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2026 UCI Gravel World Series
Natalia Franco and Simon Pellaud dominate inaugural UCI Bogota Gravel
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Natalia Franco and Simon Pellaud dominate inaugural 2026 UCI Bogota Gravel
Colombia’s first-ever UCI Gravel World Series round delivered two emphatic solo victories at altitude, with Natalia Franco and Simon Pellaud rising above their elite fields on a demanding 127 km course outside Bogotá.
Racing on home soil, Franco wasted no time asserting control in the women’s elite race. She broke clear early and never faced a challenge, stopping the clock at 4:37:58 to claim a breakthrough win in front of a Colombian crowd. Her margin over compatriot Valentina Ovalle exceeded an hour, underlining the scale of her performance.
In the men’s elite race, Pellaud produced a masterclass on terrain he knows intimately. The Swiss rider — now a decade into living in Colombia — attacked on the trio of major climbs packed into the opening 45 km and immediately opened a decisive gap. From there he rode alone, finishing in 3:44:37 for his first victory of the season. The chase group arrived nearly ten minutes later, with Camilo Gómez outsprinting Carlos Julián Quintero for second.
The course began in Chía at 2,564 metres above sea level, climbing sharply before dropping into a long valley framed by sandstone canyon walls. Two shorter rises in the second half added sting to the legs before riders looped back through Tocancipá and finished on grass in Chía. Pellaud’s win continues his steady return to form following a knee injury earlier in the year, adding to his 15th at Unbound Gravel and runner-up finish at Hegau Gravel. He now turns his focus to the Leadville Trail 100 MTB as part of his Life Time Grand Prix campaign.
After the race, Pellaud said: “Happy to finally bring home the first victory of the season, especially in ???? with many friends alongside the road. Very juicy course with long climbs, technical downhills, endless gravel flats and a great 5km single track. It was an important last step of my preparation at high altitude for Leadville. This victory also secures me a front seat at Nannup 2026 if I eventually, finally, maybe decide to fly down under.”
The Medio category also crowned champions. Luis Alberto Aconcha stormed to the men’s win in 2:19:49, setting a fierce pace from the start. Alexander Aparicio Romero and Alexander Quintero Becerra completed the podium. In the women’s Medio race, Laura Galvis took a decisive victory in 2:52:08, with Carolina Castro Colmenares and Carolina Serrano finishing close together for second and third.
The UCI Gravel World Series continues next weekend at Gravel Weekend in Latvia on August 8. As always, the top 25% of riders in each category earn qualification for the 2026 UCI Gravel World Championships in Western Australia, scheduled for October 10–11, 2026.
2026 UCI Bogota Gravel Top 10 Elite Men
1, Simon Pellaud, 03:44:37, —
2, Camilo Gomez, 03:54:00, +09:22.92
3, Carlos Julián Quintero, 03:54:02, +09:24.92
4, Yeison Alejandro Rincón Alvarez, 03:59:17, +14:39.38
5, Oscar Mauricio Pachon Melo, 03:59:20, +14:42.40
6, Vladimir Yesid Lopez Gil, 04:08:48, +24:10.20
7, Juan Tirado, 04:16:12, +31:34.09
2026 UCI Bogota Gravel Top 10 Elite Women
1, Natalia Franco, 04:37:58, —
2, Valentina Ovalle, 05:54:42, +01:16:43.70
2026 UCI Bogota Gravel Top 10 Men Medio
1, Luis Alberto Aconcha, 02:19:49, —
2, Alexander Aparicio Romero, 02:22:36, +02:46.66
3, Alexander Quintero Becerra, 02:31:20, +11:30.72
4, Diego Puentes, 02:41:07, +21:17.74
5, Giovanni Gomez, 02:41:08, +21:18.54
6, Daniel Felipe Prada Acosta, 02:41:14, +21:24.44
7, Diego German Dueñas Gomez, 02:46:42, +26:52.43
8, Yovanny Vergara, 02:58:17, +38:27.80
9, Miguel Antonio Cardenas Sanchez, 03:00:56, +41:06.80
10, Jorge Andres Forero Fajardo, 03:06:03, +46:14.09
2026 UCI Bogota Gravel Top 10 Women Medio
1, Laura Galvis, 02:52:08, —
2, Carolina Castro Colmenares, 04:06:51, +01:14:43.74
3, Carolina Serrano, 04:06:52, +01:14:44.53
Link to UCI Bogota Gravel Results: https://www.clasificacionesdelciclismocolombiano.com/uci-gravel-world-series-colombia
@ucigravelcolombia @simon_pellaud @nataliafrancov