Gravel racing is a young, modern discipline that is already well integrated in the international cycling calendar and experiencing a spectacular growth, as highlighted by the 2023 Trek UCI Gravel World Series. This year, the series has been extended to 16 rounds, following on from the success of the first edition in 2022 and the first ever UCI Gravel World Championships, which crowned French rider Pauline Ferrand-Prévot and Belgian rider Gianni Vermeersch.
The Trek UCI Gravel World Series builds on the same concept as the UCI Gran Fondo World Series: events are held across the world to earn a place in the final battle for the rainbow jerseys at the end of the season. At each event, the fastest 25% of men and women in their respective age categories qualify for the UCI Gravel World Championships.
The main difference with the gran fondo is that professional riders can also participate in the gravel events and qualify for the UCI World Championships, which will be held this year in the Veneto region in Italy on 7-8 October.
16 chances to qualify
The series has grown from 11 rounds in 2022 to 16 rounds in 2023, with the return of flaghship events such as the Wish One Gravel RaceMillau Grands Causse in Millau, France, the Highlands Gravel Classic in Fayetteville, USA and La Monsterrato in Quattordio, Italy, while introducing new and exciting races across the world.
Six events have already taken place. They have offered great action in Spain (La Indomable in Berja), South Africa (Swartberg 100, in Prince Albert), the Netherlands (Gravel Fondo Limburg, in Valkenburg), Denmark (Gravel Challenge Blaavands Huk, in Blaavands), Germany (3RIDES Gravel Race, in Aachen) and Australia (Seven, in Nannup, WA). The next opportunity to qualify for the UCI Worlds comes this weekend, with The Gralloch at Gatehouse of Fleet, confirming Scotland as a great cycling destination ready to host the 2023 UCI Cycling World Championships in Glasgow and across Scotland on 3-13 August.
The number of riders who will qualify for the 2023 UCI Gravel World Championships will certainly be much higher than last year, when 458 riders crossed the finish line in Veneto, Some 3,000 riders are expected this year, depending on the participation in the qualifying events, which are expected to welcome up to 8,000 contenders.
A varied line-up with Valverde, Weibes, Iserbyt…
More than 900 riders have already secured their ticket for the 2023 UCI Gravel World Championships. Looking at the results, the first name on the list is Germany’s Jade Treffeisen, who finished fourth in 2022 and set the fastest time in the women’s 19-34 category at La Indomable. The fastest rider across all categories was Spain’s Alejandro Valverde, who recently retired from professional road cycling but still has what it takes to take on big challenges.
Former teammate of Valverde, Joan Horrach, dominated the Men’s 45-49 category at the 2022 UCI Gravel World Championships and also qualified for the next edition at La Indomable. Since then, six other reigning UCI Gravel World Champions have qualified for the 2023 edition: Janitta Van Den Brink, Dirk Claes and Kevin Panhuyzen at the Gravel Fondo Limburg, and Henning Bommel, Jan Olav Beitmyren and Bo Dertell at the Gravel Challenge Blaavands Huk.
They have been joined by a varied cast of all-round champions such as Denmark’s Kasper Asgreen, the Netherlands’ Lorena Wiebes and Belgium’s Eli Iserbyt… There are still ten rounds left to complete the field of riders who will fight for the rainbow jerseys.
2023 UCI Gravel World Series Calendar:
23 April: La Indomable (Spain)
29 April: Swartberg 100 (South Africa)
30 April: Gravel Fondo Limburg (Netherlands)
6 May: Gravel Challenge Blaavands Huk (Denmark)
13 May: 3RIDES Gravel Race (Germany)
13 May: Seven (Australia)
20 May: The Gralloch (Great Britain)
4 June: Hutchinson Ranxo Gravel (Spain)
11 June: Blue Mountains Gravel Fondo (Canada)
18 June: Wish One Millau Grands Causses (France)
24 June: Highlands Gravel Classic (USA)
15 July: Gravel One Fifty (Netherlands)
22 July: Gravel Adventure (Poland)
19 August: Gravel Grit’n Grind (Sweden)
26 August: Houffa Gravel (Belgium)
2 September: La Monsterrato (Italy)