It's a Wrap!

The End Of The Gravel Line - Timijiraque

Watt Wagon Powers Home

Four Amigos

Ceasefire at GranGuanche!

Monday Morning Update

One Day, Three Islands

GranGuanche is Go!

Audax Pacers or Party Pacers

Preview

Justinas Leveika

Florian Chenaux

Nils Correvon

Pierfrancesco Santin

Omar Martinello

Felix Wyns

Gehan De Koker

Aleix Mayor Alonso

Cynthia L Frazier

Jose Luis Ramírez Montesdeoca

Virginia Cancellieri

Andrea Galanti

Miguel Lorenzo Rodriguez

Peter Nedelcev

Cristiana Tamburini

Lukasz Ugarenko

Krzysztof Milosz

Katie-Jane L'Herpiniere

Jukka Liechti

Bastian Boss

Arnout Van Vlaenderen

Peter Pienkowski

Jonas Junk

Julie Harster

Richard Delaume

César Merás Ramírez

Markus Brigl

Rudi Bassi

Dominique Laliberté

Rogier van der Wacht

Dawid Stolc

Michel Wilde

Thomas Voilquin

Maxime Taurin

Gabriele Winck

Peter Levenspiel

Isabelle Scheyltjens

Kate Vergette

Christian Bel

Ormonde Wilson

Mikee Lonergan

Damian McGoohan

Nick Fowell

Marcin Grudziński

Emeterio Suárez Guerra

Calvin Okeeffe

Bastian Mensing

Jens Schubert

Johannes Schneider

Kevin Foulston

Dalila Lecky

Johann Böhmer

Frank Eisenblätter

Frank Bueltge

Jonas Michalzik

Simon Alvarez Belon

Adrian O'sullivan

Jose Luis San Nicolas

Nicolas schatzer

Daniel Schartmüller

Lars Bo Jeppesen

Romuald Wujtko

Timo Falk

Valentin Stark

Arie Van Den Hoef

Maximilian Jüngling

Iván Diego Arroyo

Florian Burkhard

Stephanie Julia Winkler

Mark Davis

Bruno Ferraro

Sebastien Mandron

Enrico Comunello

Jesus Sanchez Bas

Karl Weinhold

Yannick Kok

Arthur Schreiner

Timothy Mark Skilton

Nicolas Plaisant

Jonny Pillar

Burkhard Waldeck

Dani Ayala Romero

Berno van der Wal

David Smith

Christian Linder

Jens Raspe

Tobias Steigenberger

Joëlle Krahlisch

Daniel Porta Pelayo

Timo Rusteberg

Jose Maria Porta

Christopher Hall

Michael Patrick Alonso

Günter Gartner

Demian Piazza

Rui Alexandre Maia Grilo

joris buters

Casper Ku

Adriano Vences Peguinho

Bernd Kremer

Good Evening Dotwatchers. It's a wrap on the GranGuanche Audax Gravel 2023! Thanks so much for following along. Perhaps you've been inspired to take part next year, not forgetting that GranGuanche also hold Trail and Road versions of their island hopping odyssey. The GranGuanche organisation team are second to none, and their dedicated approach is what makes it so special. 
![GGAG2_It's a Wrap 1](//images.ctfassets.net/6hyijb95boju/2SiAS1joOUHPHl8ZijawRE/415ccbc882fd39b8887d9eb9108c9069/_matminelli_MMXT7386.jpg)
Out of 110 starters, we saw 65 finishers giving a 59% finish rate. This is much lower than last year, in which we saw a 76% finish rate of the inaugural edition. This year has drawn a much larger crowd, and perhaps the combination of this along with tough conditions has led to a lower finish rate. Also, mechanicals and crashes seemed to be rife this year, for reasons unbeknownst! Cap 238 - Bruno Ferraro was the victim of one very unfortunate mechanical, when his freehub failed just 50km from the finish line. After narrowly missing out on making the Audax Pace ferry to El Hierro, this was the final straw for Bruno and we were so sad to see him DNF. After the freehub failed, Bruno walked for 5 hours with no phone signal, until he came across a truck driver who brought him ahead to the final descent. Bruno - we hope to see you back next year with a new freehub to finish the job! 

To wrap this one up, I caught up with Bastian Mensing who was riding for a charitable cause - see previous post. In his words - *'my debut was an amazing rollercoaster ride, not just because of the altitude difference; endurance and ultra is a mind game to me. Without the other incredible participants I'm not sure if I would have finished. Not having spoken about the diverse and beautiful landscape of the islands. I learned a lot about myself and am grateful for the adventure'.* 

You can follow Bastian on Instagram at @fandurance, read more about his story and also donate at the following link. 

[Donate Here!](https://www.paypal.com/donate/?hosted_button_id=UUS73D7SUUKY2 "Donate Here")

*Bastian after the descent of Teide, Tenerife.* 
![GGAG2_Bastian Teide](//images.ctfassets.net/6hyijb95boju/6D7BU6mMzmyK97o11B5Eq0/d4f244d32f8ed6f0c0bff894fedd2053/74905E06-5B4D-4D86-B763-6F1518F73645.JPG)

*Images Credit: @matminelli*

Over the past 24 hours finishers have been flowing in thick and fast, and 60 riders have now completed the GranGuanche Audax Gravel 2023. Last night the organisation team put on a BBQ, there's nothing like the post ultra glow and exchange of stories between new found friends with beer and good food. 

