A record $800,000 will be offered across seven individual races and the overall prize payout for the Life Time Grand Prix in 2027, organisers of the off-road series confirmed Thursday. This reflects a 36% increase from this past season, and is more than triple the original prize purse from the inaugural 2022 season.

The overall series purse jumps from $350,000 in 2026 to $400,000, while the other $400,000 will be spread across each stop on the calendar, spread across April to October, an increase from $240,000 last season. All prizes are paid for the top 10 in races and the series, split eventually between the men's and women's pro fields.

"It just continues to elevate the standard. And we think we've seen great success. We want to elevate the stature and the attraction to the Life Time Grand Prix and the individual events. We've been able to do that with continuing to increase the prize purse for both the individual events and the Grand Prix as a whole," Kimo Seymour, president of Events and Media at Life Time, told Cyclingnews.

Life Time launched the invitation-only series in 2022 as the popularity of gravel and endurance mountain bike races surged. Specialized Off-road duo Keegan Swenson and Sofia Gomez Villafañe have won the overall pro titles four times each across the first five years. Swenson won $25,000 for first place in the inaugural year, while Villafañe earned the same amount with her first title in 2023.

In October, they earned $50,000 each for first place. However, next year whoever lands on the top steps will earn $40,000 each. The pool of money now distributes payouts more evenly across the rest of the top 10, with riders going seventh through 10th now receiving $10,000 or more each. Life Time says restructuring the purse was about "incentivizing season-long competition".

"If we want professional off-road cycling to grow, we have to get serious about how athletes make a living. As the Series becomes more successful, the athletes should share in that success. By putting more money into every race and spreading those dollars deeper into the field, we're creating more opportunities for more riders, not just the handful at the very top," Michelle Duff, co-director of the Life Time Grand Prix, stated in a press release.

Emphasis on events

Maybe more significant are the individual race payouts, now equal to the series itself in total money and moving from just the top five to the top 10. A total of $80,000 will be on offer at Unbound Gravel 200, Leadville Trail 100 MTB and Life Time Big Sugar Classic.

Last year, the purses at Unbound Gravel and Leadville Trail 100 MTB were $60,000 each, and Big Sugar was $30,000. In fact, Unbound and Leadville did not offer prize money for pro fields until two years ago.

The other four events - Sea Otter Classic, Chequamegon MTB Festival, The Rad Dirt Fest and Little Sugar MTB - will pay out $40,000 each. That is a 33% increase for three of the races, while The Rad Dirt Fest has an enormous boost from a previous payout of $2,5000, since it was last part of the series in 2024. And, those US dollars are for any athlete who finishes in the top 10, not just the Grand Prix riders.

"I have to give a lot of the credit to the athletes. You know, we spend so much time with athletes, hearing feedback and getting advice and guidance and suggestions. One of the suggestions was about offerings at individual events, not so much on the Grand Prix. So that's why we've chosen to split it equitably between the Grand Prix and the individual events. It's significant enough that big-name athletes are starting to show up," Seymour explained to Cyclingnews.

"There needs to be better opportunities for the athletes to make money. I think with the new distribution this year will continue to draw some of those big international names as well, which only brings more eyeballs, more viewership, more fan engagement, and hopefully more, you know, more sponsor investment."

Where does the money come from for the $800,000? Life Time owns all the races in the series, so has complete control of not just logistics but broadcast rights and sponsorships. Seymour said that an emphasis on social media engagement was the biggest component of their portfolio, which includes the robust live stream shown on the YouTube channel.

"It's not a sponsor-specific prize purse. It just comes out of our overall budget for the Grand Prix. We're able to monetize the series more and more each year, as it's grown overall. So, primarily YouTube engagement, we're able to drive more sponsorship or advertising dollars against the series," Seymour said.

"Probably more than anything, it's been our YouTube views. I think we're over five million views this year on Life Time specific [channel] and Grand Prix content that we've put out."

Seymour confirmed to Cyclingnews that they planned to offer live broadcasts for five of the seven events in 2027, the elements to bring video from mountain bike events at Chequamegon and Little Sugar still being worked out.

The Life Time Grand Prix will continue as an invitation-only field of 50 riders, the rules for participation also evolving to a more performance-driven pathway. The compensation portion of the series extends beyond the podium, and for a second year, athletes who complete the series and finish 11th through 25th will receive a $2,500 finisher bonus, which is outside the primary prize purse. Introduced in 2026, this structure rewards the riders who race all season.

The opening round of the 2027 Life Time Grand Prix will be Thursday, April 15 in Monterey, California, for Life Time Sea Otter Classic Gravel.

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Prize Purse Components for 2027

Life Time Grand Prix series 2027

• First: $40,000
• Second: $30,000
• Third: $24,000
• Fourth: $21,000
• Fifth: $19,000
• Sixth: $17,000
• Seventh: $15,000
• Eighth: $13,000
• Ninth: $11,000
• Tenth: $10,000

Unbound Gravel 200, Leadville Trail 100 MTB, Big Sugar Classic payouts 2027

• First: $10,000
• Second: $7,000
• Third: $6,000
• Fourth: $5,000
• Fifth: $4,000
• Sixth: $3,000
• Seventh: $2,000
• Eighth: $1,500
• Ninth: $1,000
• Tenth: $500

Sea Otter Classic, Chequamegon MTB, The Rad Dirt Fest, Little Sugar MTB payouts 2027

• First: $5,000
• Second: $3,500
• Third: $3,000
• Fourth: $2,500
• Fifth: $2,000
• Sixth: $1,500
• Seventh: $1,000
• Eighth: $750
• Ninth: $500
• Tenth: $250

The spotlight of gravel and mountain bike racing always shines on familiar performers like Keegan Swenson, Sofia Gomez Villafañe, Mads Würtz Schmidt, Kate Courtney and two-time gravel world champion Marianne Vos. They line up at an off-road race, and people pay attention.

However, deeper fields around the world now challenge these proven winners, coming from various backgrounds and fresh talent has made impressive moves to grab attention, especially at events in the UCI Gravel World Series, Gravel Earth Series and Life Time Grand Prix.

This year's UCI Gravel World Championships in Nannup, the first time in five years rainbow stripes were decided outside Europe, saw a gravel specialist win the men's race, Magnus Bak Klaris of Denmark. Of course, Vos reigns on all surfaces, but she was put to the test by Rosa Klöser, Larissa Hartog and Nele Laing, women who focus on dirt racing.

Because of the distance and cost to travel to Western Australia, as well as a conflict with Little Sugar MTB in Arkansas for many Life Time Grand Prix riders, some of the breakout rides happened long before races for rainbow stripes. The Traka continued to provide a platform for new stars, while Unbound Gravel always has storylines, during the mudfest itself and in the days following, like riders jumping into iconic US one-day races like Tulsa Tough or winning an unexpected US road title.

Who went from a supporting role to a leading role this season? Who was able to score a career-defining victory or podium?

Here is a collection of notable athletes we noticed from the 2026 calendar of off-road racing.

