This weekend sees the return of one of the fastest growing events in world cycling: the Gravel World Championships.
First introduced, to some controversy, in 2022 with an inaugural event in Veneto, these championships are becoming an increasingly talked about and prominent part of the cycling calendar. This year is set to see them take another step forward in terms of professionalisation, with much more forward planning allowed after the route in Leuven was announced well in advance, compared with the last-minute rushes in the last two years.
A hybrid between the messy chaos of off-road gravel racing that has been so popular in the USA, and the stricter structure that comes with UCI organisation, these World Championships are like nothing else on the calendar. Many of the biggest names in road cycling will be present, attracted by the prospect of challenging themselves in unfamiliar terrain that not even races like Strade Bianche or Paris-Roubaix can prepare them for.
No rain is forecasted for either Saturday’s women’s race or Sunday’s men’s, but this will still be a hugely demanding race set to test road stars in ways they rarely have been in the past.
Route
In a route echoing the European Gravel Championships from last year, the riders will set off from Halle, a small city in Flemish Brabant, and make their way east, passing through the wooded landscape of the Brabantse Wouden National Park. Eventually they will arrive at Leuven (home of the 2021 Road World Championships), where the men will complete two finishing circuits to complete their course of 181km, and the women one lap to finish at 134km.
In terms of terrain, there isn’t too much to note. In total there is only about 1,000 metres of elevation gain to navigate, with the route consisting of lots of small, short hills rather than much sustained climbing. Instead of gravity, the real challenge will be the road surfaces. About half of the race takes place on asphalt roads, with a testing mixture of gravel, cobblestones and unpaved roads making up the other half. Mechanicals and crashes will be a constant threat, and bike-handling of paramount importance for anyone wanting to win — plus a reasonable dose of luck.
Contenders
Lotte Kopecky
On the road, there is little else for serial Classics winner Lotte Kopecky left to conquer, and even on the track she has multiple world titles to her name. But when it comes to gravel racing, the Belgian is a complete novice,…