And now a shout out to Cap 158 Bastian Mensing (@fandurance) who finshed earlier today in a time of 4D 14H 20M. This is the end of a long long journey for Bastian, who took up arms with a team of 4 for the final lap of El Hierro; team work makes the dream work. The GranGuanche Audax Gravel was actually the finishing stage of his journey, having started from Innsbruck on the 5th February! From Innsbruck his journey has taken him across the Alps to Lake Como, following the Mediterranean Sea to Valencia via Nice, Marseille, Girona and Barcelona. From here he crossed Spain to Cadiz and took the ferry to Lanzarote in time for the GranGuanche. What an epic journey! And this has all been to support a good cause; Bastian has been riding on a charitable basis, which you can learn more about and  contribute to via the link in his instagram bio. Nice one Bastian, time to put the feet up for a wee while!

![GGAG2_Bastian Mensing](//images.ctfassets.net/6hyijb95boju/14YNuliFDzCtcqZOwj8YV1/87c3bb8dc0fbab90681550d120847d4e/IMG_1688.jpg)

Also, let's have an update on our Gran Canarian vagabond, Cap 165 Romuald Wujtko (see previous post Four Amigos for Romuald's antics). At the time of writing, the ferry is just pulling into El Hierro and Romuald is on it! With just one island left to tick off, this one is in the bag. We look forward to seeing if Romuald takes any further scenic detours on his way to Timijiraque. One thing for sure is that he's enjoyed a Full Value experience of this year's GranGuanche Gravel Audax. Nice one Romuald!

Here's a few snaps of our riders at El Hierro and the finish line glow. 

![GGAG2_ Timijiraque 1](//images.ctfassets.net/6hyijb95boju/4hxlaceMppHxMFB5IO9fYE/bac416aaff3a2dc5bbd0c90c551214e7/_matminelli_MMXT7936.jpg)
![GGAG2_ Timijiraque 2](//images.ctfassets.net/6hyijb95boju/3nc3MYcZJSR3PgRDiPsXWM/1d42ec5052d2f621c26e2cde1ef4d994/_matminelli_MMXT7772.jpg)
![GGAG2_ Timijiraque 3](//images.ctfassets.net/6hyijb95boju/5f0LwZQRJK5wo83ENY1XVe/fe2df2a2c9388e2be4dc85b19b0a35b0/_matminelli_MMXT7923.jpg)
![GGAG2_ Timijiraque 4](//images.ctfassets.net/6hyijb95boju/6dMFyVrooDWV1Tza86nY2p/796757599c0832beb5115e428a432864/_matminelli_MMXT7784.jpg)
![GGAG2_ Timijiraque 5](//images.ctfassets.net/6hyijb95boju/6yntgkwRd7IzJBvPlJnNqW/b9a974f07decec7428ca3571aefc7c08/_matminelli_MMXT7774.jpg)
![GGAG2_ Timijiraque 6](//images.ctfassets.net/6hyijb95boju/2CT1XHjzZU57NCENmPZxSz/d55d7445c1c6b1f04046f5420633ba9b/_matminelli_MMXT7798.jpg)

*Images Credit: @matminelli*

Good Morning fine Dotwatchers. In the early hours of this morning we were delighted to see Cynthia Frazier (@watt_wagon) power home to finish as first woman and 9th overall in the GranGuanche Audax Gravel 2023. Chapeau Cynthia, you've done it again and shown what a gravel munching power house you are!! Time to come off the croissant and caffeine diet, and enjoy some deep rest. 

![GGAG2_Cynthia ](//images.ctfassets.net/6hyijb95boju/4QkwNHZZf5JOGp66PiGzPK/0fa8650b0b14fd0f9eb36fc3896c13a7/IMG_1675.jpg)

It was fate that the women's podium was going to be decided on El Hierro, as all three contenders were on the same ferry to the island. With less ultra gravel experience under her belt than Cynthia but still a force to be reckoned with, Virginia Cancellieri kept the pressure on the entire time, finishing a mere 28 minutes behind to take second place. Finally the 3t RaceMax rider Cristiana Tamburini finished in third place, a couple of hours after Virginia. What an honour it has been to watch these strong women complete this challenge in style, congratulations to all three!
![GGAG2_Womens Finish](//images.ctfassets.net/6hyijb95boju/4qr5PLOvdissCyGnzYztkO/e57db435361ccf0df5bb66424a774a38/_matminelli_MMXT7305.jpg)

Today we will see lots more riders finish, as they make their way around the final 117km of El Hierro. Beers and stories await at the finish line. 

*Images Credit: @matminelli*

Good Evening Dotwatchers! Today we saw our first finisher - gravel extraordinaire and all round nice guy, Justinas Leveika! Justinas finished just minutes ahead of Florian Chenaux, who has ridden a stellar ride as his ultra race debut - chapeau Florian! Rounding off the podium we have Nils Correvon and Pierfrancesco Santin finishing third and forth respectively. It’s been an honour to watch these four riders make the Audax Pace, a huge achievement in itself which requires copious amounts of strength and determination.