Magnus Bak Klaris

Magnus Bak Klaris certainly wasn't a rider off the gravel radar before 2026, with multiple Danish National Gravel Championships wins plus victories that included Santa Vall, The Rift and the UCI World Series race Wörthersee Gravel. However, at races like The Traka and Unbound, where the prestige and attention hit another level, Bak Klaris hadn't cut through to the podium step, plus his early-season results in 2026 weren't quite what they had been last season.

The 30-year-old rider, however, had certainly turned that around before 2026 was over. The signs of the building form were on display in September, when the previously missing season win tally started to build at Falling Leaves Lahti and then continued to roll on at Gravel Grit n' Grind. Still, even though he had finished in the top 10 at the UCI Gravel World Series in 2026, that was not enough to make him among the heavily marked men of the rainbow jersey race, which worked to his advantage.

"I didn't come in as one of the favourites, so I could maybe save some more energy than some of the others and hide a little bit," he told a small group of media, including Cyclingnews, following the event. That 'little bit' was enough to help propel him in the four-man sprint and claim a win that means he'll not be able to hide in the pack through 2027, not with the rainbow jersey on his back. (SG)

Nele Laing

A one-time Zwift Academy finalist, Nele Laing entered the 2026 season with some promising gravel results after stepping into a few races in the UCI Gravel World Series and coming just off the podium at two of them. Though when she ventured over to the United States, now with the Canyon-DT Swiss squad, to try her hand at Sea Otter, she was definitely the wild card in the leading group of four that charged toward the line.

Impressive enough was her presence in Monterey alongside three-time US gravel champion Lauren Stephens (Aegis x Land of Enchantment), 2025 Traka 360 and Unbound 200 winner Karolina Migoń (PAS Racing) and the now four-time Life Time Grand Prix series winner Sofia Gomez Villafañe (Specialized Off-road). However, she wasn't just holding on but was the first of the four to put on the pressure through the crucial final section, and dropped Migoń as a result. Villafañe may have ultimately come over the top with Stephens following, but third at that early-season US race was more than enough to make sure she wouldn't be able to go unnoticed.

The 27-year-old then clearly showed that this was more than a one-off with third at The Traka, wins at UCI series events Hegau and 3Rides, plus a fourth at the UCI Gravel World Championships. Then, in a result that will help ensure she is keenly watched by rivals in 2027, she finished off the season by winning Nedbank Gravel Burn. (SG)

Bradyn Lange

Victories define seasons for athletes, and one win stands out the most in 2026 for Bradyn Lange. Yes, he did win Sea Otter Classic Gravel in the stars-and-stripes jersey to take the top spot in the opening round of the Life Time Grand Prix. But it was how he won, out-sprinting four-time race winner Keegan Swenson with a crafty move on the final corner.

Lange proved his decision in 2025 to focus solely on gravel, or "try to be one of the best at one thing instead of good at multiple", was working. He won his first US national title in any discipline on the gravel roads of Minnesota. He moved to Canyon x DT Swiss ATR for the new year and won The Hills, a UCI Gravel World Series event in Italy, then finished second at The Traka 200 in Spain, and beat the best off-road rider in California.

The Oregon native still exhibited his mountain bike prowess with podiums at Leadville Trail 100 MTB and Chequamegon MTB, boosting him to his best finish in the Grand Prix across five years, finishing fifth on the elite men's leaderboard. He had the unique distinction of being the youngest rider in the Grand Prix field back in 2022 at age 21. Now at 27, he's got an early invitation to return for a sixth season, and he can no longer ride under the radar. (JT)

Kylee Hanel

"A surreal experience" is how Kylee Hanel described making the main chase group at Big Sugar Gravel to finish fourth overall. While Stella Hobbs rode away with the solo victory, the 20-year-old held her own against the most dominant riders in off-road racing, Sofia Gomez Villafañe and Hayley Preen taking the final podium spots, while Hanel held off a charging Karolina Migoń.

She sealed the women's U23 title in the Life Time Grand Prix with top series points in all the races except Leadville Trail 100 MTB, where she finished second in the category. In between Sea Otter Gravel and the overall win at Unbound Gravel 100, she went back on the road with Aegis x LOE and went fourth overall at Tour of the Gila, with a stage win and youth classification title.

The multi-talented rider from Oregon competed for the first time at national events last year, where she had top 10s at US road and gravel nationals. Then this summer, she won the USPro U23 women's time trial national championship by 36 seconds over her closest competitor. She didn't realise at the time that it qualified her for Road Worlds, but knew it was a great opportunity for experience and to ride for Team USA in Montreal, even with two more Grand Prix races to follow in October.

"I'm the only one putting pressure on myself," she admitted to Cyclingnews at the UCI Road World Championships, finishing 21st in the U23 time trial and 29th in the road race. The pressure was off when she landed on the wide-angle podium at Big Sugar. (JT)

Matthew Wilson

Matthew Wilson may have been in the Life Time Grand Prix in 2025, but he walked away from last year with 'unfinished business' after not delivering the hoped-for results. With a new team in 2026, Scott Sports USA-Shimano, and determination to show what he was really capable of, Wilson went all out in pursuit of a wild card spot this year. The rider from New Zealand gained that spot, with 12th at Sea Otter Gravel and 28th at Unbound, but this time the best was yet to come.

Some indication of his early season form was already on display when the multi-discipline rider, who had come third at the New Zealand National Championships road race at the start of the year, washed off the mud of Kansas, borrowed a mate's road wheels and went straight to the top of a criterium podium at Tulsa Tough. Then, when he shifted into his mountain bike comfort zone at Leadville, his LifeTime journey all of a sudden took on a whole new complexion.

Wilson went from fighting for a start in the series to fighting for the top spots with his Leadville Trail 100 MTB runner-up spot and then a win at Chequamegon. Fifth at the season-ending Big Sugar Gravel was enough for a third-place overall and to clinch a guaranteed spot in 2026. There is now no doubting what the 25-year-old is truly capable of. (SG)

Mārtiņš Blūms

Martins Blums gained entry into this year's Life Time Grand Prix as a wild card with top finishes at Sea Otter Gravel and Unbound Gravel 200. A 12-time mountain champion of Latvia, including the 2024 Marathon MTB national title, Blums was in the chase group behind winner Matthew Wilsom at Chequamegon MTB and finished eighth. He then surprised the field in second overall at Big Sugar Gravel, where he surged from 12th to seventh overall in the final series standings.

Big Sugar was indeed big for his 31st birthday, racing with bib number 31. He made a breakaway group after backtracking from a wrong turn, finished on the podium in second place, and, with a series top-10 finish, earned his ticket to return in 2027.

He had limited gravel racing in his legs when he started at Sea Otter Gravel in California, but had support for his solo season from Scott Sport USA. Unbound was unfamiliar territory, which he said made him nervous, "but at the same time, it will be a cool challenge," he admitted on a social post. A knee injury at a World Cup mountain bike race in Switzerland kept him away from Leadville Trail 100 MTB, so we'll have to wait another year to see if his precision on a mountain bike can give Keegan Swenson a run for his money. (JT)

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Puck Pieterse folds a slice of pizza the way New Yorkers do, and her very first slice was plain cheese, nothing else. She doesn't usually order it that way, she told me later; she just wanted to taste the basic version first.

