2025 UCI Gravel World Championships

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The reality is that European gravel races, and many American ones too, favor the same sort of rider that does well in moderate to difficult, though not necessarily technical, road classics. The best riders with these attributes are in the road peloton. Bring them to Unbound and they would win too. I don't think the technical skills of an XC specialist overcome the better endurance of a road rider unless the course is essentially a MTB track.

Don't get me wrong: I love gravel and challenging tracks. I'll be riding some rocky logging roads today. But that is not where big time gravel racing is heading
They're 0'fer so far, but okay. And there are roads in Unbound that are significantly harder than anything they rode today. Every year, someboty makes the claim you make, and every year, the ProTour guys go home empty. It's the distinction between could and would, with the former being the operative word to use.

And I disagree about big time gravel racing moving more toward courses like the WC. I see no evidence of that, here, in Traka, in The Rift, and in many races that are far harder than the WC's. The UCI sees the formula as one where you attract people who are fans of the sport, not necessarily participants. Get the big names to get the crowds, but that doesn't have anything to do with what is happening in the US, and by far, the US gravel racing scene is the strongest, hardest, and most prestegious. The fans here, and therefore the people bringing money that allows US gravel pros to exist, are participants in events, and I don't hear any people around me at races, begging for easier courses.

I'd be happy if someone like Pidcock showed up next year in Emporia. I'd get an autograph. Of any of the pros (outside of Pogacar, who will win just about anything as long as his equipment holds...which can be a challenge in Emporia), I think he would have the best shot. That part of Kansas isn't flat, contrary to popular belief. It's short grinding climb after grinding short grinding climb. Last year, my wife's total climb for the 200 was just over 12,000' (3700 meters), so it was death by 1000 cuts, and takes a toll on the legs. Also, if you've never ridden those roads, you really cannot appreciate what they actually are. Next year is the south course, which is slightly less climbing, but much more chunky roads. (I get to race it. Did my volunteer hours, so I get an automatic spot) If it rains...well, then peanut butter mud kills everyone, unless you're smart enough to get off early, and just walk however many miles you have to. Also, pack dynamics are far different, and if you listen to the guys who ride the US scene, it's one of the things the ProTour guys get wrong, because it is ostensibly like a road race, but much trickier, because if you don't have a sense of what is happening, you're going to slash a tire or demolish a wheel. You also have to be used to hydrating and getting nutrition in places where taking a drink from a bottle, or tearing open a gel is more difficult that it would once appear. Lose a bottle? You're screwed, because it's hot, and there are guys who will stay more hydrated than you, and perform better because of that. Tear off the gel top with your finger and squeeze just as your tire hits a rut, and you're picking youself up off the ground. It's a different discipline, where the UCI WC course, isn't, which is why the guy who won had UAE gloves.

(EDIT: Are the ProTour guys more physiologically talented? Yes, by a mile in most cases, though I think Kegan and Beers in particular, would be doing well on a ProTour team. The thing that is most interesting to me about races like Unbound is that physiological talent isn't everything. There is much more to it than that.)
 
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(EDIT: Are the ProTour guys more physiologically talented? Yes, by a mile in most cases, though I think Keegan and Beers in particular, would be doing well on a ProTour team. The thing that is most interesting to me about races like Unbound is that physiological talent isn't everything. There is much more to it than that.)
Off-road racing shouldn't just be about being physiologically talented - leave that for the Road. Skills, equipment choice, luck, etc should always be a factor.........and that is why I dislike the European version of Gravel........WT Pros turning up and dominating isn't what I want to see every year. I want to see them struggling when it gets too rough/ tough.......

Similar to when MvdP has turned up on the MTB, and has struggled - and he's known as a decently skilled rider........
 
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Off-road racing shouldn't just be about being physiologically talented - leave that for the Road. Skills, equipment choice, luck, etc should always be a factor.........and that is why I dislike the European version of Gravel........WT Pros turning up and dominating isn't what I want to see every year. I want to see them struggling when it gets too rough/ tough.......

Similar to when MvdP has turned up on the MTB, and has struggled - and he's known as a decently skilled rider........
I've ridden gravel of nearly all types and raced many of them. Even the chunkiest stuff doesn't require a whole lot of skill. Avoiding mechanicals is the biggest challenge that puts newcomers to the sport are at the biggest disadvantage, but the biggest factors in this regard are 1) equipment choice and 2) line choice. The second requires a bit of practice, though not a whole lot, and more importantly, not following pack-mates blindly.

I'm sure if there was an influx of pro tour riders into Unbound, many would make poor equipment decisions (or be restricted in their choice by bike brand affiliations), but I'd still expect it to be a race for the physiologically advantaged, as it has always been. The best way to choose your own lines is to be alone or in front, which again requires the motor to so.

