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The Dutch might have missed out at Road Worlds recently, but they certainly didn’t at the UCI Gravel Worlds this past weekend.
Held in Leuven, Belgium in unseasonably warm conditions, the third edition of Gravel Worlds (not to be confused with the other, older event also called Gravel Worlds, based in Nebraska, USA) saw the stars of road racing turn to the gravel, cobbled, and yes, tarmac roads of Flemish Brabant to race for the rainbow jersey.
In the end it was two of road racing’s biggest stars that left Leuven as world champions. In the elite women’s race, Marianne Vos snagged her 14th(!) world title after beating big rival Lotte Kopecky in a two-up sprint. In the men’s race, Mathieu van der Poel took his eighth world title by soloing to a commanding victory. Gold for the Netherlands in both races.
Photographer Kristof Ramon was on the scene over the weekend to capture all the action. You can see his wonderful photos in the gallery below.
Both elite races featured many big names of the road world (like Lotte Kopecky, left), and many multi-discipline riders too (such as, from second-left to right, Puck Pieterse, Lucinda Brand, and Fem van Empel).Silvia Persico (center) and Lorena Wiebes (right) were two more of the multi-discipline riders in attendance (Wiebes is a Dutch gravel champ).Into the Haller Forest.It’s been a great season for Puck Pieterse, who’s shone across multiple disciplines. She was in an elite lead group that got away in the early stages of Saturday’s race too.Kopecky was there too.The bunch rolls through the Zonien Forest.In the back half of the race, a four-rider move got clear of the leading group: Kopecky, Marianne Vos …… Wiebes, and Soraya Paladin.Soon enough it was just Vos and Kopecky at the front.The pair collaborated well for the most part, building a handy lead inside the final 50 km …… but they also attacked each other at crucial times, each trying to get away on their own. But neither could get separation and it was eventually clear that the race would end in a two-up sprint.On the road, the pair have sprinted against each other many a time.This time it would be Vos who’d get the upper hand in the final metres …… beating Kopecky to take the first gravel world title of her career.One of the many things to love about Vos: no matter how much she wins, she always seems to appreciate each victory. She never takes success for granted.Wiebes rolled in for third, almost four minutes behind Vos and Kopecky.Vos now has a staggering 14 world titles across four disciplines: eight in cyclocross, three on the road, two on the track, and now one on gravel. Truly the GOAT.Quite the stacked podium.Defending champ Matej Mohorič (left) and Florian Vermeersch have a chat ahead of Sunday’s elite men’s race.Formula 1 star Valtteri Bottas was in Leuven to race in the men’s 35-39 age group race. His partner Tiff Cromwell, a veteran of the road and gravel scene, finished 36th in the elite women’s race a day earlier.Mathieu van der Poel was aggressive throughout the 182 km race, even trying to get away solo with more than 110 km still to race.He’d have to wait until closer to the finish to make a move that stuck, though.Not the sort of thing you see in road racing.Belgium had a staggering 65 riders on the startlist, in a field of 253. As you’d expect, there were plenty of blue jerseys in the moves that mattered all day.Van der Poel at the front, again.So. Many. Belgians. At one point, Van der Poel attacked and formed a group of 16 riders, seven of which were Belgian. When that group was whittled down to seven, four Belgians were there.The aforementioned 16-rider group.Just look at them all.Van der Poel off the front on his own, but not for long. This wouldn’t be a Pogačar-style 100 km solo effort.But once he was caught, Van der Poel kept being aggressive.It was around 45 km to go when Florian Vermeersch attacked, and Van der Poel followed.The pair got a good gap and powered back towards Leuven, leaving age group riders in their wake.With around 13 km to go, Van der Poel made another move, this time leaving Vermeersch behind …… and powering on to the finish alone.By the time he got back to Leuven, Van der Poel had opened a gap of more than a minute over Vermeersch.More than enough time to dismount and celebrate with his bike aloft.Van der Poel’s partner Roxanne Bertels was at the finish to congratulate the now-eight-time world champion.Van der Poel now has a gravel world title to go with his road world title and his six cyclocross titles.No surprise that Van der Poel was flanked by Belgians on the podium. Vermeersch held on for second while Quinten Hermans took bronze, more than 2:35 behind Vermeersch. Belgium ended up with eight riders in the top 11.
