UEC Gravel European Championships: Schmidt defends his Gravel European title

The Belgian town of Houffalize hosted the European Gravel Championships and recorded a record number of participants. 1,810 riders from 32 nations competed in the various categories. The event highlights the growing interest in gravel cycling in Europe.

Dominance at the Gravel European Championships

Mads Würtz Schmidt dominated the men’s race at the European Gravel Championships from the outset. After a fiercely contested first half of the race, the Dane upped the pace in the second half and pulled away from his pursuers. Schmidt crossed the finish line alone, winning in a time of 4h09'57''. The victory marks his second consecutive European Championship title. He had previously triumphed in Avezzano in 2025.

Wout Alleman secured the silver medal, finishing 1'09'' behind Schmidt. The Belgian crossed the finish line in 4h11'06''. His compatriot Niels Vandeputte completed the podium, finishing 3'43'' behind the winner.

A thrilling three-way battle in the women’s event

The women’s race unfolded in a completely different way to the men’s. Femke Markus, Shirin van Anrooij and Axelle Dubau-Prévot rode together at the front for most of the race. The three riders were locked in a close three-way battle for the European title.

The race was decided in a sprint. Markus narrowly prevailed and won in 4h57'27''. Van Anrooij followed just two seconds later in second place. Dubau-Prévot crossed the line eight seconds after the winner to take bronze. The minimal gap between the three medallists highlights the competitiveness of the women’s field.

Growth in the Gravel European Championships

Enrico Della Casa, President of the Union Européenne de Cyclisme, described the championships as a great success. The fact that over 1,800 riders took part in the European Gravel Championships confirms the growth of gravel cycling. The discipline is attracting an ever-growing community.

Della Casa thanked the town of Houffalize for hosting the event and for its support. He highlighted the collaboration with partner Golazo, which has already organised several UEC events. The championship demonstrates the potential of gravel cycling for the future.