UCI Gravel World Championships 2023, October 7-8, Italy

[Lequack]

PS: Mostly copied the description from last year.
Didn't really know where I should post this, or if at all. There are MTB and cyclo-cross sections of the forum, but it doesn't belong there as well. In a way it's closer to road racing and something like Strade Bianche one day races.

So mostly I created this thread:

• because so many road cyclists are taking part in the world champs races
• and because it will be broadcast on Eruosport/GCN, so there will be actual coverage of the race (but only the men's race sadly)

So with that said, let's see if this year is any more exciting that last year.

Men’s favourites​

Defending champion Gianni Vermeersch is certainly not the favourite to repeat his title in 2023. Wout van Aert, Alejandro Valverde and Matej Mohorič are no doubt better set for some rainbows here, and they’ll be joined by a host of talented riders including Florian Vermeersch, Ivan García Cortína, Quinten Hermans, Connor Swift and over 200 others (full start lists below).
Valverde thinks he’s got it in the bag, but firstly it might not even be hilly enough for him, secondly anything can happen, thirdly hello it’s Wout van Aert, and fourthly Quinten Hermans could very well be on the top step of the podium on Sunday.
The biggest name in gravel, Keegan Swenson, is due to race (although curiously isn’t on the start list the UCI has released) and will be hoping to show just how strong he is. He’s dominated almost every race he’s done for the past few seasons and there was interest in him from WorldTour teams last winter, if she’s shows well against this field of strong road racers then a road contract will certainly be on the table. Whether he’d take it is another matter. He’s not the only gravel pro racing, with former Jumbo rider Alexey Vermuelen the best of the rest.

Women’s favourites​

The winner of this year’s Unbound Gravel Carolin Schiff and the leader of the Life Time Grand Prix gravel series Sofia Gomez Villafañe are the two headline names from the gravel world but it’ll be a tough. Even with reigning champion Pauline Ferrand-Prévot out with Covid, they’re up against Tour de France winner Demi Vollering, newly crowned European Champion Lorena Wiebes, Italian cyclocross racer and road puncheur Silvia Persico, Tour de France third place and overall machine Kasia Niewiadoma, her Canyon-SRAM teammate and gravel racer Tiffany Cromwell, the list goes on. It’s a stacked race.
The steep climb won’t favour Wiebes considering the talent around her, so it’d be fair to say the main favourites are Ferrand-Prévot, Vollering, Niewiadoma and Persico, and among those four you’d be brave to bet against Vollering, but you’d also be brave to bet against Ferrand-Prévot. For that reason, put your money on Persico to win it at home.

More info:

https://www.cyclist.co.uk/in-depth/uci-gravel-world-championships

Live video stream available on Eurosport/GCN (sadly only the men's race):

Packed women’s elite field for UCI Gravel World Championships but no sign of broadcast

GCN says on social media ‘sadly the women’s is not being broadcast so we cannot provide footage'

www.cyclingnews.com

Event site:

Gravel World Championship 2023 | Il secondo mondiale Gravel per professionisti

gravelworldchampionship2023.com

 

[Lequack]

Profiles at least are much better than last year's which were almost flat. There is a 1.7km @ 12% climb just before the finish line.

Women's race:

Men's race:

 

[Samu Cuenca]

Has anyone seen start lists for the master categories?
I'd like to know if Samu has any chance of becoming the 44-49y world champion.

 

[Valv.Piti]

My two favorites riders attending the race. That probably means I have to watch it?

 

[Lequack]

I have to watch it just for Valverde.

 

[Samu Cuenca]

Speaking of the old Spanish riders, Alberto Losada is also riding the elite race, while Joan Horrach and Dani Moreno are competing with the masters.

 

[tobydawq]

Last year the coverage and race development were both absolutely atrocious. It can only be an improvement this time round.

 

[tobydawq]

Speaking of the old Spanish riders, Alberto Losada is also riding the elite race, while Joan Horrach and Dani Moreno are competing with the masters.

How can Purito not be there if both Moreno and Losada are??

 

[Red Rick]

Last year much, much flatter no?

