Jorge Padrones reports back from La Meseta, a new gravel event in the Castilla region of Spain. The combination of challenging riding, great weather and some unique prizes seems to have gone down with the riders who took part.
Meseta means plateau in Spanish. The central part of Spain, mainly Castilla, is a big plateau and the Spanish call the area “La Meseta”. La Mesetaria takes its name from there, from the region in which it happens, very close to Burgos, one of the most beautiful regional capitals in Spain with a unique Gothic cathedral among its touristic attractions. Meseta means plateau in Spanish. The central part of Spain, mainly Castilla, is a big plateau and the Spanish call the area “La Meseta”. La Mesetaria takes its name from there, from the region in which it happens, very close to Burgos, one of the most beautiful regional capitals in Spain with a unique Gothic cathedral among its touristic attractions.
I find it really interesting that when we talk about a gravel race, we don’t know 100% what to expect and it is something I like and that reinforces the concept of polyvalence that gravel has. A gravel race can be something pretty much flat with some big percentage of its course completed along hard packed tracks and tarmac, or we can also find under the same definition of a gravel race, a course full of singletrack, rocks and insane elevation. I am starting to think we should divide the races and events into categories decided by the recommended tyre width for the race!
The organisers of La Mesetaria, despite it taking place on a plateau, found some elevation - around 2000 m in 100 Km and some rocky hard terrain with not a lot of places to roll peacefully along, some technical ascents and descents and some good singletrack. The majority of the course was held on bumpy terrain, rocky (thankfully not sharp) and something I would qualify as hard terrain - the type where you can feel it in your body after navigating some 4 or 5 hours on them. For me it is a pure gravel race as it has a mix, a bit of everything, but this time a bit more on the bumpy side instead of the hard packed stuff.
This was the first edition of the race and as the title suggests, it was a race that started with its own character, not only from the course, but also on the way things were done around the event, for instance one of the prizes for the winners for each category was a loaf of traditional bread 😊
The ambience was great. There more that 100 riders arranged on the start line on a cool but beautiful morning. They had a choice of taking the long 100 kms route or the shorter 60 kms version. The course took us through some beautiful places as can be seen on the pictures. The organisers took advantage of the event being held in spring - the only season in which the fields are green in Castilla making them look splendid. Also, I have to say the organisation took great care of the participants, having up to 5 feed well-served feed stations on the 100kms route. The event was very open, having some participants giving it their all, while others took it with more calm and enjoyed the course.
At the finish line a BBQ was awaiting the participants with what I would say were endless supplies and most people hung around for some hours commenting on the race and about upcoming races.
La Mesetaria was born to be something unmissable for Spanish gravel riders. And why not? With the event located just twenty minutes outside of the attractive city of Burgos, the draw of gravel riding, architecture and gastronomy should be a strong one for everybody. The riders that already took part in the first edition are already awaiting for the second one to happen next year!