![GGAG2_5am start](//images.ctfassets.net/6hyijb95boju/6OEfsNGrMBFcecWnNhUrXX/4088f0c3ee445c6f48f8f35b5e6e75b7/2d1640ee-929f-4277-979b-41076065e5d1.JPG)

![GGAG2_Podium](//images.ctfassets.net/6hyijb95boju/26QCrwH3Ed72ynIK3emUED/0351c2995cb716eec349c47dbd829d61/d708848d-0b32-4a18-a27e-0c04bd57d1a9.JPG)

After the flag dropped at 5am this morning, Justinas managed to open up a small lead of around 2.5km and hold onto this for the remaining 100km. It seems that he managed to get all his bad luck out of the way much earlier in the race, meanwhile today both Nils and Pierfrancesco were plagued with multiple flat tyres. After leading for much of the race Pierfrancesco managed to loose his pump, therefore causing delays and ending his race campaign. However he's left an incredible mark on this years GranGuanche Audax Gravel, and we feel that he has won the spirit of the race despite settling for fourth place. 

![GGAG2_Pierfrancesco Finish](//images.ctfassets.net/6hyijb95boju/kvOAdXNwpa9Zd21cgLmnk/d5afde0ab254ea36a5edc26e5767b612/_matminelli_MMXT7170.jpg)
![GGAG2_Pierfrancesco Knees](//images.ctfassets.net/6hyijb95boju/53SGbwSJnLYTg12BkgxY4W/e41567e816aec4f638048a1d8ac67dc0/_matminelli_MMXT7172.jpg)

After a lengthy wait in Los Cristianos for the 17.30 ferry, a fresh group of riders have landed on the final island of El Hierro. With 117km and 3770m ascent to complete, it's all to play for; the cards have been dealt and the flag dropped once again. The race for top ten and first woman will be decided overnight, therefore facing a much harder challenge than our four amigos who had the benefit of daylight. After narrowly missing out on making the cut for the Audax Pace ferry, Cynthia Frazier has all guns blazing and clearly has the firepower and motivation to finish first. However both Virginia Cancellieri and Cristiana Tamburini are both incredibly strong contenders, and the three ladies are with 5km of one another at the time of writing. I'm sure that we have our women's podium right there, however it’s clear that luck has to be on your side to avoid any mechanicals; who will prevail through the night?

![GGAG2_2](//images.ctfassets.net/6hyijb95boju/5dgznqZbiWXyuuYSGKUVMu/72cbf7c3b3a4733a2aa9ab7cb281bd13/_matminelli_MMXT6031_2.JPG)
![GGAG2_Night Riding](//images.ctfassets.net/6hyijb95boju/6inGI4fi3L0UJVVbTwhXzW/e1e78beda31db8494348a96d8a836aeb/_matminelli_MMXT6785.jpg)

Further back in the field, we still have plenty of riders making their way across Tenerife and Gran Canaria. I feel that we should pay attention to two riders in particular with interesting route choices. First up lets have a look at cap 165 - Romuald Wujtko. Romuald seems to be enjoying Gran Canaria to such a degree, he is avoiding the ferry crossing to Tenerife altogether. After landing on the island he chose to stay low, avoid the official route and instead take the northerly coastal road across the island. However upon reaching Agaete, his tracking history suggests a change of heart and he then backtracks to where he first started (via a more scenic route) before picking up the official GranGuanche route once again. It was all going so well until earlier this evening, when his dot seems to be taking another scenic route off piste. Romuald, we hope that you won't be stuck on Gran Canaria forevermore and that you are enjoying the sights. The GranGuange route is red; Romuald's tracking history is brown.

![GGAG2_Gran Canaria Romuald](//images.ctfassets.net/6hyijb95boju/2nFvgdy94582DnD3t4iKfR/c224935540c231d705a89fd164413339/Screenshot_2023-03-21_at_22.50.45.png)

In other news, some riders choose to skip Gran Canaria altogether. For instance take cap 219 - Calvin O'keeffe. His tracking history suggests that upon arriving at Gran Canaria, he didn't disembark the ferry and chose to continue on to Tenerife and continue the route. Or perhaps he caught a different ferry to Tenerife! Either way, the tracking doesn't lie, and the suspicion of having skipped an entire island has been uncovered. Calvin, Gran Canaria isn't that bad, and we hope that you'll return some day and enjoy the sights, just as Romuald is doing at present. 

![GGAG2_Gran Canaria Calvin](//images.ctfassets.net/6hyijb95boju/1pg7kDkLzb2XBgkNZTkYz1/48d39bdefe233d7d40d5c5134dc12086/Screenshot_2023-03-21_at_22.53.08.png)

That's all for tonight folks. Let's check back in the morning and see how our chasing group got on tackling the final parcours across El Hierro. 

*All Images Credit: @matminelli*

Good Evening Dotwatchers... we are 48 hours deep into the GranGuanche Audax Gravel and what a day it's been! Today the front group of 10 riders have been battling their way across the landscape of Tenerife. With 500km already in the legs, on the menu was another 174km and 4570m ascent across rough terrain, brutally steep climbs and strong winds. The biggest mental challenge has been making it to Los Cristianos in time for the 17.30 ferry crossing - the last of the day. 

![GGAG2_Tenerife 1](//images.ctfassets.net/6hyijb95boju/5prFgOOL4wrFZn9dwPVtpN/4d7346e82534942829c910551a3cd130/_matminelli_MMXT6642.jpg)

Four riders made the cut, Pierfrancesco Santin arriving first with a comfortable margin. Comfortable enough for a cheeky visit to Burger King, and was spotted boarding the ferry clutching those well earned calories. Clearly the crash from the first night has done little to slow the Italian down. 

