2024 GRAVEL WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP (BE)

[Barkintheeye]

Homepage - UCI Gravel World Championships 2024

WELCOME TO THE 2024 BOLERO UCI GRAVEL WORLD CHAMPIONSHIPS IN FLANDERS! On 5 and 6 October, the 2024 Bolero UCI Gravel World Championships will start in Halle and finish in Leuven. All riders will cross the Forests of Brabant from west to east. An unforgettable gravel high day for young and old...

gravelchampionshipsflanders.com

What's the verdict. Good course? An event that will draw international and top pro riders? A coming success? Some 134 - 180K for masters and elite on a seemingly quite tough course.

Personally I enjoyed the 2022 Gravel WC in Vicenza and the 2023 Gravel European Championships in Leuven. Both great events!

 

[ChewbaccaDefense]

Homepage - UCI Gravel World Championships 2024

WELCOME TO THE 2024 BOLERO UCI GRAVEL WORLD CHAMPIONSHIPS IN FLANDERS! On 5 and 6 October, the 2024 Bolero UCI Gravel World Championships will start in Halle and finish in Leuven. All riders will cross the Forests of Brabant from west to east. An unforgettable gravel high day for young and old...

gravelchampionshipsflanders.com

What's the verdict. Good course? An event that will draw international and top pro riders? A coming success? Some 134 - 180K for masters and elite on a seemingly quite tough course.

Personally I enjoyed the 2022 Gravel WC in Vicenza and the 2023 Gravel European Championships in Leuven. Both great events!

I hope someone posts a video of the course on youtube. From the pictures, it looks like more groomed gravel, which still has its challenges, but I hope there are some more chunky sections.

 

[Barkintheeye]

I hope someone posts a video of the course on youtube. From the pictures, it looks like more groomed gravel, which still has its challenges, but I hope there are some more chunky sections.

The UEC course last year could've been grueling with some rain. Now it was almost completely dry so even the technical sections were easy and fast. There will be some overlapping sections with this year's course at the end and the UEC course.

 

[Axel Hangleck]

My issue with a lot of gravel racing is it's basically 'road racing' but on gravel. I'd like to see more technical sections, and a bit of singletrack.......
Last year's Worlds course was far better than the year earlier - which was hardly gravel; and lots were on road bikes.....

 

[Barkintheeye]

My issue with a lot of gravel racing is it's basically 'road racing' but on gravel. I'd like to see more technical sections, and a bit of singletrack.......
Last year's Worlds course was far better than the year earlier - which was hardly gravel; and lots were on road bikes.....

That's a valid point and I would agree that the WC course in Vicenza 2022 was too easy, particularly for the pro riders. There were some patches of single trail but since the weather was hot and sunny it was all dry and quite easy to pass. Yet I liked the course and it's fun with quick gravel roads and high speeds and the start with the Monte Berico-climb was really nice.

The perfect gravel course to me is one with lots of smaller hills and many technical curves on. The course doesn't need to be narrow and I do not particularly like single trail. They easily get jammed if a few riders at the front slows down and there will often be complete stand-stills and running which isn't that fun.

Neither would I want a gravel race to turn into a mountain bike race where it's actually better to ride a MTB and where road tactics just won't make any difference. It's the combination of high speed, drafting AND technical sections that make gravel fun. Lots of hilly sections and curves will put less technical riders under pressure and long stretches of gravel roads where you go fast in groups taking turns are simply fun.

I didn't race the WC 2023 in Treviso but the course looked good at the television coverage. The UEC course in Leuven last year was tough despite being almost all dry. I also enjoyed the course in Limburg this spring which had it all.

 

[byrnec]

I'm racing this race and travelling from Dublin solo. I have issues with the logistics, the start and finish not being in the same location.

My question is, if it starts in Halle and finish in Leuven, how do I get to the Start Line if I’m staying in Leuven?

And where can I store my gear bag at the start line. The organizers are not making this easy.

There is public trains yes but it’s not practical after a race, covered in mud and in lycra, to get a train 60+ kms.

Any ideas?

 

[Barkintheeye]

I'm racing this race and travelling from Dublin solo. I have issues with the logistics, the start and finish not being in the same location.

My question is, if it starts in Halle and finish in Leuven, how do I get to the Start Line if I’m staying in Leuven?

And where can I store my gear bag at the start line. The organizers are not making this easy.

There is public trains yes but it’s not practical after a race, covered in mud and in lycra, to get a train 60+ kms.

Any ideas?

Agree, always complicated with start and finish at different places. It also makes support almost impossible so quite a disadvantage to riders from abroad. Traveling on your own will not make it easier unfortunately.

 

[Captain Sensible]

Last years 3rd place rider Connor Swift won the British Gravel champions race yesterday ,and for those old enough to remember Adrian Timmis (Paris Nice stage winner ,TDF finisher.) he won his age category .

 

[Wyndbrook]

Last years 3rd place rider Connor Swift won the British Gravel champions race yesterday ,and for those old enough to remember Adrian Timmis (Paris Nice stage winner ,TDF finisher.) he won his age category .

I've been lapped by Adrian a few times in the past, I'm too slow now to even make the start line.