Nicole Frain and Daan Soete take Victory at 2025 UCI Sea Otter Europe Gravel Girona

Australian Nicole Frain and Belgian Daan Soete won the headline events at the 2025 UCI Sea Otter Europe Gravel in the Les Gavarres massif on Saturday, delivering standout performances on a demanding 107 km route that served as the final qualifying event ahead of next month’s UCI Gravel World Championships in Limburg, Netherlands.

Nicole Frain, riding for Ridley Racing, powered away from the women’s field to solo to victory in 3:40:00 on a course that featured 1,828 meters of climbing. France’s Emilie Morier took second in 3:45:54 and home rider Marta Tora Mila claimed third in 3:45:48, each securing qualification spots for the World Championships. Frain’s win capped a remarkable run of form this season — following victory at Houffa Gravel in Belgium and a runner-up at 66 Degrés Sud in France — and clinched the overall Sea Otter title for the Australian.

“The course was relentless and I felt strong from the start,” Frain said. “Esmée and I pushed hard on the climbs and when I opened a gap I committed fully. To finish solo here, in front of such an enthusiastic crowd, is incredibly rewarding and gives me great momentum heading into Limburg.”

The men’s race came down to a high-speed showdown between Soete and a pair from Decathlon AG2R La Mondiale, Dorian Goddon and Stan Dewulf. After a hard-fought day over technical climbs and fast gravel descents, Daan Soete prevailed in a frantic sprint to the line, stopping the clock at 3:10:49. Goddon finished a second behind in 3:10:50, with Dewulf third in 3:12:21. Former stars Petr Vakoc and Romain Bardet finished inside the top ten, while 2023 Gravel World Champion Matej Mohoric placed 23rd.

“This was a race of nerves and timing,” Soete said. “We kept pushing in the final kilometers and it came down to pure speed at the end. I’m proud of the team and excited to head to the Worlds with this result behind me.”

Sea Otter Europe Gravel Girona also coincided with the larger Sea Otter bike festival, which drew roughly 64,000 visitors over three days, combining elite racing with a major industry bike show and grassroots events. The festival atmosphere provided a lively backdrop as riders, teams and fans converged in Girona — one of Europe’s cycling hotbeds — for pre-season tune-ups and World Championship qualification.

With key qualification slots decided, attention now turns to the UCI Gravel World Championships in Limburg, Netherlands next month, where the season’s top riders will compete for the rainbow jersey. Sea Otter Europe’s results will shape national selections and racing narratives heading into one of the sport’s most anticipated events.

Over 800 riders participated in the final qualifying race before the world championship, with those finishing in the top 25% of their UCI age/gender category automatically qualifying to compete in the Limburg, Netherlands next month.

Link to 2025 UCI Sea Otter Europe Gravel Girona Results: https://gironagravelworldseries.com/en/results