![GGAG2_Tenerife 2](//images.ctfassets.net/6hyijb95boju/3DSxWX26lVAJai62263bYL/06a1ea17e187d3e906a24083f19c2a5a/71794edc-c56a-4dbc-ae84-b519eb122b7b.JPG)

Shortly after the other three riders rolled in: Florian Chenaux, Nils Correvon and Justinas Leveika. Good luck placing your final bets; Florian has experience racing MTB for Scott, Nils also has a depth of experience racing MTB and success in long and short gravel races, whilst Justinas is in stellar shape after coming second at Atlas Mountain Race earlier this year. 

Please let us spare a quiet minute for cap 238 - Bruno Ferraro, who narrowly missed out on the crossing by 20 minutes and will have to wait until 17.30 tomorrow for the next crossing!! Bruno - we feel your pain. Let's not forget that Bruno was mad enough to bikepack 2000km to the startline of GranGuanche Audax Gravel. This in itself is a massive feat of endurance and we have nothing but admiration for his tenacity.

In standard procedure, a ceasefire has now been called upon the front group of four having safely made it to the final island; El Hierro. This is a great shout from the organisers, allowing the riders some quality rest and recovery before the final showdown. This showdown will involve a  117km lap of the island and 3770m ascent; two brutal climbs, returning to sea level between them. Strong winds are forcast, some potential hike-a-bike awaits and full attention will be required on the final descent into Timijiraque, a steep and exposed secondary road with sharp gravel bends in a dramatic landscape overlooking the ocean. Our dots may look superhuman, however Nils has had stomach issues since Gran Canaria, Pierfrancesco suffered the crash and visit to A&E in the first night, and Florian is racing his first ever ultra race! It's all to play for. 

![GGAG2_Tenerife 3](//images.ctfassets.net/6hyijb95boju/58sKlCJ7vXQUJ9HoWKubH5/35a20bcc9cc3efe0b25bb0d66dc703bb/_matminelli_MMXT6717.jpg)

For those riders reaching Los Cristianos tonight the best idea would be to grab a pizza, shower and bed for the night. Unlike our four musketeers on El Hierro, those confined to a 17.30 ferry schedule might as well turn their alarms off and enjoy a long lie in. The only downside to this is that the body will start to go into 'recovery mode', and getting going again could be a mental battle against the grumbling joints and desire for deep rest. 

![GGAG2_Gran Canaria Ferry](//images.ctfassets.net/6hyijb95boju/7BLBe8ZjFogwIhPaGewlhq/eeb7f698a09cf9a5d64c7f68feb75c40/_matminelli_MMXT6402.jpg)

In the women's race Cynthia Frazier has had a stellar ride so far, no surprises there given her gravel prowess. She's currently in 6th place overall having reached the harbour at Tenerife with around 22 hours of rest and recovery before the ferry crossing to El Hierro. Further back Virginia Cancellieri is also showing great form and is about to make the final descent from Mount Teide. She currently sits in 11th place overall, and is a few kilometers behind Omar Martinello. Another 20km back we have Cristiana Tamburini in 12th place, who has found her racing legs and is making up ground. Since the start 48 hours ago, Cristiana has been on the move 84% of the time. This is phenomenal, and just shows what consistenty can do for placing despite a slightly slower average speed. These three ladies are destined to catch the 17.30 ferry together tomorrow. Judging by what we've seen so far, it will come down to these amazing riders to finish as first woman on El Hierro, and also battle it out for a top 10 position.

![GGAG2_ Fuerteventura Ocean](//images.ctfassets.net/6hyijb95boju/4TCQKif7InlSPFLr4z2r4T/1930cbe550242461f7618888f59e219e/_matminelli_MMXT5752.jpg)

Today there have a number of scratchers due to crashes, mechanicals, stomach issues and heatstroke. Scratchees to date:

Cap 153 - Jens Raspe; cap 198 - Joëlle Krahlisch; cap 176 - Daniel Porta Pelayo; cap 157 - Timo Rusteberg; cap 175 - Jose Maria Porta; cap 182 - Christopher Hall; cap 181 - Michael Patrick Alonso; cap 203 - Günter Gartner; cap 161 - Demian Piazza; cap 227 - Rui Alexandre; cap 217 - Casper Ku.  

Good Morning Dotwatchers. I hope you slept well, our front runners certainly didn't, pushing through the night to make the Audax Pace ferry to Tenerife. The second night is where the cracks start to show, so lets enjoy a quick morning update of developments. Upon arrival at the Ferry terminal Nils reported: 'I'm not that bad, it's the sunburn that hurts the most.'...

![GGAG2_Nils Sunburn](//images.ctfassets.net/6hyijb95boju/40JKpjfDOA39512gBDpMhp/0260a4b8eac97cfe07ce34533fefee0a/f70e0f8e-9f7f-46bf-b1ca-8fb8a75bb316.JPG)

In total 10 riders made the 6am ferry to Tenerife, and 4 have stated their intentions to keep challenging the Audax Pace and try to make the 5.30pm ferry to El Hierro tonight. This next island is the most challenging of the lot, and our dots will have to average 18km/h without stopping if that want to make the final crossing in time. Here's a snippet of those 10 riders; let's hope that's a case of tracker lagging and Pierfrancesco hasn't actually thought better of things and jumped overboard. 