Would be fun if some WT pros + Valverde obliterate the meme gravel pros in the first hilly section already

 

[Lequack]

Meanwhile the women's race has started already. But as mentioned, for some reason no live coverage for them. In my opinion they didn't want it to cross with Lombardia coverage, which is also today, and also in Italy. But who knows.

https://twitter.com/x/status/1710594693212295250

View: https://twitter.com/beatcyclingclub/status/1710594693212295250

 

[Lequack]

UCI statement on the UCI Gravel World Championships (women's live coverage)​

UCI statement on the UCI Gravel World Championships

www.uci.org

L’Union Cycliste Internationale (UCI) has been informed by the Local Organising Committee of the 2023 UCI Gravel World Championships in Veneto (Italy) that today's Women Elite race will not be broadcasted live due to no TV production.

The UCI regrets this decision and invites all fans to follow the race live on social media. Fans will also be able to follow the race via the riders' lap times by clicking here. A summary of the race will be posted online as soon as possible, and numerous highlights of the competition will be broadcasted during the Men Elite race on Sunday.

As of the next edition of the UCI Gravel World Championships, UCI will make it mandatory for event organisers to provide TV production for both the Men Elite and the Women Elite races.

 

[Berniece]

Looking forward to Valverde winning it, and WVA finishing 2nd again

 

[meat puppet]

Would be fun if some WT pros + Valverde obliterate the meme gravel pros in the first hilly section already

Indeed. The excuses will of course be plenty if that happens.

This is a tough race to call apart from the obvious: WVA to finish second.

 

[Samu Cuenca]

Here is the full start list for all categories:

https://egs-eventi.s3.amazonaws.com/Evodata/GravelWorldChampionships2023/pdf/startlist.pdf

 

[ice&fire]

How can Purito not be there if both Moreno and Losada are??

Purito is a true bon vivant who prefers il dolce far niente

 

[Lequack]

Also what is Nibali doing nowadays? He could've made an appearance, it's Italy after all.

 

[Ilmaestro99]

Also what is Nibali doing nowadays? He could've made an appearance, it's Italy after all.

Nibali doesn't do mickey mouse events

 

[Samu Cuenca]

Nibali doesn't do mickey mouse events

Nibali ends season with victory at Taiwan KOM Challenge - Gallery | Cyclingnews.com

'Now it's finally time for some holidays' says Bahrain-Merida leader

www.cyclingnews.com

 

[Samu Cuenca]

There's live timing for today's events:

ENDU live

Laurent Brochard is apparently part of a 5 man lead group in the 55-59y category.

 

[Ilmaestro99]

Nibali ends season with victory at Taiwan KOM Challenge - Gallery | Cyclingnews.com

'Now it's finally time for some holidays' says Bahrain-Merida leader

www.cyclingnews.com

What are you talking about.? Taiwan KOM challenge is highly prestigous and it goes 3300m uphill! Much better than tomorrow's Sunday coffee ride

 

[Samu Cuenca]

What are you talking about.? Taiwan KOM challenge is highly prestigous and it goes 3300m uphill! Much better than tomorrow's Sunday coffee ride

I agree. Hindley only finished second when he rode it, and almost-3-years-into-retirement Cadel Evans lost by over 14 minutes to Nibali.

 

[Ilmaestro99]

I agree. Hindley only finished second when he rode it, and almost-3-years-into-retirement Cadel Evans lost by over 14 minutes to Nibali.

I heard a lot of rumours that cadel evens rode very hard for his first 3 years of retirement to maintain peak form for events like Taiwan kom challenge. Don't know how true they are though.

Anyway he couldn't cope with the superior racing intelligence of Nibali, he explained his tactical genius after the finish: "I waited until the final 10 kilometres to attack when I saw the other riders tired and suffering.' Again vincenzo masterclass that day

 

[tobydawq]

I heard a lot of rumours that cadel evens rode very hard for his first 3 years of retirement to maintain peak form for events like Taiwan kom challenge. Don't know how true they are though.

Anyway he couldn't cope with the superior racing intelligence of Nibali, he explained his tactical genius after the finish: "I waited until the final 10 kilometres to attack when I saw the other riders tired and suffering.' Again vincenzo masterclass that day

Where did you hear that rumour Ilmastro98?

 

[SHAD0W93]

Valverde to win the sprint over WVA and Mohoric.

 

[QueenStagiaire]

There's live timing for today's events:

ENDU live

Laurent Brochard is apparently part of a 5 man lead group in the 55-59y category.

Brochard now leads by over three minutes in his category.