Get ready for an exclusive look into the world of gravel cycling! We're diving into the UCI Gravel World Championships, an event that, despite its timing challenges, delivered an unforgettable showcase of talent, technology, and some seriously cool bikes. But here's where it gets controversial... some top US pros chose to skip it!
Originally scheduled for Nice, France, the Gravel Worlds found a new home in the Zuid-Limburg region of the Netherlands. This region, known for its iconic Amstel Gold Race, stepped in due to time and technical constraints faced by the original organizers.
Now, let's talk about the stars and their rides. Marianne Vos, the 2024 elite women's champion, kept things light with a simple 'ENJOY' message on her cockpit. But it's her coach's scooter sticker that caught our eye - a unique touch!
Italian style meets practicality with the sealant canisters on the women's squad bikes. Shirin van Anrooij's Trek ProjectOne, for instance, had CO2 canisters and a handy tyre plug, all neatly attached to her seat post.
Van Anrooij's bike, with its standard Bontranger wheels and Pirelli Cinturato Gravel RH tyres (not yet listed online), was a sight to behold. And then there's Lorena Wiebes, the eventual race winner, whose bike, with its SRAM 1x setup and Wolf Tooth chain catcher, tells a story of victory.
Fauve Bastiaenssen's S-Works Crux stands out for its non-flared drops, a departure from the norm in gravel racing. The tiny control buttons for the Gravaa Adaptable Tyre Pressure System add a touch of intrigue to one of the Visma-Lease a Bike rider's machines.
Vos, too, used the Gravaa system, but her tyre choice was unique - a Vittoria 42c Corsa Control road tyre at the rear, paired with a 45c Terreno T70 up front. A bold move, don't you think? Rosa Klöser takes the award for the widest tyre, with a Continental Dubnital on her front wheel, offering a whopping 57mm of tread. Optimized or overkill? You decide!
Tiffany Cromwell's custom-painted Canyon bike features Aussie phrases, including the phrase 'Vegemite velocity', which we're determined to include in our next article about an Australian cyclist's win. And the green and purple blend on the rear of the frame? A masterpiece by Canyon.
Among the big brands, we spotted TUFO Gravel Thundero 44c tyres in the women's peloton. An interesting find was the sponge under a coach's saddle, an old German technique to prevent saddle deformation.
The Limburg gravel was mostly dry, but loose in places. Tom Pidcock's participation in the Gravel Worlds less than 24 hours after Il Lombardia made headlines. His multi-discipline talent led him to race in Limburg, where he rode a new Pinarello Dogma GR.
Pidcock's Most integrated cockpit featured a slammed stem. Despite his road team's Scott bikes, he stayed loyal to Pinarello for off-road adventures. He rode 35c Vittoria Terreno Pro T30 tyres and spent time tweaking his setup before the 180km race.
Pidcock's Wolf Tooth Lone Wolf chain catcher added to his bike's aero efficiency. Gianni Vermeersch's Canyon Grail with its blackout aesthetic was a standout. He, too, rode a Pirelli tyre model not yet publicly available.
Our favorite mod? Daan Soete's hidden tyre plug, fitted into the axle of his Wolf Tooth 50T aero chainring. Soete rode a Ridley ASTR RS with Wolf Tooth clipless pedals from their new CTRL ALT DEL range.
Out on the course, Niels Vandeputte seemed unbothered by his rear flat tyre. Laurens Sweeck kept it simple with a tidy repair kit on his top tube. Matej Mohorič and his Bahrain-Victorious teammates were spotted on an unreleased Merida Mission gravel bike.
The 2023 champion, Mohorič, used a Prologo Nago R4 PAS AGX saddle. The Mission's fork, with its eye-catching paint swirl effect, was a visual treat. But it might have been a distraction from the yet-to-be-released Continental Terra Competition gravel tyres, hastily covered with marker pen.
These new tyres had minimal tread, perfect for the dry Limburg course. Post-race, Tom Pidcock assessed his rear tyre, seemingly not satisfied. And we can't resist including a dog at a bike race!
Lastly, we have elite men's winner Florian Vermeersch and his Colnago G4-X in emerald green. Its geometry resembles its road relative, suggesting the Belgian gravel might not have been as challenging as some might think. Nonetheless, it helped Vermeersch turn two silvers into a gold.
Vermeersch's setup included a 54/40T chainring, an 11-34 cassette, ENVE SES4.5 wheels, and 40c Continental Terra Speed tyres.
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