The Union Cycliste Internationale (UCI) and Pedali di Marca announce that next month’s 2023 UCI Gravel World Championships will take place between Treviso and Pieve di Soligo, in the Italian region of Veneto.
Riders participating in this second edition of the UCI Gravel World Championships on 7-8 October, will set off from Treviso’s Le Bandie lake – venue of the 2008 UCI Cyclo-cross World Championships – then head directly to Pieve di Soligo, where they will complete different loops around the finish location.
The course starts with a long flat section, predominately gravel, from Treviso to Pieve di Soligo where the athletes will pass over the finish line a first time. They will then complete a loop including more paved sections and more elevation – thanks to several short steep climbs - before a second passage across the finish. The final loop will start with a flat gravel section followed by two punchy ascensions in the final 20km, the last of which has its summit 6km from the finish line. In total, the riders will tackle more climbing than at the first edition of the UCI Gravel World Championships.
The women (Elite and all age categories) and the men in the 50+ age categories will compete on Saturday 7 October. The remaining men’s categories (Elite and age groups 19-49 years) will race on the Sunday 8 October. The starts will be given at small intervals.
Most riders have qualified for the 2023 UCI Gravel World Championships by finishing in the top 25% of their age group in the Trek UCI Gravel World Series and some will benefit from wild cards distributed by their respective National Federations.
The Men Elite and Women Elite riders – members of UCI-registered teams or with a wild card from their National Federation – who win their event will be awarded the UCI World Champion's rainbow jersey. Riders taking part in the mass participation events for their respective age category will compete for the UCI World Champion jersey specially designed for the age group winners.
More details about the routes of the UCI Gravel World Championships will be released shortly.