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While the road pros were racing over the cobblestones at Paris-Roubaix, gravel pros and amateur athletes met in Velden am Wörthersee for the qualifying race for the 2024 Gravel World Championships. TOUR editor Sandra Schuberth was also at the start.
The event was excellently organised. All the important information was regularly sent in advance by email and even by text message with links to the information. On Saturday evening, I received an email explaining the women's starting order in detail. We were not allowed into the starting block until the elite men had started. There was one assembly point for the elite riders and one for all age groups. This ensured that the elite could be at the front.
The route was well marked and cordoned off. Nevertheless, you should always pay attention, especially when the track changes from gravel to road. A few metres ahead of me, a cyclist shot across the track on a road, ignoring the road closure. There was water, iso and cola at the refreshment points. I also saw pieces of banana. I didn't see any gels, but I wasn't looking for them either.
The day before the race: Track check and registration
I arrived on Friday evening with a group from Stuttgart. We cooked and ate together before everyone went to bed. On Saturday morning, we started with a relaxed breakfast together and then got on our bikes to take a look at the route. In the Audsaid podcast, Paul Voß, who would later take second place on the elite podium, spoke to Johnny Hoogerland. It was all about a long and steep climb. Hoogerland is not only a former road pro, but also the reigning Gravel and Gran Fondo World Champion in his age group.
My travelling group is not very impressed by the steep climb, as most of us are used to completely different climbs from gravel ultracycling races. The gravel sections are also easy compared to ultracycling events such as the Seven Serpents.
So the gravel doesn't bother me. But I have great respect for riding in a group and for the descents, even if most of them are on tarmac. The narrowness of the route also aroused my worst fears.
After our joint tour of the route, we headed for the supermarket and bought some food for lunch.
Then we walk to the registration desk and take a tour of the Expo site. All the names can be found on a large poster. We have to laugh when we find ourselves taking photos of our own names. Here is the proof:
In the evening we prepare the bikes. We change the crank on one bike so that we can use a larger chainring. The air pressure is checked, chains are waxed and the start numbers are attached to the bike - one to the seat post, one to the handlebars - a third will be attached to the jersey later.
Ready to go
The Merida Silex 10K I have with Schwalbe G-One RS 40 millimetre wide tyres and a Fizik Tempo Aliante saddle. The Keego bottle with Fidlock mount turned out to be the right choice during the race - more on this later. In my Evoc-Hydro Pro hydration waistcoat (e.g. available hereI have 1.5 litres of water with carbohydrates. My gels are stowed in the front compartments. Rubber toy can be stored in the jersey pocket.
The race
The elite men start their race at 9 o'clock sharp. The age group men have lined up further back in their respective starting blocks. But they still have to wait, after the elite men it's the women's turn. The elite are at the front, then the age groups. The starting shot is fired at 9:05. The next starting blocks start at five-minute intervals until everyone is on the course.
Most of them have to complete three laps, which means three times 48.8 kilometres and three times 560 metres in altitude. Women over 50 and men over 60 finish after two laps.
During my race, which lasted 5 hours and 39 minutes, I consumed around 360 grams of carbohydrates and drank 2.5 litres:
- 2 Maurten Drink Mix 320
- 4 MNSTRY gels
- 150 grammes Katjes gummy bears
- 1 piece of banana
The first round
As always, everything has to sort itself out at the start. The women's field quickly spreads out. I breathe a sigh of relief, the feared huge field doesn't materialise for the time being. Okay, I could have guessed that in advance, as the start was separate from the men. The first age group men come from behind on the steep climb. Now it's getting tight on the road. Not surprisingly, the first riders soon have to dismount. Now I have to push instead of pedalling. Later on lap 1, I keep trying to get into groups that are overtaking me and stay on them. Unfortunately it doesn't work, I'm just wasting energy unnecessarily. At some point I realise and ride at my own pace. It's tough. A few kilometres before the first lap is over, there is a climb and the second feed station at the top. I ride past towards the finish. I still have two laps to go. I needed 01:47:14 for the first lap.
The second round
On the second lap, I can ride together with others from time to time. But that doesn't work so well. Here it was more a case of everyone riding for themselves. I soon realised this and continued to ride mostly alone. On the first descent, I was amazed to see countless bottles lying around. The bumpy tarmac has apparently catapulted many riders' bottles out of their holders. My bottle is stuck. Later on the lap, a glance at my Garmin Edge 1040, I don't pedal as many watts as I thought I could. Especially on the flat sections - and there were a lot of them - I found it difficult. Too bad. "Don't think about it, Sandra, keep going" I say to myself. At the end of the second lap, I top up my water bottle. I still have a good 500 millilitres for lap three. And there's another refreshment point if I need more.
My feeling is not deceptive, the second lap was slower than the first: 01:53:18. But I don't see that during the race, I will only see it later in the results list.
Third and final round
On the last lap I continue as before. Pedalling, pedalling, pedalling. Few watts but the main thing is to make progress. For the most part, I cycle alone. There are a few riders in front and behind me. On a short climb, I want to get out of the saddle and the inner part of my quadriceps muscle starts to cramp. "That too!" I think. On my next attempt, the same thing happens on the other side. From now on, I try to stay in the saddle. Just no real cramp, please! I need 1:58:20 for lap 3.
The result
The total time was 5 hours 39 minutes and 8 seconds. I came fourth in my age group. Out of eight. That means I didn't qualify for the World Championships. I'm disappointed that it didn't go as I had imagined. On the way back we make plans about which race we can still do. It remains exciting.
My crew greet me at the finish line. We chat about the race and eat ice cream. Then we ride our bikes to our accommodation, take a shower and quickly head back to the finish line and the stage to watch the winners being honoured.
Conclusion
Yesterday I was disappointed, today I see my performance realistically. A quote from Yoda fits very well here: "you have a lot to learn". My racing experience is limited to ultra-cycling events and cyclocross races. I have hardly any experience in such formats and I've hardly ridden in groups since the coronavirus pandemic. No wonder there are deficits there. My catering went well. I was constantly eating carbohydrates - more than ever before. My plan for the next race is to practise riding in a group, also to be able to better assess the watts with and without slipstreaming.
Results from the Wörthersee Gravel
Elite women
Only four seconds separated the first-placed Giada Borghesi (04:28:36.3) and Geerike Schreurs (04:28:40.4). The reigning gravel world champion Carolin Schiff (04:29:22.4) crossed the finish line a little later.
Elite men
In the men's race, Sebastian Schönberger was the first to cross the finish line after 04:00:23.3, followed by Paul Voß (04:00:50.5), closely followed by Daan Soete (04:00:52.5).
Age groups
In the age groups, the top 25% of finishers qualified for the Gravel World Championships, which will be held on 5 and 6 October in Halle-Leuven, Belgium.
Sandra Schuberth
Editor
