Romain Bardet continues to demolish gravel field... including Spanish legend Alejandro Valverde!

Following a successful road career which saw Romain Bardet win five Grand Tour stages, a Tour de France polka dot jersey and even finish runner-up at the Grande Boucle, the 35-year-old Frenchman had his last dance on the home roads of Critérium du Dauphiné last summer. Following that, he's taken a moment off the bicycle, only to return as a gravel challenger who sticks to what he knows the best; winning.

Already in his baby-step races while still wearing the Picnic PostNL jersey in 2025, Bardet already won two UCI-sanctioned events and came close to becoming the French champion. The end of the year was marked by a slight upset of not-finishing the Gravel World Championships, however that didn't take away from Bardet's excitement for 2026.

No longer bound with a road team, Bardet now flies through mud in the colors of Factor Racing - always with a big smile on his face.

And there was a particular reason to be happy the past weekend after he finished the Castellón Gravel Race. After all, Bardet crossed the finish line first, with a comfortable lead of two minutes over a fellow ex-professional Mads Würtz Schmidt. Dutchman Mathijs Loman completed the podium. Another interesting name finished 8 minutes down the result sheet - defending champion from Castellón, Alejandro Valverde crossed the line in 11th place.