That was lunch. For breakfast, she had a bagel with cream cheese and smoked salmon. Somewhere along the way, she hit the M&M's store in Times Square and went to town picking up every flavour she can't buy in the Netherlands. She ate enough that it made her feel sick. "It made me fly on the bike," she laughed. "I'm on holiday," she shrugged. Once her stomach settled, the leftovers became her post-ride recovery snack.

It was 24-year-old Pieterse's first time in New York, and she told a small crowd of fans that evening that it was a lot to take in: the noise, the lights, the sheer scale of it. "It's just so much bigger than my European mind can comprehend," she said.

She'd been to a Knicks game the night before. She was still processing the soundtrack: the organ, the sound effects narrating every possession, and an arena that left no doubt which side it was on, with ominous cues when the visitors had the ball and "crazy TikTok songs" when the Knicks did. You would never have guessed that from watching her ride on 8th Avenue at the start of rush hour earlier that day, or from how smoothly she handled clueless onlookers and city vehicles in a bustling Central Park just days before marathon weekend.

Later that evening, at Roberta's Pizza in Midtown Manhattan, I had a little over 20 minutes and three slices of cake to win her trust. We were both speaking our second language, and we were both frazzled by the room, but the sweets helped break the ice.

Pieterse rides for Fenix-Premier Tech, and everyone asks her the same question: how does she do it all? She races cyclo-cross in winter, the Classics in spring, and mountain bikes and the Tour de France Femmes avec Zwift in summer, and she has won at the highest level in all three disciplines.

"It's definitely getting harder to combine everything because every discipline is getting way more specific," she told me. Her 2026 season showed the cost: podiums at Flanders, Flèche Wallonne and Liège-Bastogne-Liège, the Tour's polka-dot jersey and a third straight bronze at the cyclo-cross Worlds, but not the one standout victory she said she wanted.

The more interesting question is how she keeps her head clear while doing it, how a rider pulled in so many directions stays steady in each one. She came to New York between the road and CX seasons, for a community ride and pizza night hosted by Canyon and Zwift, and I spent the day trying to find out to that question. The answer, it turned out, involved circles. And not just riding around in them.

Protecting the circle

The question came from the crowd gathered on Roberta's rooftop, read aloud by the evening's host, Matt Stephens: did she have a mantra, or any trick for staying focused under pressure?

She has circles, Pieterse explained. Circle one is the race and only the race: your line, your effort, what you are doing right now. Circle two sits a little wider; it can be your mom or dad shouting from the tape, and they are allowed in briefly, but then you go back to circle one.

The danger is drifting further out. "On a bad day, you start hearing people talking about you, or your own head joins in with the negativity," she noted. She recognizes it happening and steps back inside.

Her race mornings are built to keep the first circle uncluttered. At a cyclo-cross race, her father prepares her pre-race meal, she rides two or three laps of the course, then tries to visualize it back at the camper, with Dutch rap in her headphones. Nothing superstitious, she insisted.

Back on 8th Avenue at peak time, circle one is a cab door, a delivery cyclist salmoning against the flow, a pedestrian stepping off the curb mid-text. Pieterse slid through the chaos without appearing to think. When I asked how she made urban survival look so effortless, she gave me a look that suggested it was not much of a question.

To her, it is simply second nature. "If you race a lot, you get a bit of awareness about what others are going to do, but of course you can never be one hundred per cent sure," she said. At home in the Netherlands, she rides through a city centre every day to reach her group ride meeting point. Dutch cities are smaller, she notes, but there are more of them, so traffic is woven into every training ride. She knows her routes, including – she admits with a grin – when she might sneak through a red light.

"I think if you're less into cycling and you're a tourist here, it's really dangerous actually with all the cars."

Still, she'd love to ride an alleycat race in New York, she said, before thinking better of it: it wouldn't be safe. NYC drivers, though, got a good review. "They know there are cyclists around, so that's nice."

I watched most of it from a few bike lengths back, on a Canyon Aeroad borrowed from her sponsor. I chased her through Midtown and into Central Park, where about 40 riders had turned out for the Canyon and Zwift community ride, on a loop already crowded with marathon-weekend runners and visitors. Over three laps, Pieterse found her way to the wheel of nearly every rider, chatting and making jokes as she went.

'Cross, Classics, and cake

Most fans on the ride wanted to know when her cyclo-cross season will start. Pieterse, who is still working out her 'cross schedule, was more curious about them: why they took up cycling in a city with so little room for it, and whether they only ride in the park or live somewhere with better roads. She was struck by how big the local community is, given how few bike shops she had spotted while walking around.

I'd heard Pieterse plans rides around bakery stops, so she didn't argue when I told her we would do a cake tasting while we talked. Cakes and sweets are part of the programme. At her local coffee stop back home, she orders apple pie in slices so massive they are meant to be shared.

She took the tasting seriously. The tiramisu was "surprisingly marshmallowy… when it should have been more mascarpone and alcohol," while the red velvet cake had the texture the tiramisu missed. "I know my cakes," she said. The key lime cake, airy and bright, ended up being her favourite.

Between bites, I asked how she manages to switch between disciplines. She splits her year into blocks: road, mountain bike, with the Tour de France sandwiched in between, then back to the mountain bike. 'Cross fills the winter, and by January, she is deep into the intense CX calendar. By the end of February, she has pivoted back to the road for the Classics.

The switch itself is smaller than people think, she insists. She trains on both bikes at home. She sees the Spring Classics and cross-country mountain biking as requiring the same type of explosive effort. The Classics are simply far longer, demanding deeper fatigue resistance.

The hard part is accepting what she has to give up. Her Classics rivals spend an entire winter preparing only for those races, while she is racing 'cross. Before mountain bike Worlds, she notes, she could have been at an altitude camp instead of racing the Tour.

"I'm fully committed to cycling and to becoming the best cyclist I can be," she said. She accepts the trade-offs because variety gives her so much. Pressed by the crowd that night to choose just one discipline or bike, she called herself an all-rounder, then picked the mountain bike. "For now," she added.

It circles back to her mental framework. The ground beneath her keeps changing, from mud to cobbles to singletrack, and her job is to keep circle one steady.

Her record explains why people keep asking about her ability to do it all. In 2024, she won the elite cross-country mountain bike world title, then a stage of the Tour de France Femmes on her first attempt, along with the young rider's white jersey. In 2025, she won La Flèche Wallonne, then five MTB World Cup races in a row.

Then came 2026. Before the Ardennes, she told her team she would "rather have one real stand-out result than three podiums." She got the podiums instead: third at Flanders, second at Flèche Wallonne and Liège-Bastogne-Liège, no win.

When asked which win she would relive, she chose the 2024 Tour stage from Valkenburg to Liège over the closing climbs of La Doyenne. That day, on rain-soaked roads, at just 22, she beat race leader Demi Vollering in a photo finish, with Kasia Niewiadoma-Phinney third.

"I had, in the evening before, in the night, I woke up... I dreamed that I was winning today," she told the room. "And then in the end, the final, I just knew what was going to happen. It was super weird."

There is one major title still on her radar. She has stood on the elite cyclo-cross Worlds podium four years running, silver in 2023 and bronze in each of the three years since, but never on the top step. The next chance comes in Oostende, Belgium, at the end of January. A few moments after we talked about it, a stray balloon shaped like a number one drifted up over us and into the black-blue evening sky.

