Gravel Diary: Monaco Gravel Race UCI

30.04.2025

In this second episode of the Gravel Diary, we head to Montecarlo, where Jan Stöckli and Simon Pellaud took on their first UCI gravel race together: the Monaco Gravel Race UCI 2025.

Our Gravellers captured the full experience in video - from their homes in Switzerland to the rugged, sun-soaked trails of Monaco, their journey is packed with grit, speed, and heart-pounding action. Experience every bump, turn, and breakthrough as they dive headfirst into their debut on the UCI Gravel Series series.

Once you've seen the video, dive into Jan’s personal recap of the weekend below.

Friday

I kicked off Friday with a short indoor training session before hitting the road at 11:00 a.m. toward Valais to meet up with Simon. As I arrived, we learned that the Simplon Pass was closed. After hours of monitoring road conditions, we decided to stay the night in Valais and leave early the next morning — 4:30 a.m. sharp.

Saturday

After a long drive, we finally reached the course in Monaco by midday. That afternoon, we rode the 60 km loop to get a first feel for the terrain. I had just received my new BMC gravel bike on Thursday and hadn’t tested it yet — I was curious (and slightly anxious) to see how it would perform. To my relief, it felt fast, agile, and surprisingly responsive right out of the gate.

The recon ride went smoothly, although the relentless vibrations and shocks during the climbs were tough on the muscles. We wrapped up the day with a pasta dinner at a cozy Italian spot, followed by a well-deserved gelato, then headed to bed early to rest up.

Sunday - Race Day

Race morning started at 7:00 a.m. with breakfast — pasta for me, muesli for Simon. We rode over the Col de la Madone to the starting line. Gilles, our mechanic, asked if I was nervous. At that moment, I wasn’t. But as the start time approached, I could feel the tension rise.

Once the race began, I felt great. I managed to stick with the front group on the first climb and was amazed at how strong the field was on the ascents. The course was brutal — 120 kilometers with 2,600 meters of climbing. A true mountain test.

After about a lap and a half, the effort caught up with me. I started to fade and couldn’t maintain the early pace. I had been fighting for 5th place, but from then on, my only goal was to make it to the finish.

Conclusion

This race was a big step forward. I learned a lot and came away with many positive impressions. The BMC gravel bike exceeded my expectations - it climbed and descended with ease. My performance started strong but dropped later, which gives me plenty to work on. Still, I’m proud of the effort and more motivated than ever. We’ll come back stronger.

Huge thanks to our mechanic Gilles, as well as Simon and his friend Brayan. We shared an unforgettable experience - can’t wait for the next one!