In the modern era of Unbound, we have had as winners: 4 ex-WT roadies; Colin Strickland and Keegan Swenson, both with WorldTour power and rumours of WT contracts offered; a beach racer; and Cam Jones, who I'm not sure how to characterize. If you reject my characterization of Lachlan Morton as ex-WT, look at who finished second that year: Chad Haga, a roadie and TT specialist. The top 10 in 2025 featured 7 riders whose primary racing background was on the road.

There are more technically challenging races than Unbound, of course. But if a bunch of World Tour races, including top guys taking it seriously, rolled up to any of the non-MTB Lifetime races, I'd expect the winner to come from that group. People argue that the long duration of some gravel races is a characteristic element of that type of racing, but 1) I think that benefits road pros, especially classics specialists, and 2) There really aren't that many major gravel races that exceed 200-220 km.

I suppose it's all academic because I don't expect to see any gravel race, UCI worlds aside, with a major contingent of WT/PT pros on the startlist unless gravel grows enormously as an industry and a competitive sport, and I don't get the impression that's the case. Heck, even road racing is showing signs of making a comeback in the USA, the alleged heartland of gravel.
 
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I suppose it's all academic because I don't expect to see any gravel race, UCI worlds aside, with a major contingent of WT/PT pros on the startlist ...
And not even at the World Championships next year either I suspect. I had seen something about Perth, and assumed it was in Scotland.

So presumably almost no European based road pros, the gravel specialists in the US might not feel much more inclined to go to Australia than they were to come to Europe: who will be competing?
 
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And not even at the World Championships next year either I suspect. I had seen something about Perth, and assumed it was in Scotland.

So presumably almost no European based road pros, the gravel specialists in the US might not feel much more inclined to go to Australia than they were to come to Europe: who will be competing?
Yes, you're right. I'm sure a few will play the odds and race for a once-in-a-blue moon chance at a rainbow jersey against reduced competition, but you'd expect both pro and amateur participation to be much reduced.
 
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I've ridden gravel of nearly all types and raced many of them. Even the chunkiest stuff doesn't require a whole lot of skill. Avoiding mechanicals is the biggest challenge that puts newcomers to the sport are at the biggest disadvantage, but the biggest factors in this regard are 1) equipment choice and 2) line choice. The second requires a bit of practice, though not a whole lot, and more importantly, not following pack-mates blindly.

I'm sure if there was an influx of pro tour riders into Unbound, many would make poor equipment decisions (or be restricted in their choice by bike brand affiliations), but I'd still expect it to be a race for the physiologically advantaged, as it has always been. The best way to choose your own lines is to be alone or in front, which again requires the motor to so.

In the modern era of Unbound, we have had as winners: 4 ex-WT roadies; Colin Strickland and Keegan Swenson, both with WorldTour power and rumours of WT contracts offered; a beach racer; and Cam Jones, who I'm not sure how to characterize. If you reject my characterization of Lachlan Morton as ex-WT, look at who finished second that year: Chad Haga, a roadie and TT specialist. The top 10 in 2025 featured 7 riders whose primary racing background was on the road.

There are more technically challenging races than Unbound, of course. But if a bunch of World Tour races, including top guys taking it seriously, rolled up to any of the non-MTB Lifetime races, I'd expect the winner to come from that group. People argue that the long duration of some gravel races is a characteristic element of that type of racing, but 1) I think that benefits road pros, especially classics specialists, and 2) There really aren't that many major gravel races that exceed 200-220 km.

I suppose it's all academic because I don't expect to see any gravel race, UCI worlds aside, with a major contingent of WT/PT pros on the startlist unless gravel grows enormously as an industry and a competitive sport, and I don't get the impression that's the case. Heck, even road racing is showing signs of making a comeback in the USA, the alleged heartland of gravel.
I don't agree with some of this, but what I will agree to is that if Quinn Simmons shows up at Big Sugar (He jokingly said of Il Lombardia was his last warm-up for Big Sugar), he's going to pummel that field.
 
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I don't agree with some of this, but what I will agree to is that if Quinn Simmons shows up at Big Sugar (He jokingly said of Il Lombardia was his last warm-up for Big Sugar), he's going to pummel that field.
He could succumb to mechanicals, just like anyone else, but if Colby Simmons was able to get on the podium last year, big brother should have an even better chance. The extra wrinkle with Big Sugar is that many of the Lifetime competitors will be focussing on their battle for the overall and may let some outside competitors up the road.
 
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He could succumb to mechanicals, just like anyone else, but if Colby Simmons was able to get on the podium last year, big brother should have an even better chance. The extra wrinkle with Big Sugar is that many of the Lifetime competitors will be focussing on their battle for the overall and may let some outside competitors up the road.
Alexi and Kegan were talking about that exact thing. But in all honesty, barring mechanical, Quinn is a beast right now, and I get the impression he has a little bit of a grudge against US based riders. I won't opine more, because it veers into topics we aren't supposed to discuss. Not that I support him in that battle, but in all honesty, I also just appreciate how strong he is, and his attacking style, even if we wouldn't likely see things the same way in other areas of society. And i do believe that at the level he is currently riding, he will smash everyone.
 