![GGAG2_Dots on the ferry to Tenerife](//images.ctfassets.net/6hyijb95boju/4InzUMpjl8TwxeGvnTRMkI/5214d239b7655228166ecd51449fd625/Screenshot_2023-03-20_at_06.53.58.png)

It's worth mentioning that last year 7 riders completed the whole route on Audax pace. Let's check out some of the ferry casualties and various nap styles as they enjoy a much deserved rest whilst sailing the seas.

![GGAG2_Ferry Casualty 1](//images.ctfassets.net/6hyijb95boju/2gvSdHyIgr92I5IhmtlBID/48a33866bf7cbefa4a49b5d46a15a7e4/3ffac5b2-d7bf-4430-8d85-50ded03c2fe3.JPG)

![GGAG2_Ferry Casualty 2](//images.ctfassets.net/6hyijb95boju/17JVm89u67X3XocDS5QnfO/3e879a70b8fb08367e65f663632ee79d/f2a1721a-800a-494a-81c7-b78dce3c5d61.JPG)

![GGAG2_Ferry Casualty 3](//images.ctfassets.net/6hyijb95boju/6cwkhtCajOmsIrzfNtjl8h/5efbb16aa55deffe4540c517a4037969/945101a6-c5bc-46b6-838b-ac273006338f.JPG)

![GGAG2_Ferry Casualty 4](//images.ctfassets.net/6hyijb95boju/0WCnj5sQQjEHYozpbihSw/b1aeb0ae9f4050ab1d35c31daf1c33e7/d76f3477-a9ec-4c6c-9fff-404194c1c970.JPG)

![GGAG2_Ferry Casualty 5](//images.ctfassets.net/6hyijb95boju/2zDxy6GwUaF7NYA9I2Pjkr/76fdce0413d5bd24825af4fa97a57a6b/e03c4178-39b8-45dd-a63f-d382196cd599.JPG)

*Cover Image Credit: @matminelli*

Good Evening fine Dotwatchers! Thanks for stopping by. We've just passed the 24 hour mark of the GranGuanche Audax Gravel, so lets have a recap of what's been going down so far. 

It was a fast first night for our gravelleurs, the majority of the field flying across Lanzarote in time for a nap before the 8am ferry crossing to Fuerteventura. This is a ride of strategy - ride fast for more rest and recovery time, or conserve energy with a slower pace but less rest time. Three riders seemed to opt for the former, making it it to Playa Blanca well ahead of the main field: cap 181 - Michael Patrick Alonso, cap 191 - Florian Chenaux, cap 214 - Nils Correvon.

Pierfrancesco Santin took a tumble in the night, crashing on a descent he carried on to Playa Blanca and visited the emergency unit to be patched up! It's reported that he was in a good mood and able to continue, and currently sits in first place in Gran Canaria. Time will tell if the impact of that crash was something to brush off or more serious, but for now he's riding like he's got something to prove!

![GGAG2_Pierfrancesco Santin Crash](//images.ctfassets.net/6hyijb95boju/3Z0bdClPVmzC31aAvDFdg1/e6b0a2b924593ce4b03151666c6ff0a2/IMG_1587.jpg)

Justinas Leveika was set back with multiple punctures in the early stages, but seems to have made up ground and is now at the head of the race not far behind Pierfrancesco. Today the main peloton have been making their way across Fuerteventura and on to island no 3. Gran Canaria, where the climbing really starts to kick in. 

After blitzing across Lanzarote Cap 181 - Michael Patrick Alonso has scratched after a display of tenacious firefighting spirit. Michael started the race with a loose bottom bracket, and just 15km into island no.2 - Fuerteventura - he crashed badly, flipping over the handlebars and damaging the wheel. He also suffered a (suspected) broken rib and bloody knee, and managed to continue on to make the 5pm ferry earlier today with 45 minutes to spare! However instead of boarding the ferry he called it quits to take care of the body and bike - heal well Michael.  

It seems that there's something of a Devil's zone in the first few kilometers of Fuerteventura, with cap 182 Chris Hall also falling victim. In his own words: 'I crashed hard maybe 20km into today's ride. Just completely skidded out and ended up going straight over the bars, putting my hands out and sliding along the gravel. Hands really bruised and I'm struggling to actually hold the handlebars'. Ouch, that sounds nasty and very frustrating. Let's hope there's no more Fuerteventura related casualties. 

Cap 214 - Nils Correvon is going strong, positioned at the head of the race with 300km + under his belt and currently climbing up towards the iconic Roque Nublo, a volanic rock and the third highest point of Gran Canaria. Nils seems to have crossed paths with a nudist runner a few hours ago, check is out on Instagram for evidence - @nils.crrvn. These Canarian  Dotwatchers are crazy.. 

The fun is just starting for Nils and a few others - with 100km of Gran Canaria remaining but an eye watering 3000m ascent and some pretty sketchy parts to navigate in the night. Doing it for the women, Cynthia Frazier and Virginia Cancellieri have also made this select group at the front. The next ferry crossing on the Audax Pace isn't until 6am local time - this allows 7-8 hours to make it across the island, so no need to go crazy... unless you want a nap of course! Theoretically there is a strong group of 15-18 riders who have a good chance at making the 6am ferry crossing to Tenerife, where the most brutal terrain awaits: 174km and 4570m ascent. 