'It's sad that we don't have the US World Cups anymore'

Pieterse knows North American 'cross better than most Europeans. She won the under-23 world title in Fayetteville, Arkansas, in 2022, and has raced World Cups in Iowa and Wisconsin. No World Cup has come back since the 2023/24 season. The 2026/27 series has 12 rounds, including Glasgow on December 13, but none in North America.

When I told her that American cyclo-cross has struggled to regain its momentum in recent years, and asked what the US could learn from Europe, she was frank. "It's a very Belgian sport," she said. In Belgium, a fan can reach most races in about half an hour by car; here, she pointed out, it can take a seven-hour flight. What she liked about the American 'cross races she has done was the weekend format, with amateur and kids' races building to the World Cup on Sunday. She also wondered whether a late-season slot on the 'cross calendar might make the trip across the Atlantic easier on riders. Mountain biking, she noted, wrestles with the same question of where to put its World Cups.

"I think it's sad that we don't have the US World Cups anymore," she said. For riders, those races were a lot of fun, and though getting here is a long trip, "once you're here it's always been worth it." When the biggest names come, the public follows. Several people on the Central Park ride had told her they had watched her race 'cross here.

The other fix, she thinks, is online. "I think being present on social media can play a big role as well," she said, though geo-restrictions make races harder to watch in the US. And 'cross suits a screen: at "only fifty minutes to an hour," she said, a CX race is easier to watch than a mountain bike race.

Back to reality and racing

Whilst New York is something of a holiday, her next big trips away will be for racing. The 2027 Tour de France Femmes starts in Leeds on July 30, the race's first Grand Départ in the UK. She missed the big-name climbs of recent editions and sees chances for herself and Fenix-Premier Tech on a route with shorter climbs. "I think it will only make maybe even a more exciting Tour."

Home is Amersfoort, in the middle of the Netherlands, where she grew up and still lives. She started riding because her father came home muddy from weekend mountain bike rides with friends, and she wanted that too.

As a kid, she said, announcing she would turn pro was like saying "you wanted to be a police officer or a firefighter," something you say without really meaning it. Then, as a first-year junior, she had a good enough season to earn a spot at the Worlds in cyclo-cross and mountain biking. By the time she was under-23 and had signed with Alpecin-Deceuninck, she was suddenly sharing a roster with Mathieu van der Poel.

When things get heavy, she doesn't call cycling insiders. She calls a high school friend, a student whose life looks nothing like hers, whenever their schedules line up. And she calls Mischa Bredewold, who grew up two kilometres away. Bredewold is two years older and rode in the same club as Pieterse's sister, which made Puck the tag-along little sister for years. Now, both are professionals, and over the last couple of years they have grown close. Bredewold, Pieterse said, has a view on most things. "And it's usually a good opinion."

New York is a city built on excess, and hers was a bag of M&M's. From there, she headed to a short team camp in Lisbon, with rides on city bikes, more pastries, and surfing lessons. Then it was back to the Netherlands, back to the mud, and back to Moncler, her pet chicken who terrorises the neighbourhood. "She attacks cats, ducks, dogs," Pieterse said. "Nothing is safe." That includes her mother.

"I don't think I could do just one discipline," she said. "I would go out of my mind." She needs the change of scenery, and believes the variety makes her "a more whole cyclist." After a day with her, I'd put it a little differently. The mud and the cobbles, the cakes, the surfboard, the friend who has nothing to do with bikes: none of it pulls her away from the racing. It's what keeps her whole enough to do it.

Back to when the number-one balloon drifted above us, she didn't look up at it for long. A team camp was waiting, then a cyclo-cross season with the Worlds in Oostende at the end, and a rogue chicken at home in need of supervision. The city had been loud all day. As far as I could tell, circle one had stayed quiet.

Organisers of The Traka World Series, formerly Gravel Earth Series, announced the ranking procedures to determine overall winners for 2027, with balanced points for the top 25 riders in pro divisions at each of the seven races, and a new system for riders to earn entry into the pro category as well.

There will be no enhanced scores for individual events, which had been the case in the past at The Traka 360 and the series finale, The River. At Traka Girona and the final series stop, now The Last Dance, points will be the same as other events.

In the past, riders could compete at either The Traka 200 or The Traka 360, or both, which was rare, with more points on the line in the longer distance. This year, pro fields will be consolidated in the reworked 300km distance on May 1, which will offer points and recognise clear winners in the big tune-up before Unbound Gravel.

There are new criteria for riders to line up in the pro division for the popular Girona race, which prioritise results from last year. Riders having finished within 5% of the winning time in their gender category can race as pros. Top finish times from the year before also apply from The Traka 200, Santa Vall, and the longer distances from Ranxo Gravel, Gravel Desert and The River 160.

And at the first three series races in 2027, the same 5% margin will apply for riders to gain pro status, including a new event in late spring referred to as 'The Traka in the Americas'. Organisers added that a limited number of wild card entries would be considered, "assessed on the sporting information provided and the eligibility criteria of each application".

There will be no minimum number of events required in the series, however, athletes must start the season finale in October, The Last Dance. Once the seventh and final event has been completed, the final standings will be decided from points earned after dropping the two lowest scores in the calendar.

The final top 10 in The Traka World Series pro leaderboards, men and women, will share a €20,000 overall prize purse. At each event, the top five pro riders, men and women, will have another €8,000 on offer, with CORE4's purse double that amount.

The Rift seeks more women to register for 200km distance

The Rift gravel race in Iceland is officially sold out for 2027, but organisers announced a few days ago that they are keeping a limited number of entries open for women in the 200-kilometre distance. They want 200 women on the July 24 start line for the 200km distance.

Started in 2019, The Rift offers routes from 60km to 330km from Hvolsvöllur, Iceland across the rough volcanic highlands, marked by multiple icy-cold water crossings. The 200km distance is considered the main event, won last year by Anton Stensby and Haley Smith.

Registration for The Rift 200k is $320. For any rider, male or female, who wishes to compete in shorter categories - 140km or 60km - opportunities are still available to join the waitlist. The long-distance 'Abyss' event is closed.

Valley of Tears expands racing for US Collegiate Gravel Championships

Valley of Tears returns next year for a fourth year, March 5-6, with two days of racing in Turkey, Texas. Organisers announced they will expand the number of titles on offer for the USA Cycling Collegiate Gravel National Championships, with four stars-and-stripes jerseys up for grabs in 2027.

A star-studded elite field is expected to compete for a $45,000 prize purse, split evenly between pro women and pro men. The first payouts are at Friday's Dirt Crit presented by QTS with $10,000 for pro/open competitors. The balance is shared on Saturday for the 93-mile main event, with chunky gravel, old rail trail, sand and singletrack that passes through Caprock Canyons State Park.

In 2026, Valley of Tears hosted the inaugural nationals for collegiate riders, won by Nate Meister (Fort Lewis) and Emma Kasza-James (Midwestern State). Fort Lewis College took the team title. This year, four categories will be offered - Varsity Men, Varsity Women, Club Men and Club Women.

