Pulling on a world champion’s jersey is the aim of every professional cyclist and the relatively new UCI Gravel World Championships offers exactly that opportunity. But unlike many other cycling disciplines, the gravel worlds also allow age group riders to compete on the same course. This is somewhat of a double-edged sword as the age group racers are generally on course at the same time as the Elites and this year, perhaps due to the course design, it caused some problems. The racing at this year’s event was super exciting to watch and some of the biggest names in cycling signed up to race, but was the balance quite right between elites and age group racers?
Up until now, it had been easy for people to dismiss the UCI Gravel World Championships as a niche event, but the five-deep crowds that lined the course and the list of top riders has surely proved otherwise. Competitive gravel under the UCI banner is continuining to trend and we don’t see an end in sight.
Riders from all disciplines and all levels of cycling now know that wearing their nation’s jersey while riding in the World Gravel Championship is a real possibility. Predictably, that’s why the calendar of qualifier events around the world boomed and this year’s registrations for the championships doubled.
The lure of qualifying is undeniable - sharing the same course as WorldTour and gravel pros, just minutes behind the sport’s biggest names. Not yet au fait with how to get there yourself if you’re not elite and selected by your nation? Compete in one of the 25 - 30 qualifiers around the world, where a top-25% finish in your age group unlocks a spot at the World Championship. Most of the racers who turn up in national kit are self-supported amateurs, though you'll spot a few brand ambassadors and influencers in the mix.
But it’s this very attraction to race like a pro that brings up some of the event’s more complicated dynamics, opening up questions about the fairness of the age group races intermingling and the recurrent topic of men infiltrating the women’s racing, especially when fast men from older age groups catch up to women’s groups (including the elites), throwing off race dynamics.
So, what was it like for the riders out there?
Maddy Nutt (finished 72nd, Elite) “I’ve raced all three UCI Gravel World Championships, and while they’re gaining popularity, there are still things that need fixing: equal distances for men and women like you have at the qualifiers, a minimum percentage of the course that has to be off-road and better management of the start grids and age groups. The interference from men’s age groups affected much of the elite women’s race again this year. Around 100km in, the 50-54 age group caught us and one woman jumped on a man’s wheel, causing the rest to respond. I chased her down and told her it wasn’t fair. The finish line photos ended up showing a jumble of men and women all mixed together. It highlights how messy things can get. Gravel racing is really great, but it still has some things to figure out.”
Liv Pijpers, (finished 9th, AG19-34) “It was an emotional moment I never expected, especially as a trans athlete. To be honest, I hadn’t considered qualifying, so putting on the jersey made me tear up. I come from a mountain biking background, but I’ve really fallen in love with gravel in the past few years and dream of doing welcoming events like the LifeTime Grand Prix. My dad came to the start with me, bringing things full circle from my mountain bike days, and this kept me grounded amongst the sea of national jerseys. The start, though, was chaotic—elites got called up by UCI points, but for us age groupers, it was elbows out, with the fastest to the line getting the front row. I think they need a better system for age group starts. The crowds were incredible, and hearing “Go Belgium, go!” gave me goosebumps as we rode through Leuven.”
Jonny Hoogerland, (finished 26th, Elite) “That was non-stop efforts for five hours. I won the 40–44 age group last year, but figured I should race elite this year for the challenge. I said before the race that I’d be very happy to finish top 15–20, so I’m fairly pleased. It was wild; the riders coming from the road were always going to be incredibly strong and that’s what happened.”
Claudia Krenn, (finished 11th, AG35–39) “It’s great to race age group - I have an elite licence, but I work full-time, so recovery isn’t the same. I was really aware that some older men started ahead of us, and I was worried they’d slow down to help women they knew. It happens in other races and it’s triggering. The course was so flat, so I knew bunch riding would be essential, but it forces you to ride at someone else’s pace. That said, watching the men’s race was a highlight - it’s what I’m mainly here for - good vibes.”
Sarah (failed to qualify) and Keith Binns (finished 82nd, AG60–64) Qualifier: Ruffin, Wales Keith: “It's the first time I’ve qualified, so if I can finish in the top half, I’ll be happy”. Sarah: “What is it that makes me want to do it? It feels like one last thing to do. It would certainly be nice to pull on an Irish jersey. I’ll have to find a qualifying race that suits me next year.”
Graham Baxter, (DNF, AG55–59) Qualifier: Kenya – finished first in age group/Sea Otter finished second in age group. “I was fortunate to be in the priority start box, but it was still carnage on the course with all the age groups. I’ve got a history of bike racing and want to have a fair race in my age category – everyone wants that. The first lap around Halle felt like a cyclocross race, with the splits starting mainly because we were overtaking slower riders from the 50-54 age group who only started two minutes before us and had around 250 riders in it. When the group goes up the road and you’re stuck behind riders from the previous category, it’s incredibly frustrating- That’s not well-planned. Why not start earlier and space out the categories with longer gaps? I understand it’s a business but the racing experience needs to be as fair as possible.”