Gravel World Championship 2023: Niewiadoma and Mohoric are world champions

The 28-year-old Mohoric from Team Bahrain Victorious won 43 seconds ahead of Florian Vermeersch (Belgium). Britain's Connor Swift, who took bronze, was already more than three minutes behind. Niewiadoma won 33 seconds ahead of Silvia Persico from Italy and road runner-up Demi Vollering from the Netherlands.

>> The routes of the 2023 Gravel World Championship

Mohoric made his decisive attack on a climb 18 kilometres before the finish of the 169-kilometre course between Lago Le Bandie and Pieve de Soligo. There he shook off Vermeersch as his last opponent. The Belgian, no relation to the first gravel world champion from the previous year, Gianni Vermeersch, also suffered a defect shortly afterwards. But Mohoric didn't get through the race unscathed either; he crashed around three kilometres before the finish, but landed softly on a hay bale and was able to continue quickly.

"I'm super proud of this title," said Mohoric in a statement from his team. "It's a great feeling. I had one of the best days on the bike. I enjoyed the race so much, the course was wonderful. It was very technical with sharp climbs, which was perfect for me. My legs hurt, but I'm very happy."

Gravel World Championship: Voss keeps up with the best until the middle of the race

Three-time former world cross champion Wout van Aert, who started the race as one of the top favourites, finished eighth. Defects and a crash in the first half of the race had thrown him far back from the front of the field, meaning that victory was relatively quickly out of reach. The best non-road pro was Alejandro Valverde - who rode his last race exactly one year ago to the day - in fourth place. The Spaniard had already won two races in the UCI Gravel World Series during the course of the year.

German hope Paul Voß finished in 17th place. The third-placed rider at the European Championships in Belgium, which were held on 1 October, kept up with the best until the middle of the race, but then fell back and conceded almost 13 minutes to runner-up Vermeersch, whom he had left behind at the European Championships. Mohoric was not at the start.

Gravel World Championship 2023 - Results Elite Men

1. Matej Mohoric (Slovenia) 4:53:56
2. Florian Vermeersch (Belgium) +0:43
3. Connor Swift (Great Britain) +3:40
4. Alejandro Valverde (Spain) +6:48
5. Keegan Swenson (USA) +6:48
6. Quinten Herman (Belgium) +7:24
7. Simone Velasco (Italy) + 7:52
8. Wout van Aert (Belgium) +8:24
9. Alessandro de Marchi (Italy) +9:08
10. Sebastian Schönberger (Austria) +9:43

Niewiadoma wins title in her first gravel race

The new world champion Niewiadoma was one of the main contenders in the 141-kilometre women's race right from the start. Halfway through the race, the Polish rider had already formed a four-strong lead group with an attack, which grew again as the race progressed. With 20 kilometres to go, the Canyon//SRAM rider attacked again, broke away and kept all the chasers at bay until the finish.

"I have no words for it," said the 29-year-old at the finish line. "This is my first rainbow jersey. I am so happy." The title at the Gravel World Championships is also her first victory in a race for more than four years. "After such a long time without a win, it's something special to win again," she was quoted as saying in a statement from her team. What's more, it was her first start in a gravel race.

"I think I had the best equipment today," continued Niewiadoma. "I quickly learnt that it is so important in gravel to have the right equipment down to the last detail." She also received great support from her team. From Tiffany Cromwell, among others. The Australian was the first to cross the finish line at the European Championships, but remained outside the classification due to her nationality.

The European champion a week ago was Lorena Wiebes, who came second there. The Dutchwoman only finished fifth and, alongside Vollering, also had to line up behind her fellow countrywoman Yara Kastelijn.

The best German was Nele Laing in 25th place, a good 15 minutes behind Niewiadoma. The world champion from the first event, Pauline Ferrand-Prevot from France, had to withdraw due to coronavirus.

Gravel World Championship 2023 - Results Elite Women

1. Kasia Niewiadoma (Poland) 4:49:44
2. Silvia Persico (Italy) +0:33
3. Demi Vollering (Netherlands) +0:33
4. Yara Kastelijn (Netherlands) +1:29
5. Lorena Wiebes (Netherlands) +1:33
6. Lauren Stephens (USA) +4:02
7. Simone Boilard (Canada) +5:19
8. Niamh Fisher-Black (New Zealand) +5:23
9. Gaia Realini (Italy) +6:03
10. Tiffany Cromwell (Australia) +6:47

All world champions from the age groups

In addition to the elite, the world champions in the age groups were also crowned. These are the top 3 of all age groups.

Gravel World Championship 2023, Women 19-34

1. Wendy Oosterwoud (Netherlands)
2. Lisa Wörner (Netherlands)
3. Lea Lützen (Germany)

Gravel World Championship 2023, Women 35-39

1. Joyce Vanderbeken (Belgium)
2. Daiva Ragazinskiene (Lithuania)
3. Monika Wrona (Poland)

Gravel World Championship 2023, Women 40-44

1. Melanie Hessling (Germany)
2. Jannitta Brink (Netherlands)
3. Susanna Ylinen (Finland)

Gravel World Championship 2023, Women 45-49

1. Helen Jackson (Great Britain)
2. Petra Sweetman (Netherlands)
3. Lorena Zocca (Italy)

Gravel World Championship 2023, Women 50+

1. Patrizia Romanello (Italy)
2. Amy Phillips (USA)
3. Judith van Maanen (Netherlands)

Gravel World Championship 2023, Men 19-34

1. Pietro Dutto (Italy)
2. Matteo Cigala (Italy)
3. Julian Siemons (Belgium)

Gravel World Championship 2023, Men 35-39

1. Marcello Pavarin (Italy)
2. Efrem Bonelli (Italy)
3. André Resende (Portugal)

Gravel World Championship 2023, Men 40-44

1. Johnny Hoogerland (Netherlands)
2. Jean Mespoulede (France)
3. Henning Bommel (Germany)

Gravel World Championship 2023, Men 45-49

1. Samuel Sanchez Gonzales (Spain)
2. Guido Dracone (Italy)
3. Juan Sebastian Horrach (Spain)

Gravel World Championship 2023, Men 50-54

1. Kaare Aagaard (Denmark)
2. Ibon Zugasti Arrese (Spain)
3. Filippo Ceci (Italy)

Gravel World Championship 2023, men 55-59

1. Laurent Brochard (France)
2. Marco Dotta (Italy)
3. Victor Sheldon (USA)

Gravel World Championship 2023, Men 60-64

1. Juergen Eckmann (USA)
2. Matthias Ball (Germany)
3. Ralf Kropp (Germany)

Gravel World Championship 2023, Men 65+

1. Hermann Mandler (Austria)
2. Leon Deuss (Belgium)
3. Roy Mazzucco (Italy)