvio Santini Gravel Photo Gallery
