Amidst the picturesque vistas of Veneto, Italy, gravel grinders from around the world clashed in a battle of skill, strategy, and sheer determination. With its winding trails and relentless elevation shifts, the challenging Veneto circuit tested the mettle of every competitor.
In the women’s elite race, Katarzyna Niewiadoma cemented her status as one of cycling’s paramount figures, showcasing a solo masterclass that left spectators in awe.
On the men’s side, Matej Mohorič‘s climbing artistry and tactical genius sealed a win in a race filled with unexpected turns and heart-pounding moments.
Katarzyna Niewiadoma secures women’s Gravel title with brilliant solo performance
The initial segment of the challenging 140 km Veneto route witnessed the formation of a leading group comprising roughly 25 riders. The Italian team led the way, closely pursued by the Dutch squad.
As they approached the final laps, this leading group consisted of 23 riders.
This group included four Italians, seven Dutch competitors such as Demi Vollering and Lorena Wiebes, and notable riders like Niewiadoma, Tiffany Cromwell from Australia, and Heidi Franz representing the USA.
The race intensified with Italy setting an unwavering pace, causing the group to fragment, with some riders falling behind.
The climax drew near, and the real showdown commenced. Niewiadoma, with 25 km remaining, surged ahead, creating a five-second gap between her and the chasing pair of Persico and Vollering.
Niewiadoma’s lead continued to grow, and as she approached the finish line, she held an impressive 40-second lead.
Niewiadoma’s victory was assured. She crossed the finish line with joy, securing her first individual rainbow jersey after an outstanding performance.
Kastelijn and Wiebes secured fourth and fifth places, respectively.
No TV, no party
It’s important to note that there was no live broadcast available for the women’s race.
On Saturday, the UCI issued a disappointing official statement explaining the lack of live broadcast coverage due to limited television production capabilities.
In stark contrast, Sunday’s men’s race received comprehensive 90-minute live coverage.
Matej Mohorič’s Climbing Mastery Earns Rainbow Glory
As the men’s race unfolded in Le Bandie, Italy, on a warm Sunday morning, the peloton tackled the 169 km circuit.
The early stages witnessed a stretched-out formation, with high intensity from the start.
An hour into the race, a leading group of approximately 60 riders, including major names such as Wout van Aert, Keegan Swenson, Mohorič, and Alejandro Valverde, asserted their dominance.
However, a twist awaited around the 60 km mark. A crash involving Wout Van Aert reshuffled the dynamics, resulting in a leading trio consisting of Mohorič, Swift, and Vermeersch.
Their consistent pace and collaborative effort secured a substantial lead over the chasing peloton, with nearly four minutes as the race approached its final 40 km.
Mohorič’s Dominant Display
Competing as part of the Bahrain Victorious road team, Mohorič demonstrated his prowess on both off-road terrain and challenging climbs.
Shaking off challengers Florian Vermeersch of Belgium and Connor Swift from Great Britain, the Slovenian champion made his move on the San Vigilio climb, setting a pace that left the competition trailing behind.
The last 18 km witnessed Mohorič’s sheer determination, extending his lead to 50 seconds over his closest rival and pushing his equipment to the limit, ultimately resulting in his victory and the rainbow jersey.
“The course today was exceptional. Despite feeling the burn in my legs, my spirit soared. Today’s ride reignited my childhood passion for mountain biking, albeit on gravel this time.”
Vermeersch secured the silver, while Swift claimed the bronze.
Among the chasers, Alejandro Valverde, the Spanish legend who has since retired from professional road racing, engaged in a battle with US gravel prodigy Keegan Swenson for the fourth position.
Valverde outpaced the youthful American in the final sprint, while Wout van Aert made a commendable comeback to secure a top-10 finish after early crashes and punctures.
Mohorič wasn’t the only Slovenian to taste success in Italy this weekend, following Tadej Pogačar’s brilliant victory in Il Lombardia on Saturday.
UCI Gravel World Championships: Women’s Race Results
- NIEWIADOMA Katarzyna (CANYON//SRAM Racing): 4:49:44
- PERSICO Silvia (UAE Team ADQ): + 0:33
- VOLLERING Demi (Team SD Worx): Same time
- KASTELIJN Yara (Fenix-Deceuninck): + 1:29
- WIEBES Lorena (Team SD Worx): + 1:33
- STEPHENS Lauren (EF Education-TIBCO-SVB): + 4:02
- BOILARD Simone (St Michel-Mavic-Auber 93): + 5:19
- FISHER-BLACK Niamh (Team SD Worx): + 5:23
- REALINI Gaia (Lidl-Trek): + 6:03
- CROMWELL Tiffany (CANYON//SRAM Racing): + 6:47
UCI Gravel World Championships: Men’s Race Results
- MOHORIC Matej (Bahrain Victorious): 4:53:56
- VERMEERSCH Florian (Lotto Dstny): + 0:43
- SWIFT Connor (INEOS Grenadiers): + 3:40
- VALVERDE Alejandro (Spain): + 6:48
- SWENSON Keegan (USA): Same time
- HERMANS Quinten (Alpecin-Deceuninck): + 7:24
- VELASCO Simone (Astana Qazaqstan Team): + 7:52
- VAN AERT Wout (Jumbo-Visma): + 8:24
- DE MARCHI Alessandro (Team Jayco-AlUla): + 9:08
- SCHÖNBERGER Sebastian (Human Powered Health): + 9:43