The event offers three ride distances - 20 miles, 50 miles and 93 miles. Registration is limited to 1,000 riders across all fields and opens with discounted rates at 7:00 a.m. CDT on December 1, 2026.

Last year, Sofia Gomez Villafane (Specialized Off-road) captured her third consecutive victory at Valley of Tears, holding off Paige Onweller (Trek Driftless), while Alexey Vermeulen (ENVE) won from a three-rider sprint among the elite men.

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World champion Brandon McNulty debuts his rainbow jersey on home soil on November 21 at El Tour de Tucson. A native of Phoenix, Arizona, McNulty will make his first appearance at the Tucson event, now in a 43rd edition that has grown in size to 12,000 participants across three routes, the longest 103 miles.

McNulty will be joined by three-time US Pro road race national champion Quinn Simmons, Canadian road national champion Jérôme Gauthier, as well as multi-time road and track world champions Chloe Dygert and Sir Bradley Wiggins.

A number of former pro athletes are also part of the front corral of starters including four-time triathlete world champion Leanda Cave and former Grand Tour riders George Hincapie, Bob Roll, Bobby Julich, and Frankie Andreu.

All riders compete for prestige and bragging rights in a choice of three distances, as there is no prize money.

El Tour de Tucson is the flagship event for El Tour America, a non-profit that produces cycling events and helps raise funds for more than 120 other non-profits. Many of the current and retired pros participating in the ride will also participate in The Prologue, an exclusive camp for limited attendees to raise additional funds.

Ide Schelling continues with gravel focus

RNRNYC Racing p/b R1 will support former WorldTour rider Ide Schelling for a second season, this time with a focus on gravel racing, and will be the the new home for New Zealander Ethan Craine as the team grows their roster for 2027.

RNRNYC, which takes their name from cycling apparel brand Rubber N' Road that has a design studio and manufacturing in New York City, launched last season as an elite club team. They promote inclusivity and give riders opportunities to develop and race at a high level alongside experienced pros.

Schelling had a limited role with RNRNYC Racing last year, participating in a limited calendar of road and gravel, taking 10th place in The Gralloch. The Dutch rider retired from an 11-year pro road career in 2025, which included six years at the WorldTour level with Bora-Hansgrohe and XDS Astana. He will continue as a brand ambassador for RNRNYC and be supported as a privateer in gravel.

"Ide will be racing a lot more by himself, but remains part of the bigger ecosystem, the RNR and R1 racing family. Maybe he'll do a couple of races with the team, but really he will focus on doing gravel events, which are mostly in Europe. Maybe doing Big Sugar and a couple more in the US," Gil Lavi, co-founder of Rubber N' Road and RNRNYC Racing, told Cyclingnews.

Lavi said the cycling apparel brand benefits greatly from an international roster of riders, since the company has production facilities in three countries and customers around the globe.

"Having Ethan [Craine] is huge. César Marte and Wiley Close are very talented racers, super young, super talented," Lavi said about some of the new riders that have been announced so far.

Craine, 25, joins from five years with Project Echelon Racing, where he had stage wins in the Green Mountain Stage Race, Salt Lake Criterium and Chicago Grit. Close, 22, moves from ENVE MOG Squad's gravel team, where he finished eighth on the queen stage at Green Mountain Stage Race in his first road race in September.

Marte, a sprinter from the Dominican Republic, earned top results in the US across multiple teams at the Tour of Somerville, Gateway Cup, and Tour of America’s Dairyland since 2022 and als has multiple stage wins at the Vuelta Independencia.

The full roster will be disclosed in the coming weeks, with 12-15 riders expected to compete on a heavy road racing calendar, with a few gravel races mixed in.

Crusher in the Tushar retires for good after 14 year-run

Retirement news is typically reserved for riders, but this time organisers for Crusher in the Tushar confirmed Thursday that the Utah gravel race would permanently close after 14 years.

Taking its name from the Tushar mountains of central Utah, the highest range in the state, the Crusher was cancelled twice in the last three years due to impact from active wildfires in the area.

Life Time purchased the event from founder and former road pro Burke Swindlehurst in 2019, and included the race as part of the Life Time Grand Prix series from 2022 to 2024, though the third instalment was not held due to the fires. Keegan Swenson won the two Grand Prix editions while Haley Smith and Sofia Gomez Villafañe split the wins for elite women.

"We made the decision to retire Crusher in the Tushar," Life Time posted Thursday on social channels and the web site for the event.

"Since its founding, Crusher in the Tushar has played a pivotal role in shaping gravel cycling, challenging athletes on one of the sport's most demanding and memorable courses.

"We are deeply grateful to founder Burke Swindlehurst for his vision, the greater Beaver community for its incredible hospitality and partnership, and the athletes, volunteers and partners who have made Crusher such a special event over the years.

"Our thoughts remain with the Beaver and Piute County communities as they continue to recover and rebuild following this year's devastating wildfires and flooding."

EuroCrossAcademy opens 24th season in Netherlands and Belgium with 12 juniors

A total of 12 US teenagers will be part of EuroCrossAcademy's November block of training and racing, with the first competitions set for the Netherlands November 14-15 including Vam-Berg Cross in Wijster.

The squad will have multiple skills training sessions in Alphen, Netherlands and Lichtaart, Belgium, with a focus on forest trails and sand, then complete the two-week trip with racing in Hilversum, Netherlands and Maldegem, Belgium.

This is 24th year EuroCrossAcademy, led by Geoff Proctor, and a third consecutive year for a unique block for 15-16 year olds. The programme began in 2003 as EuroCross Camp to help athletes prepare for the Cyclo-cross World Championships. It has grown into a non-profit, EuroCrossAcademy (ECA), which now provides summer camps in Montana and Vermont as well as blocks of European racing experience in the development process for young US riders.

The group of 15-16 year olds are the focus for November, with the 17-18 year old riders taking part in a separate experience in December.

"The emphasis at the ECA November block is specifically on development, not results or outcomes. Are are they becoming better people by improving their character/continuing to find purpose?" Proctor told Cyclingnews about what measuring success.

He said ECA coaches measure success based on the level of "finding joy in a safe, kind, supportive environment" as well as learning life skills, not just riding skills, from their teammates, mechanics, support staff, and themselves.

For both blocks of training and race, Cyclingnews will provide coverage with rider dairies, the athletes providing first-person accounts of the 'character development' and competition.

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After nurturing the Gravel Earth Series for four years, organisers Klassmark have revamped the global collection of races under their direction as The Traka World Series in 2027, announcing a compact framework of seven events, all with consistent prize money and live streaming.

Six of the seven events have been revealed, with Klassmark owning and operating all but one of the events under their 'The Traka' brand. The majority of racing will take place across Spain, with the multi-day Santa Vall by The Traka stage race, February 6-7, taking place in Catalonia, followed by Gravel Desert by The Traka on March 13, which moved from a July slot, in the Monegros region.

The Traka 300 will take place on May 1 as the only distance of three race days with points for pro fields. Two other distances, 100 kilometres and 200 kilometres, remain centerpieces for amateur fields on either side of the series race, April 30 and May 2, and as a set the event will now be called The Traka Girona.

