Lauren Stephens repeats at Gravel Worlds while Svendsen tops Zavyalov in men’s race
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Simen Nordahl Svendsen (PAS Racing) won the pro men’s division while Lauren Stephens (Cynisca Cycling) defended the women’s title at Garmin Gravel Worlds presented by Lauf.
Svendsen, a two-time winner of The Rift in Iceland, came into the Nebraska race having finished eighth at SBT GRVL. The Norwegian took top honours with a finish time of 6:48:46, winning a two-rider sprint ahead of US racer Innokenty Zavyalov. Canadian Adam Roberge, a former Gravel Worlds champion, finished third less than a minute back. Peter Stetina soloed across the line in fourth, with Ethan Overson in fifth.
SBT GRVL winner Stephens broke free from a three-rider breakaway in the final mile and posted a time of 7:57:46, leaving Briton Karolina Migon in second place, 22 seconds back, and her PAS Racing teammate Emily Newsom rolling across the line in third. Crystal Anthony held on for fourth and Emma Grant finished fifth.
For the first time in the 15 years of the Lincoln, Nebraska event, the pro women had a dedicated start, taking the 150-mile course 10 minutes after the pro men and 25 minutes ahead.
“I enjoyed the women’s only start. You know, we got our own race, and it was definitely different than what I’m used to, but it was an exciting day,” Stephens said at the finish. “We didn’t get caught by one guy. So that’s pretty cool.”
To emphasize the women’s only race, organisers added $10,000 to the prize purse, providing $500 for each woman in the top 20 to arrive at the second race checkpoint ahead of riders in the general field. The total prize purse as $30,000 for pro men and women, but only the women shared in the extra $10,000.
Another first for the event was a successful live stream, provided on YouTube with support from Goodlife Brands for the entirety of the 150-mile race. Action was captured from cameras mounted on jeeps, with separate shots from the men’s lead group and the women’s peloton. Commentary was provided for both categories by Dede Griesbauer, Matt Lieto and the cast of the Groadio…