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And not even at the World Championships next year either I suspect. I had seen something about Perth, and assumed it was in Scotland.

So presumably almost no European based road pros, the gravel specialists in the US might not feel much more inclined to go to Australia than they were to come to Europe: who will be competing?


Yes its Perth Australia, and arguably that's not true either really, its just Perth is the nearest major city anyones heard of, its actually in a place called Nannup (population of 587 according to wikipedia) in South Western Australia about 170 odd miles south of Perth.

So good luck finding, let alone booking accommodation for that one 😀

I suspect alot of the wt roadies will be skipping it.
 
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Yes its Perth Australia, and arguably that's not true either really, its just Perth is the nearest major city anyones heard of, its actually in a place called Nannup (population of 587 according to wikipedia) in South Western Australia about 170 odd miles south of Perth.

So good luck finding, let alone booking accommodation for that one 😀

I suspect alot of the wt roadies will be skipping it.
Sure looks like they are trying for a home win!
 
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Yes its Perth Australia, and arguably that's not true either really, its just Perth is the nearest major city anyones heard of, its actually in a place called Nannup (population of 587 according to wikipedia) in South Western Australia about 170 odd miles south of Perth.

So good luck finding, let alone booking accommodation for that one 😀

I suspect alot of the wt roadies will be skipping it.
From a little investigation, it looks like the course could include some sketchy roads, and the terrain looks very rolling, so elevation death by 1000 cuts kind of course, maybe?

Also, I trust Australians to put some hard *** in their courses.
 
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There are a couple of full race videos from different age groups at the Gravel WC this year in Limburg up on YouTube.

A couple of quick observations:
  1. Yes quite a non-technical course, still some nasty stuff might get you when in a large group
  2. Way too easy start which allowed big groups to hold together for quite a long time (too long)
  3. Very dry so mostly slick tires like G-One RS
  4. Almost no one on MTB tires, most look like 40-45 mm
  5. With a little bit of rain the course would have been significantly more difficult, still side knobs were probably a good thing
  6. Hardest thing for the (fast) age groupers is as always to pass slower riders from other age groups, that one is what gets you dropped
Last year’s course in Leuven was fun but there were some stretches at this course that looked nice.

Perth (AUS) nope. That’s a long journey from home

Oh and I forgot… overly long white socks is a THING in gravel racing nowadays. You know where you heard it first.
 
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Alexi and Kegan were talking about that exact thing. But in all honesty, barring mechanical, Quinn is a beast right now, and I get the impression he has a little bit of a grudge against US based riders. I won't opine more, because it veers into topics we aren't supposed to discuss. Not that I support him in that battle, but in all honesty, I also just appreciate how strong he is, and his attacking style, even if we wouldn't likely see things the same way in other areas of society. And i do believe that at the level he is currently riding, he will smash everyone.
If you look at top 20 from Gravel worlds you see names that have raced in the US, and for multitude of reasons, didn't shoot fish in American barrel, they didn't come to US and get doormatted but the predictions that Euro guys would show up an destroy everyone didn't happen either.
 
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If you look at top 20 from Gravel worlds you see names that have raced in the US, and for multitude of reasons, didn't shoot fish in American barrel, they didn't come to US and get doormatted but the predictions that Euro guys would show up an destroy everyone didn't happen either.
I don't think anyone has suggested that middling cyclocrossers, long retired World Tour racers or continental level road riders (Soete, van Avermaet, Bak Klaris -- the only Euros in the top 20 to have done much gravel racing stateside) to dominate American races just by showing up.

The only real data point we have for top guys is Mohoric having a bad day with mechanicals at Unbound a few years ago. It can happen, but if 20 WT riders showed up to that race, or Mid South, Big Sugar, etc., I'd be willing to bet pretty heavily on at least half of the top 10 coming from that group.
 
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I don't think anyone has suggested that middling cyclocrossers, long retired World Tour racers or continental level road riders (Soete, van Avermaet, Bak Klaris -- the only Euros in the top 20 to have done much gravel racing stateside) to dominate American races just by showing up.

The only real data point we have for top guys is Mohoric having a bad day with mechanicals at Unbound a few years ago. It can happen, but if 20 WT riders showed up to that race, or Mid South, Big Sugar, etc., I'd be willing to bet pretty heavily on at least half of the top 10 coming from that group.
I don't want to forgt Tim Declercq, as he's the kind of rider I love, he showed up at Unbound this year, and he's a freaking beast. Yes, it is his last ProTour season, but I am hoping he will go the van Avermaet route. He had the Mohoric experience, though. I think a lot of ProTour guys would, unless they trained specifically for it, because I just don't think people appreciate how much equipment and race tactics and skills, matter. But, I think your last sentence is more than fair.
 
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