The back half of the series will return to the US at Iowa's CORE4 by The Traka on August 21 and revisit Belgium with The River by The Traka on September 11. The series concludes in Spain with the Last Dance, formerly known as Ranxo Gravel, a date in October yet to be confirmed.

"The story of The Traka World Series does not begin from scratch. It is the result of years of growth, shared experiences and an approach to gravel that has evolved alongside the sport itself. Gravel Earth Series has played a fundamental role in that journey, connecting races, athletes and organisers from different countries and helping build an international gravel community," organisers said in a press release about setting a foundation for 2027.

"Throughout 2026, this evolution was already taking shape through the development of By The Traka, a concept that connects different events under The Traka philosophy while preserving the character, identity and distinctive qualities of each race.

"The Traka consolidates its position as an international brand, By The Traka brings together the events linked to the project, and The Traka World Series provides the framework for elite competition, with a calendar and overall standings connecting the season’s races."

Unlike the Life Time Grand Prix which has a series prize purse for invited riders only, the open format for The Traka World Series remains in place, with a total of €20,000 on offer to the top 10 overall, split evenly among pro women and pro men. Klassmark will also offer €8,000 in prize money at each event. At CORE4, sponsor River Products Company will double the race purse to €16,000, which will bring the overall cash payouts to €84,000 for races and the series. Individual race payouts go five deep.

CORE4 has been part of the global series for two previous editions, and this year has an appealing calendar slot between Leadville Trail 100 MTB and Lauf Gravel Worlds. The Iowa gravel race has a new venue north of Iowa City in a new urban downtown area of Solon, and will create new courses to mark an expanded collaboration with the By The Traka family, while retaining local ownership.

"Being part of that next tier in the series allows another level of marketing support and other components too, such as our pursuit of a live stream. We'll have 100% control over all the components, it's still a community-based and grassroots-supported event," Alex Buhmeyer, race director and founder of CORE4, told Cyclingnews.

"The last couple of years we've had some of the best athletes here. Since we joined [the series], we've seen a surge of top-level athletes. The move into downtown Solon and be able to grow and accommodate more athletes. We roll out the red carpet with our age groupers and youth riders and everybody, regardless if they're pro or not."

Live coverage was promised for all Traka World Series events, though details are yet to be confirmed. Last year organisers launched Gravel Earth Series TV, but streaming on the YouTube channel was limited to Santa Vall, The Traka 200 and The Traka 360.

A modified points-based scoring system was used the last two years, which was easier to follow, and was expected to be in place again to determine rankings. In 2026, Specialized Off-road teammates Mads Würtz Schmidt and Geerike Schreurs came away with the pro titles.

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Almost four weeks after her serious crash at the UCI Gravel World Championships, Dutch rider Geerike Schreurs is finally well enough to travel back to Europe to continue her recovery.

After an excellent season riding for Specialized Off-Road Racing, Schreurs had been one of the favourites to at least reach the podium at the World Championships in Nannup, Western Australia. However, with around 50km of the race remaining, the Dutch woman’s wheel got caught in a rut, causing her to crash hard and forcing her out of the race.

After being transferred to hospital in Perth, she was found to have suffered multiple fractures to her neck and spine, along with broken ribs and a broken collarbone.

After multiple surgeries and 11 days confined in hospital, she was allowed out, but she was only given the all-clear to travel home earlier this week, though she was forced to wear a neck brace on the journey.

"Finally, after weeks in Australia, I’ve got the green light to fly home," she wrote in a social media post. "An 'off-season' in Australia normally sounds pretty exotic, but this wasn’t quite how I had pictured it.

"Between little walks, fresh beach air, sand between my toes, hours of audiobooks, colouring books and lots of short, one-hour naps, I tried to make the most of the good moments while being 'stuck' in Perth."

She went on to praise her fiancé, who has remained with her through her recovery in Australia. "He’s been an absolute saint, taking care of me in every possible way and, most importantly, being there through the low moments, the ones you’ll never see in any picture.

"Now we’re heading to the Netherlands, where I can finally see doctors and physios to get the right help and support for my rehab. Not exactly how I had planned, but one step closer to getting back on track."

Schreurs’ rise in elite gravel racing came after a stalled road career and time spent working as a soigneur for various Women’s WorldTour teams. She rode as a privateer in 2024, then spent a year with SD Worx-Protime, riding a mixed gravel and road programme before moving to the Specialized Off-Road team for 2026.

This year alone, she won five races from 13 starts, with ninth place her lowest placing, taking the top spot overall in the Gravel Earth Series (now The Traka World Series). The UCI World Championships, which was eventually won by Schreurs’ compatriot Marianne Vos, was the only race she failed to finish. Her future in the sport is not yet known.

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The 2026/2027 cyclo-cross calendar is already rolling, and the winter campaign hits full throttle on Friday, November 27, 2026, with the opening round of the marquee UCI Cyclo-cross World Cup in Ostrava, Czechia.

The season culminates with the 2027 UCI Cyclo-cross World Championships taking place from Friday, 29 January to Sunday, 31 January 2027.

Before we get to World Cup action, we have plenty of action to enjoy, including the Cyclo-cross European Championships this weekend, November 7-8, and the Pan American Cyclo-cross Championships on November 7.

The only way to guarantee uninterrupted viewing from anywhere is to use a VPN. It lets you stream your usual subscribed cycling coverage from wherever you are while keeping your online connection secure and private.

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With star names including record-breaking eight-time World CX champion Mathieu van der Poel, Wout van Aert, and Tom Pidcock all likely to appear at some point in the full 12-round CX World Cup calendar, now is the ideal time to get your cyclo-cross streaming arrangements locked down.

A VPN (Virtual Private Network) is a cyber-security tool that keeps you safe online and allows you to alter the digital location of your devices, thus bypassing the geo-restrictions you get on most streaming platforms.

Our tech colleagues at both TechRadar and T3 both recommend NordVPN as the best overall, and its blistering speed, robust threat protection, and consistently dependable global network are some of its standout features.

2026/27 UCI Cyclo-cross World Cup Schedule

How to watch cyclo-cross in the UK

TNT Sports and HBO Max are the UK’s go-to home for cycling, boasting another bumper broadcast lineup for the 2026/27 cyclo-cross campaign. Subscribers can catch every battle across the UCI World Cup and World Championships, alongside regular action from the Superprestige, X2O Badkamers Trofee, and Exact Cross circuits.

Access to TNT Sports starts at £25.99 a month, and TNT Sports plus HBO Max starts at £27.99. HBO Max also includes some of the best series and movies on top of the live sports coverage.

How to watch cyclo-cross in the US

Following the cyclo-cross season from the US can be a bit fragmented, with live rights largely split between FloBikes and HBO Max.

Dedicated cycling hub FloBikes carries a healthy slice of top-flight action, including select World Cup rounds. However, broadcast schedules can fluctuate and don't always cover the entire calendar, making it wise to monitor their upcoming listings closely. Membership is either $39.99 on a rolling monthly basis or $155.88 for an annual pass.

HBO Max holds a major share of US streaming rights across the winter calendar. To access the live sports feed, you'll need at least the Standard ad-free tier, which sits at $18.49 per month.

For occasional free-to-air viewing, the official UCI YouTube channel occasionally streams select races live, though those feeds are strictly geoblocked in regions where a domestic broadcaster holds exclusive distribution rights.