To date we have a number of scratchers due to crashes, mechanicals, stomach issues and heatstroke:

Cap 181 - Michael Patrick Alonso (see above);
Cap 227 - Riu Alexander (due to stomach problems);
Cap 203 - Günter Gartner;
Cap 161 - Demian Piazza;
Cap 227 - Rui Alexandre Maia Grilo;
Cap 217 - Casper Ku. 

![GGAG2_Justinas](//images.ctfassets.net/6hyijb95boju/49E81zgKmln4jc59V0Jwfx/835394198073f46794d818cba1331605/5dc6652a-6ec7-4e27-962a-5658c2dc3e94.JPG)

![GGAG2_Justinas 2](//images.ctfassets.net/6hyijb95boju/u8IDElA36L5VH3ICXVQEU/d4632e69182b15b72261fc1159f64cde/_matminelli_MMXT6084.jpg)

![GGAG2_Gabi Winck](//images.ctfassets.net/6hyijb95boju/41eGzJteD2caKqdRGmH5qw/8c2ce286ec4040ef82ade98d75c512be/d5300e4f-1b03-4f76-95d5-d9e705fb62be_2.JPG)

![GGAG2_Ferry Life](//images.ctfassets.net/6hyijb95boju/66h1l6nVFochoGkteMlSOq/cae4e298ae2037fd1616c2a5a48fda4b/590d6883-ac02-4c79-a039-6e60c7c0d0fa_2.JPG)

![GGAG2_Ferry Life 2](//images.ctfassets.net/6hyijb95boju/1r2ZRh6Ny8w7Esxnyclami/2e16e9ddaf2d0a3c67a946854252fc5e/746959b7-ae17-49ad-b163-b7945f5b9903.JPG)

![GGAG2_Knees](//images.ctfassets.net/6hyijb95boju/ADoA6oov5fpLiwU01260l/ea9600546aa17c54a06936ad152abb41/1f72271f-2fff-4463-941c-32ff7206902f.JPG)

GranGuanche Audax Gravel '23 is go! 100+ riders have set off into the night with near perfect conditions. You only need to take a look at the tree in the above photo to derive strong winds at play, as is usually the case across the Canaries. Thankfully the northerly wind is blowing in favour, and with tailwind and fresh legs in mind we're expecting some high average speeds during the first night across Lanzarote. The temperature is 16°C with little chance of rain. 

Let's spotlight a few notable riders to watch. 

__Cap no. 180 - Pierfrancesco Santin__

![GGAG2 - Pierfrancesco](//images.ctfassets.net/6hyijb95boju/3hL5dO0L1W9EMPXIEFON3S/426e5e4c14a7d516bc810a341bad9c45/IMG_1585.JPG)

*Pierfrancesco at the finish line of 2VS 2023, photo by James Robertson.*

The sports scientist based in Bologna really turned heads in 2022 when he was first finisher of the savage race that is Two Volcano Sprint. Lets hope that his light set up is a little more robust against the elements of the canaries, after having to use his iphone flashlight to light the way in Italy! This looks to be a gravel warm up for Pierfrancesco, with The Traka and Seven Serpents also on his radar in the coming months. Pierfrancesco will be coming in strong and hungry to add to past successes in 2023 following lots of off-bike training and bike optimisation during the off season. 

Instagram @pierfrancescosantin

__Cap no. 186 - Cynthia L Frazier__

Cynthia aka ‘Watt Wagon’ hails from the mountains of Virginia, US. With her roots in Triathlon and the the US crit racing scene, Cynthia has been making tracks in the gravel world while racing for women's gravel team Velocio / Exploro. In February this year she finished as first woman and fourth overall at Transcordilleras, a 900km gravel ultra in Columbia. The off-road experience here should stand the Watt Wagon in strong stead for whatever the Canaries throw at her!   

Instagram @watt_wagon

__Cap no. 241 - Justinas Leveika__

The Lithuanian rider has quickly proven to be one of the most consistently high performing athletes in the ultra distance category, and was awarded the Dotwatcher People's Choice Award in 2022. Last year Justinas set off as he meant to continue, winning the Race Around Rwanda and then the Three Peaks Bike Race, doing so with great spirit and sharing his adventures with the world. Fresh from his podium finish at The Atlas Mountain Race Justinas brings that infectious smile back to the Canaries. He is a Granguanche veteran after all, having finished the GranGuanche Audax Road in 2022 in 3rd place. 

Instagram @justin.and.bikes

__Cap no. 195 - Virginia Cancellieri__

An Italian rider racing for Orbea Factory Team, diving into the ultra distance world with Basajuan and Badlands last year. Having finished both in strong form, she's certainly one to watch and we're excited to see her potential develop. Virginia has already spent plenty of time in the saddle training in the Canaries earlier this year, so should be well accustomed to the hills and wind! Check out her instagram for some dreamy scenes of sunsets, surfing and skating!

Instagram @virginiacancellieri

__Cap no. 214 - Nils Correvon__

Nils is another GranGuanche veteran, with success at the Audax Trail 2021 (2nd place) and Audax Road 2022 (4th place). We'd love to see Nils secure that 1st place; third time's a charm! As a relative newbie in the world of bikepacking who started riding long distance in 2020, his depth of experience with 10 years of MTB downhill racing has obviously transferred over to successes in ultra distance races. He clinched first place in the Seven Serpents Gravel race in 2022, a route not dissimilar in terms of distance, elevation and terrain. 

