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Gabriel Torralba kicked off 2022 by cycling along the ancient trails of Bguara. THE CYCLIST FROM RIGLOS (HUESCA) WHO MADE IT TO THE PROFESSIONAL PELOTON
This year, Gabriel Torralba has competed for the fourth consecutive year in the Enduro World Series, the most important international competition in the sport of enduro. However, this year has been his last with the Orbea Fox Enduro Team, the team he has been with since the start of the EWS, although he will not be leaving the Orbea brand, with which he will remain associated. BGuara spoke to him about it after watching him ride on the terrain.
Questions for Gabriel Torralba
For those who don’t know you, tell us a bit about yourself. When did you start cycling?
I started back in 2010, when I was about eleven or twelve, thanks to my neighbour who rode a BMX and got me into the scene.
How did your interest in enduro begin? Did you practise any other sports before that?
Well, as I mentioned, I started out with BMX and then tried downhill because what motivated me back then was doing jumps, each one bigger than the last, but then I started meeting people who, as well as DH, also did Enduro for training, and one day I went out with them and that’s where I felt most at home, as it was a mix of everything; you needed to be physically fit, have technical skills and a lot of mental strength because the races were long. I fell in love with this discipline too because of the hours you spent in the mountains, and it was also the easiest for me to train in, as our local area is ideal for it.
What other sports have you played and do you currently play?
As a kid, I played football, like almost all children. But I’ve been involved in cycling since I was very young.
When did you realise you could become a professional?
Little by little, and thanks to a lot of hard work on my part and that of my parents, I started to see good results, and with them came the first sponsors to support me. It was like climbing a ladder: everything kept going upwards – better results, new sponsors… and by 2016, I was finally able to dedicate myself 100% to cycling and make a living from it.
How many races have you competed in this season? Has each one been in a different country?
Every year I usually run between 15 and 20 races, and yes, we’re lucky enough to be able to visit many countries and run all over the world, but for the last two years we’ve only competed in Europe – we couldn’t travel abroad because of Covid-19.
What has been your main goal for the season?
I had my sights set on the Spanish Championships, as I’d won the overall title in 2020 in Castejón de Sos, but the race didn’t go as I’d hoped.
Which race from this season would you highlight and why?
I really enjoyed the Trans-Nomad this year; I was in contention for the win right up to the very last metre, even though it slipped away in the end, but I’ll never forget that week we spent in the Pyrenees discovering some of the best and wildest descents we have here in Huesca.
It seems that competing in the EWS is the pinnacle of a rider’s career. What’s behind this change of direction? Are you giving up the EWS altogether? Will you continue to compete?
That’s right, racing in the EWS is the pinnacle of what an enduro rider can aspire to, but these races have changed a lot over the last two years and I couldn’t find the motivation to race there; however, I do have the drive for new challenges where I’ll feel more of the essence of MTB, which is, after all, what made me fall in love with the sport in the first place, and I feel the EWS has lost a bit of that. But I’m not going to stop racing them entirely; I’ll still be part of the EWS calendar, but I’ll also be doing other events like stage races, Avalanche races, and some XC…
You’re still associated with the Basque brand Orbea. What projects do you have lined up for next season? Will we see you tearing through the mountains as you have done so far? Will you become a YouTuber like Ibón Zugasti?
Yes, I’m still part of the Orbea family and, as I mentioned, I’m not going to stop racing the EWS altogether; I’ll be competing in the series as well as other races that really motivate me, such as stage races, downhill events, and a bit of XC…
I suppose just hurtling down the trail at full speed isn’t enough for training. What does an enduro cyclist’s training involve? Do you combine different disciplines? Tell us what a typical day is like.
The truth is that each rider’s training is very different, but mine focuses on being highly varied. Road cycling, XC, enduro, dirt, gym… that’s how I manage to be a well-rounded rider and stay fully motivated, as I don’t do the same thing every day.
I imagine you have plenty of fans in Huesca and Riglos. Have you inspired others in the Mallos? What’s it like training there? Do you play an active part in maintaining and restoring the trails?
Little by little, the biker community here in the Kingdom of the Mallos is growing, and more and more people are getting involved. The surroundings here in Riglos and throughout Huesca are ideal for mountain biking, and if we all do our bit – whether it’s maintaining the trails, running schools or helping with management – it won’t be long before this becomes the world’s top destination for mountain biking.
Have you heard of Bguara and the Sierra de Guara? Have you ever trained there?
It’s just a stone’s throw from my house, and of course I train there and know Guara well; the terrain is very similar to the Reino de los Mallos and also has great potential for trails.
Can you tell us which place in Guara you like best? Why?
Nocito is a place with a lot of magic and where I often go to train. The peace and quiet that there is, the quality of the descents and the difficulty make it special.
Finally, what advice would you give to young people who are just starting out in competition – advice that you wish someone had given you?
Above all, don’t stress about getting results; just enjoy the journey and the process of learning and improving. But do keep at it, and if you have any questions, I’m here for you and I’ll help if I can.
Anything else to add? Any wishes for the ‘Magic Bike’ in Huesca?
I hope to see you very soon on the ancient, magical trails of Guara with our bikes.