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Nele Laing (Canyon DT Swiss ATR) held the pro women's orange leader's jersey from start to finish at Nedbank Gravel Burn and Matt Beers (Toyota Specialized) held off a tight battle in the pro men's GC to capture back-to-back titles at his home off-road stage race.

The seven-day, 750-kilometre gravel adventure across the Great Karoo in the Eastern Cape of South Africa concluded Saturday, October 30, with five women earning stage victories and six men taking daily honours at the finish lines marked each day by a giant orange windmill placed along the rugged terrain.

The Great Karoo is a vast landscape with mountains, savannah, grasslands and desert that spans all three capes of the African nation. A very arid region, the name translates to 'land of thirst', which was evident by the dusty conditions all week.

Stages progress across the Great Karoo from north to south, starting in South Africa's fourth-oldest town, Graaff-Reinet and finishing at the Shamwari Private Game Reserve. The journey covered 8,500 metres of elevation gain, multiple water crossings, encounters with wildlife including towering giraffes.

Once the general classification was set early in the week, opportunities for aggressive riding to shake the standings were throttled on the final two days, with a trio of pro women's riders relegated in a sprint and the course shortened due to washed out roads.

“The racing was a lot more intense and tactical this year. Filippo [Colombo] made my life properly difficult and gave it everything,” Beers, who didn't win a stage but won the overall with consistent results, told organisers at the end. “I had a really lucky week and it was such a close race.”

Beers took the orange leader's jersey on stage 2 but Filippo Colombo (Scott-SRAM) and Tristan Nortje (Toyota Specialized Imbuko) remained in striking distance each day. The final results proved Laing the best for pro women, though Hayley Preen (ChemChamp Honeycomb) made a charge.

“Finishing my first gravel season with a win at Gravel Burn is more than I could have ever imagined at the beginning of the year. None of this would have been possible without this team, @canyon_atr," Laing posted to Instagram about her Canyon x DT Swiss All Terrain Racing squad.

Daily podiums were up for grabs as riders encountered an abundance of equipment struggles, uncertain stream crossings and unpredictable wildlife. Words just aren't enough to describe the challenging terrain of the Great Karoo, so we have assembled a gallery of images from Gravel Burn photographers to showcase each day of the event.

Stage 1 - 90km from Graaff-Reinet to Blaauwater

Mattia De Marchi (The Grip) opened with the men's victory on stage 1, but his time in the orange jersey lasted only one day as he relented in the fierce battle between Beers and Colombo the rest of the way.

Laing accelerated away from the women's field at the Conical Peak climb half-way through hilly stage 1, the 90km route packed 1,450 metres of elevation gain. In the rest of the stages, she kept the attacks in check to hold her lead.

Stage 2 - 105km on Blaauwater Loop

The Kom Pass, at 1,894 metres of elevation, was the long climb of the day on stage 2 at kilometre 50, and riders described the terrain as 'brutal'.

On the long drag towards Kom Pass, Colombo and Beers took off. While a group of 20-plus chasers could see them now and then in the distance, the leaders never dropped their pace, until Colombo won the stage in the two-up sprint.

In the women's division, Alexis Skarda (SCOTT-SRAM) punctured and the resulting repair time ultimately cost her over 30 minutes on GC. After a group caught a breakaway by Carolin Schiff (Canyon DT Swiss ATR), Laing crashed on the back-half of the descent into Nieu-Bethesda. That left four riders at the front. When a wide puddle extending across the whole road proved treacherous, Preen cleared the obstacle and rode away for the stage win.

Stage 3 - 137km from Blaauwater to Merino

Eddy Le Huitouze (The Grip) was the first to reach the summit on Swaershoek Pass and claim stage 3, outclimbing Simon Pellaud (Cervélo Assos Maxxis) and his teammate Jordy Bouts.

Laing continued her dominance, finishing ahead of Preen and Skarda. It was the longest stage of the week, with 1,550 metres of elevation gain.

Stage 4 - 61km on Merino Loop

The middle day of racing was one of the shortest, at 61km, and was relatively flat. Travis Stedman (Toyota Specialized Imbuko) launched early from a select group, catching the GC riders off guard with the surprise move. Ryan Gibbons (RoadCover SunGod) and Cole Davis (Speed Studio) finished second and third, respectively.

2023 Paris-Roubaix champion Alison Jackson (St Michel-Preference Home-Auber93) used her skills in a 12-rider bunch approach the finish line and won the sprint. Larissa Hartog (Canyon DT Swiss ATR) and Nathalie Eklund (58&fam) completed the stage podium.

Stage 5 - 128km from Merino to Gwanishi

The 128km stage followed the Great Fish River basin for 1,050 metres of elevation gain on relentless rolling roads. Stedman sprinted to his second stage win of the week ahead of teammate Jaedon Terlouw (Toyota Specialized Imbuko), with Colombo third.

Preen claimed her second stage win of the race, outsprinting rivals Laing and Koppenburg.

Stage 6 - 76km from Gwanishi to Shamwari

Friday's race was only 76km into Shamwari, and offered more descending than climbing to spark attacks if riders weren't too distracted with the local wildlife.

“Riding through Shamwari was amazing. We saw a few giraffes, and they ran beside us for a kilometre or so. They’re fast! If they had turned towards us, especially with how my legs felt, I wouldn’t have been able to do anything. But it was pretty cool,” said Henrique Avancini (Swift Pro Cycling).

The men's early breakaway contained Alex Miller (Swatt Club x KingPrice), Griffin Easter (OpiCure), Georg Egger (Orbea Speed Company), Hugo Drechou (Gravel Nation), De Marchi, Blane Kiek (RoadCover SunGod), Cronje Beukes (ChemChamp) and Juri Hollman (Canyon DT Swiss ATR). Easter crossed the line first, with Miller one second behind in second and Drechou third.

Nine riders came to the line in the pro women's contest, and Preen used her raw power to win the sprint. However, following a protest and a review of race footage, the commissaires relegated the front three riders for failing to heed a safety warning issued by a race official in the run-in to the sprint.

Preen, Koppenburg and Carolin Schiff (Canyon DT Swiss ATR) were moved to the back of the group for seventh, eighth and ninth, respectively. Nathalie Eklund (58&fam) was awarded the Pro Women’s stage victory, and the back trio were credited with the same time, three seconds off the pace, which did not alter the general classification.

Stage 7 - 59.5km Shamwari Loop

The route on stage 7 was abbreviated by 34km due to recent heavy rainfall damaging coastal roads in the region, so the compact day of just 59.5km left little territory and reduced climbing for major moves. In the end, Drechou and Skarda each took prestigious final stage victories for the week, the Frenchman and the US rider finishing 13th and sixth, respectively, in GC standings.

Beers was in the front group for sixth on the final day and secured his second consecutive Nedbank Gravel Burn title. He held on for a 32-second gap over second-placed Colombo after 17 hours, 47 minutes and 42 seconds, while Nortje finished third overall, 59 seconds back.