Instagram @nils.crrvn

That's all for now folks. It's impossible to cover everyone with such a great field, so perhaps I'll do some further rider spotlights as the Audax unfolds. Good luck to all riders as they settle into the night and may be wind be at their back. 

The GranGuanche Audax Gravel (GGAG2) kicks off at 10pm tonight local time, riders have been assembling their bikes and mobilising at the small village of Órzola on the northern coast of Lanzarote. Check out the current scenes at Lanzarote Airport; Cardboard Box Graveyard! A telling sight that an ultra distance cycling event is about to take place, I must note that the authorities are happy for this growing family of cardboard boxes to loiter.

Let's remind ourselves that this isn't a race, however the GranGuanche team have categorised the pacing options into the following: Audax Pace, 4-Day Pace and Party Pace. There’s no cut-off time, there are no prizes, no medals, no brevet cards or finisher diplomas. Those looking for the biggest challenge will target the Audax Pace, which entails targetting certain ferry crossings in order to finish by midday on Day 3; Tuesday. In order to achieve this, the organisers have set out the following schedule:

__Lanzarote__

110km +2.000m » Next ferry in 9h30min.

Take it easy, aim to finish around 4 am. Resting for a few hours will make a big difference later.

≈ Ferry: Armas 08:00 on Sunday morning (35 min crossing).

__Fuerteventura__

160km +2.300m » Next ferry in 7h40min – Avg speed 21km/h.

Another easy one, finishing around 5 pm. Rest has to be a priority on the two hour ferry crossing. 

≈ Ferry: Fred Olsen 17:00 or Armas 18:00 on Sunday evening (120 min crossing).

__Gran Canaria__

140km +3.600m » Next ferry in 9h30min – Avg speed 15km/h.

After 24 hours on the bike, riders must keep a steady pace on the steep climb and be careful on the unpaved descent.

≈ Ferry: Fred Olsen 06:00 on Monday morning (80 min crossing).

__Tenerife__

170km +4.500m – Next ferry in 9h25min – Avg speed 18km/h.

This day is a big challenge and fatigue will really start to bite, a stop in La Esperanza for a quick resupply is strongly advised.

≈ Ferry: Armas 17:30 on Monday evening (165 min crossing).

__El Hierro__

After a few hours sleep, aim start the final loop at 5 am on Tuesday.

120km +3.600m

Aiming to finish around 12, there's plenty of time to catch the Ferry back to Tenerife at 2 pm.

Stay tuned and I shall mention some dots to keep an eye on who will no doubt be targetting the Audax Pace outlined above. I expect there's lots of last minute faff going on in Órzola, however cap no. 232 - Jesus Sanchez Bas - has got the right idea, multi-tasking by warming the legs up whilst carb loading. 

![GAGG2 - Jesus Sanchez Bas Pre Race](//images.ctfassets.net/6hyijb95boju/3XobOFGob2vmHz5h5pr0it/930ee0ee3fa1837585c131ed4fefffb6/08ba7207-8dd7-430a-b864-0e4ae0fa7a3a.JPG)


Hello and welcome to the Dotwatcher coverage of the GranGuanche Audax Gravel, hosted by Nicky Shaw. Thanks for stopping by, I hope you enjoy the commentary! Let's dive into the Preview and what our riders can expect from this adventure across the Canary Islands. 

The second edition of this Audax follows the GranGuanche Gravel route from Orzola, Lanzarote to Timijiraque, El Hierro - approximately 700km and 16,000m of ascent. The route traverses 5 of the Canary Islands, a Spanish archipelago off the coast of northwestern Africa. Guanches are known as the aboriginals who first arrived in the Canary Islands from the nearby African mainland, and just like those first arrivals the riders can expect a vast array of geographical delights: moon-like volcanic landscapes, sandy beaches, enchanted rainforests, empty deserts, ancient pine forests and more.  

On par with the Audax ethos this is not a race, the only time limit set by the ferry leaving for the next island. The event follows the classic rules and principles of unsupported ultra-cycling events, but in the spirit of Audax, participants here are allowed to ride in a group and draft each other. With this in mind there is no pressure to ride against the clock. Adventure, experience and community is the game here, however some will choose to complete the route as quickly as possible! Let's go through this island hopping odyssey one by one, and some special higlights along the way. 

# Lanzarote
102.5km / 1560m ascent
![Lanzarote 01](//images.ctfassets.net/6hyijb95boju/4XnKG1wYHg9HA95dbYhNPs/af8e929cdc22e84962b9874d98baffa6/desert-road-lanzarote-spain.jpg)
Leaving the coast behind, the climbing starts right away with the old road to Teguise, the former capital of this volcanic island. An off-road highlight of Lanzarote, the old road doubletrack overlooks El Jable sandy desert, Famara majestic bay and El Risco massive cliff. Haría could be a resupply point for any early emergencies.   

After few hours the riders will pass through El Jable Desert, a scenic gravel road crossing a sandy desert overlooking the ocean under red and yellow volcanoes. This sand belt is the only part of the island devoid of volcanic origin, and different geodiversity has meant a different biodiversity from the rest of Lanzarote.

Leaving the sand plains behind, the riders will be treated to some extraterrestrial landscapes through the Timanfaya National Park. Think black gravel roads and rocky singletrack in an area made up entirely of volcanic soil. Vegetation is sparse, and this moon-like landscape really is a unique and tranquil experience.  

