Gravel cycling is booming. This is not only met with joy. After all, what for a long time seemed to be a discipline away from road conventions, with its own stars and relaxed behaviour, has increasingly become the focus of the absolute top riders. And they ride on the road for a living. The UCI has recognised that the further development of road cycling is of the utmost commercial importance. The athletes know that they can break new ground on this terrain - especially commercially. So they venture into the competitions.
Mohoric keeps Vermeersch at a distance
This is only the second time that the UCI has organised a Gravel World Championship in 2023. Once again, the Italian region of Veneto was the host, although the race was moved from Vicenza to the Prosecco hills at short notice. There, worlds collided once again: World Tour road pros raced against gravel specialists. And in the end, the realisation remained once again: when the going gets tough, the road pros come out on top. In the men's race, it was the Slovenian Matej Mohoric who kept his pursuer Florian Vermeersch from Belgium at bay after a tough battle.
Niewiadoma surprises in the women's competition
In the women's event, Poland's Kasia Niewiadoma surprised not only with her last-minute participation, but also with a successful attack on gold. She kept Silvia Persico from Italy and Demi Vollering from the Netherlands at bay. For the Polish rider, who always performs at the top level, it was her first victory since 2019, and for her bike supplier, the race was an opportunity to showcase new equipment. The world champion's bike had never been seen before. It was a pity, however, that the Gravel World Championships were so exciting. There were no live images of the women's race on television or online. A temporary setback in the development of cycling.
