SPIDER duo go to trio

At the beginning of the LVM MTB and Gravel Marathon season in Sigulda, the Velomens – Komforta Veloceļojumi team started with two De Rosa SPIDER gravel bikes. By the final stage in Ogre, three SPIDERs were lined up at the start. The goal of trying out the gravel distance and the new De Rosa gravel bike belonged to Anita Antone, who had already secured second place overall in the MTB Lielbāta Marathon, and to Andris Šmaukstelis, who until now had only competed in MTB marathon discipline. For Krišjānis Ratiniks, this was a real opportunity to fight for a podium place in the season standings. On a sunny and warm September Sunday, the start went perfectly for all three riders.

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This was not only Andris’s gravel debut, but also his bike’s, since until now he had only ridden his SPIDER on asphalt roads and races. In doing so, he proved the SPIDER’s dual nature and versatility. See the blog post The Universal Gravel Bike (April 20, 2025). A successful finish was achieved and valuable new experience gained for the upcoming seasons.

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This time, technical troubles haunted Krišjānis right from the first kilometers. The first so-called “flat” came already in the opening section of the course. The installed inner tube lasted only until the middle of the distance, and even the spare one borrowed from another rider turned out to be punctured. That’s how it goes. That’s sport – and unfortunately, this time it meant a DNF. Apparently, all the luck had been left at the Tartu Rattamaraton, where just yesterday Krišjānis achieved an excellent result in the 126 km gravel distance. Needless to say, that was only the day before.

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Starting her very first gravel race, Anita had to begin from the last start corridor, far behind the leaders. Full of determination, she quickly caught up with the women’s lead group and settled in comfortably. But alas – after hitting a sharp stone, the rear tire lost pressure, forcing her to slow down, let the leaders go, and ride two-thirds of the distance partially “out of the saddle. Fortunately, a fellow rider came to the rescue with a CO₂ cartridge, allowing her to continue the race in normal rhythm. Anita is a true fighter – she completed the course and confidently defended her position.

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The result: a podium finish, third place in the women’s overall ranking. Valuable experience was gained for future races. In which discipline? Time will tell. Never give up. Always go all the way, as long as there’s even the slightest chance – that is Anita’s motto. Such is the De Rosa SPIDER gravel bike, a bike with the heart of a lion 💗!

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This is how you can dream yourself all the way to a gravel bike… Anita wrote this on her Instagram account on May 1, 2024, after the photoshoot “Flying Gravel Bike from De Rosa.” And now, just over a year later, it’s happening. It was on this very bike that Anita made her debut in her first gravel race. This is how our dreams come true. This is how our plans take shape. The De Rosa bike family grows, and successes multiply. You too can become a member of this happy family. De Rosa bikes come with racing DNA built in, designed to help you tackle the toughest distances and the longest journeys.

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Jānis Kārkliņš

Bike Enthusiast

Article last edited on October 2, 2025.