# Fuerteventura
154km / 2025m ascent 
![Fuerteventura 01](//images.ctfassets.net/6hyijb95boju/2SnGZ8BIlUqrDTCnx0IxSi/a24a8571af76b34c68a8bc443f550752/trail-isla-lobos-fuerteventura-summer-2020.jpg)
After a 30 minute power nap on the ferry crossing, our audaxers will hug the coastal gravel road across the top of the island - a gravelleur's paradise! These remote gravel roads are generally well maintained as they are used to reach farms and livestock.  

Another notable highlight of Fuerteventura is the Climb to Mirador de las Peñas. This is a spectacular winding road climb through a desert landscape between the towns of Betancuria and Pajara. Conditions are expected to be hot and exposed, and resupply in Pajara at 85 km will be a welcome sight. 

# Gran Canaria 
139km / 3460m ascent 
![Gran Canaria 01](//images.ctfassets.net/6hyijb95boju/69dKItOSz2KfSQ64x1V79i/6e0254fec91f6bb9eecf9eea13b66bc3/west-coast-gran-canaria-waves-breaking-cliffs-mirador-del-balcon.jpg)
With two islands ticked off, the ferry from Fuerteventura to Gran Canaria takes at least two hours and will be a welcome spot of rest for the riders; just enough for a cat nap and bidon refill. Gran Canaria is another climber's paradise, with 3460m to endure over 139km! Some 105km is noted as asphalt/paved, so with a little less of the route stuff to endure this should serve as a nice compromise for all that climbing. 

Heading due south from the ferry port, the route passes through the town of Ingenio before diverting west via some very steep gradients towards the heart of the island. The iconic Roque Nublo lies up ahead, a volanic rock and the third highest point of Gran Canaria. The landmark itself stands 67m tall, and it's top is 1,813m above sea level. Thankfully it's all downhill from here (more or less) via the pine forests and rugged cliffs of the Tamadaba Natural Park. The final descent into Agaete will accompany that familiar smell of sea air and the next ferry crossing. 

# Tenerife
174km / 4570m ascent 
![Tenerife 01](//images.ctfassets.net/6hyijb95boju/3uaMVEBQwhQ93zvTuWkwtv/6a332d43f2c6ed498a7b8ac7bdb90d39/beautiful-shot-mountain-big-rocks-green-plants-clear-blue-sky.jpg)
The cumulative climbing across these volcanic landscapes will be starting to take their toll on legs, with another 4570m ascent to look forward to on our penultimate island, and also largest island of the Canaries. Once again the riders can revel in the knowledge that the majority of the route is asphalt/paved, with 50km of good quality unpaved surfaces to tick off. 

A short stretch along the coastal road to warm the legs up again, the Anaga Rural Park is up ahead and promises to be an absolute delight. The tree lined road winds up through lush mountains and past deep ravines before dropping into La Esperanza at 50km; a chance to resupply before the remote section ahead. Once again in a gravelled lunar landscape, the route winds up towards Teide national park before paying homage to Spain's highest mountain, Teide Volcano. The final descent will be a very welcome 30km downhill stretch to the coast and final ferry crossing at Los Cristianos.

# El Hierro
117km / 3770m ascent
![El Hierro 01](//images.ctfassets.net/6hyijb95boju/Pe8yEaYMIM4gOBBQeD1QZ/e6380d50e38d940d64b6920d036c2499/beauitful-shot-sandy-beach-fuerteventura-spain-covered-rocks.jpg)
Onto the fifth and final island, the final leg is a 117km loop before finishing in Timijiraque, a small town on the beach with minimal facilities. Highlights include Nisdafe, a green and humid plateau with good quality gravel roads and secondary paved roads in a rural landscape. The Verodal Climb at 53km is an exposed, steep, narrow and deteriorated stretch of tarmac in a volcanic landscape. To add additional drama after nearly 700km of riding, the road is usually beaten by a strong and gusty wind - not ideal for our weary audaxers! The final descent into Timijiraque is a steep and exposed secondary road in a dramatic landscape overlooking the ocean. Requires some skills and attention if descending, and riders are advised not to attack for positions! To combat this, final positions will be considered before the descent.

In summary the organisers describe this as an easy route in a well developed country, the main challenges being elevation gain and unpredictable weather. Other challenges include the fact that there are no water sources except bars and restaurants, and at night no resupply options at all. So what does this mean in terms of strategy? I imagine, the audaxers will have to rely on the local communities they pass through and perhaps the goodwill of strangers with appreciation and respect. They will have to stock up on supplies in advance of the night shift in order to keep moving forwards towards the next ferry.

Thanks for sticking with me through the Preview. What a journey across landscapes this has been, and what a treat those dots are in for!

Nicky Shaw

GranGuanche Audax Gravel 2023 Tracking and Commentary: The second edition of GranGuanche's Gravel audax takes in five of the Canary Islands with four ferry journeys. In true audax spirit, riders must be self-supported but are allowed to ride together and draft one another.

GranGuanche Audax Gravel 2023 Tracking

The second edition of GranGuanche's Gravel audax takes in five of the Canary Islands with four ferry journeys. In true audax spirit, riders must be self-supported but are allowed to ride together and draft one another.

GranGuanche Audax Gravel 2023

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