Gravel Earth Series – Lotta Henttala and Markus Auvinen win Falling Leaves

Lotta Henttala (EF-Oatly-Cannondale) and Markus Auvinen claimed victory at Falling Leaves Lahti in Finland, the final cease within the Gravel Earth Series earlier than the Spanish closing at Ranxo Gravel on October 12-13.

Henttala, who was taking over her final race earlier than an finish of season break, crossed the road of the 180km ladies’s race in six hours, 35 minutes and 39 seconds. She was simply over a minute forward of Madeleine Nutt (Ribble Collective) in second and greater than six minutes forward of third-placed British gravel champion Annabel Fisher.

“Beautiful day on the bike,” mentioned Henttala in an Instagram submit. “Weather was good and actually leaves have been falling in the course of the journey. My first aim was simply to get pleasure from however in some way I noticed myself pushing the pedals somewhat extra than simply spinning round.”

In the lads’s class Auvinen continued his highly effective run within the Nordic Gravel Series claiming victory at Falling Leaves in 5 hours and 18 seconds, making it his third win of this season. It was a decent battle with Andrea Mifsud, who crossed the road eight seconds again and just below 20 seconds additional behind it was Greg Van Avermaet (Team Last Dance) who captured the final podium spot.

The autumn race unfolded on area and forest bordered gravel roads and trails within the Lahti and Salpausselkä UNESCO Geopark area, 

After Falling Leaves, the second final occasion within the 19 race Gravel Earth Series, Hugo Drechou (Groove Gravel) is equal first with Simen Nordel (PAS Racing). The joint leaders of the lads’s general are each on 1808 factors and Rob Britton (Factor Overland is subsequent with 1776 factors. 

For the ladies’s general Karolina Migon (PAS Racing) has the benefit with 1920 factors, whereas Sarah Sturm (Specialized/SRAM/Rapha) sits in second on 1856 factors.