Mighty Mathieu wins Gravel Worlds!

It was a rare autumn Sunday in Leuven, Belgium. The sun was out. The vibe was right. And the UCI Gravel World Championships did not disappoint. After an impressive win on Saturday by Marianne Vos, the Men Elites followed with a complete Shimano-equipped podium. Let’s check out the action!

Mathieu van der Poel of the Netherlands—and team Alpecin-Deceuninck—showcased his dominance by clinching the Men Elites title. He decisively dropped his breakaway companion, Florian Vermeersch of Belgium, on the final lap in Leuven. Van der Poel seized his moment on a short climb, unleashing a powerful acceleration with 13 km to go, leaving Vermeersch behind and riding solo to secure his eighth elite rainbow jersey.

Vermeersch finished 1:03 behind, earning the silver medal for the second consecutive year. The 182 km race evolved into a tactical battle, with Van der Poel facing the Belgian team's numerical advantage. After 60 km, Van der Poel launched a significant attack, forming a lead group of 16 riders. A subsequent acceleration reduced this group to seven, cutting the Belgian presence from seven riders to four.

The leading pair extended their gap over the chase group to over a minute with 20 km to go, testing each other as they approached the finish. In the battle for bronze, the five chasers nearly came to a standstill in the final meters. Mohorič made the first move, prompting Swift to chase, followed by the Belgian trio. Ultimately, Hermans surged ahead to claim third place in the sprint.

Van der Poel expressed his joy at adding another rainbow jersey to his collection, emphasizing his strategy to make the race as challenging as possible. He aimed to finish solo, especially after Vermeersch had out-sprinted him at the 2021 Paris-Roubaix. The gap he created allowed him to celebrate by lifting his Shimano-equipped Canyon Grail overhead after he crossed the finish line.

Did you know: The biggest gravel event in the world actually starts from your doorstep! Learn more about REBOUND today.

The joy of gravel is riding wherever nature takes you. Whether you’re out with your best friends for a post-work grind or going beast-mode bikepacking a far-off trail, you’re out there, renewing your smile with every mile you ride. Riding gravel is about creating unique stories to share, building toward a healthier, more sustainable community empowered by individuality.

In the gravel world, anyone can make it to the top. By joining UCI Gravel World Series events, you work yourself towards the top 25% of male and female riders from each age group at each event, thereby qualifying for the UCI Gravel World Championships! These championships will crown the UCI World Champions for each age group, adding a competitive edge to the sport.

It all starts with a gravel groupset you can rely on.