Laing finished second on the stage and retained the orange jersey, which she never relented all week. She posted a time of 21 hours, 41 minutes, 50 seconds, including two stages victories. Last year's third-placed finisher Hayley Preen (ChemChamp Honeycomb) improved to second overall, 1:05 off the pace of the German rider. Clara Koppenburg (Tudor Pro) was 4:28 back for third.

Off-road specialists Matt Beers (Toyota Specialized) and Nele Laing (Canyon DT Swiss ATR) conquered South Africa’s Great Karoo to claim victory at the 2026 Nedbank Gravel Burn. Beers secured his second consecutive title, despite not winning a stage, while Laing dominated the women’s race, leading from start to finish and claiming two stage victories across the seven-day event.

Beers moved into the overall lead after finishing second to Filippo Colombo (SCOTT-SRAM) on stage 2, setting up a closely fought battle between the two riders for the remainder of the race. The South African prevailed, finishing 32 seconds ahead of Colombo. Tristan Nortje (Toyota Specialized Imbuko) completed the overall podium, 59 seconds behind the winner.

“I love stage racing and I love gravel, so this suits me. I had a really lucky week and it was such a close race. Racing abroad is always really hard, but racing at home on a big stage like this is great. I always try to take advantage of it and represent South Africa,” Beers said.

Laing, who was fourth at the UCI Gravel World Championships in Nannup, made an immediate impact by pulling on the orange leader’s jersey after winning the opening stage. The German reinforced her grip on the race with a second stage victory on stage 3 and maintained her lead through to the finish. Hayley Preen (ChemChamp Honeycomb), who also claimed two stage wins, finished second overall, 1:05 behind Laing. Clara Koppenburg (Tudor Pro Cycling) secured third place, 4:28 back.

“This was my first gravel stage race, and my first stage race this long. Being here in this beautiful environment in South Africa is special, and being here with my whole team was the best way to end the season,” Laing said.

Going into the final two stages, Beers held a 32-second lead over Colombo while Laing was still in the orange jersey with Preen at 56 seconds back.

The penultimate day of racing on stage 6, challenged the riders with highly variable road surfaces and several river crossings over the 76km route and 700m of climbing to the orange windmill finish outside the gates of Shamwari Private Game Reserve. American Griffin Easter (OpiCure Foundation) took the win from the breakaway in the pro men’s race.

“I crashed out last year after Stage 3, so I’m beyond stoked to be here this deep in the race and take the stage win. I’m pumped!” Easter said after his first stage win.

“On Stage 2 I broke a wheel, which killed my GC hopes. Since then, I’ve been trying hard to get away, and today it worked. I want to be here [at Nedbank Gravel Burn] for as long as this event is running. This win will stay with me for a long, long time.”

In the pro women’s stage 6, Nathalie Eklund (58&fam) was awarded the win after a commissaires’ ruling relegated three riders in the sprint. Nine riders were sprinting to the line, with previous stage winner Preen crossing the line first, but following a protest and a review of race footage, the commissaires relegated three riders - Preen, Koppenburg and Carolin Schiff (Canyon DT Swiss ATR) - for failing to heed a safety warning issued by a race official in the run-in to the sprint.

The final stage was then shortened to 59.5km with 1,050m of climbing. With time and kilometres running out, Colombo launched attack after attack, but though the accelerations forced a split, he was not able to drop Beers from the lead group. As the finish line approached, Hugo Drechou (Gravel Nation) launched from the back of the group and surged up the right-hand side to take his first stage win of the week.

Beers finished sixth in the tight group, to claim his second title. “The racing was a lot more intense and tactical this year. Filippo made my life properly difficult and gave it everything,” said Beers. “There was too much wind to do anything today other than cover the moves. I just had to race a clever race. Sometimes it’s boring, but often that’s how you win."

Five riders pulled away on a climb in the pro women’s stage, with Laing, Preen, Koppenburg, along with Alexis Skarda (SCOTT-SRAM) and Olivia Hottinger (SCOTT-SRAM). Skarda took advantage of Laing marking Preen to get away in the closing kilometres to take her first stage victory in the race.

Approaching the final finish line, Laing accelerated away from the bunch to add an additional 9 seconds to her GC lead.

“I was a little nervous this morning because I felt the pressure. We wanted to get the climber’s jersey back and keep the GC,” said Laing. “I was also quite excited about the race being shortened, as we knew the GC was pretty much safe.”

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A 'LT Pro Number' will now be required for riders to compete in the professional category across Life Time events, from the Sea Otter Qualifier in April to individual events that are part of the Life Time Grand Prix off-road series, including Unbound Gravel 200.

Many athletes will receive automatic approval for a LT Pro Number, based on past results in Life Time pro events, the Life Time Grand Prix series, as well as status with national and world championships, related to mountain bike or gravel.

Life Time, which owns and operates more than 195 athletic country clubs across the U.S. and Canada as well as endurance, cycling and running events, also outlined factors considered by a selection committee which will look at results in age groups and races outside the Life Time family.

Safety was the driving factor to implement the new criteria, based on results as well as past experience. The process was also seen as a way to "further professionalize the sport", as the Life Time Grand Prix enters a sixth season in 2027.

“We love that our events bring together athletes of all ages and abilities, and create opportunities for people to challenge themselves. At the same time, mass participant events like Unbound and Leadville are fast and can be tightly packed, particularly at the front of the field.

"Establishing clear, performance-based criteria for the Pro start helps ensure riders competing at the front have demonstrated the experience and ability to race safely at that level, while providing a transparent pathway for athletes to earn their place," Michelle Duffy, director of the Life Time Grand Prix, stated in the announcement on Thursday.

Concerns about the scramble for positioning at the front of the elite fields had been raised in the past by athletes themselves, especially at the two most demanding races - Unbound Gravel 200 and Leadville Trail 100 MTB.

During the Unbound Gravel 200 two years ago, there were several crashes involving less-experienced riders with Grand Prix contenders in the first six miles. The new protocols will help ensure riders have "demonstrated the ability and experience to compete at the front of the fast-race starts" before they line up, according to Life Time.

This new vetting system requires each rider to register online, with one approval covering all events for one year. The LT Pro Number does not guarantee entry, with registration or lottery request still required.

For LT Pro Qualifier races, such as Sea Otter Classic Gravel 60, Sea Otter Classic Fuego XL, Lutsen 99er and four other events, the races are open to all participants and no LT Pro Number is required. With good results, a rider can earn an LT Pro Number in order to complete registration for LT Pro events.

Life Time noted that the entire process would be transparent, with all cut off times and qualifying places posted publicly for athletes to track.

Eligibility details and forms can be found at the Life Time Grand Prix website.

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If you're taking your training indoors for winter. Then here at Cyclingnews, it's Indoor Cycling Week, and our experts have been highlighting everything you need to start or upgrade your indoor setup. From finding the best cycling apps to choosing the best smart trainers to suit your requirements and budget.

Apart from the obvious requirements of a bike, smart trainer or smart bike, and a cycling app, the addition of the best indoor cycling accessories, indoor-specific clothing and shoes can add real value to your indoor sessions.

Get the Giro Cadet Indoor Cycling Shoe for just $125.95 and save $49 at Amazon.

Our pick as the best indoor cycling shoes is the Giro Cadet, and right now on Amazon they are carrying a huge 28% discount. It takes them down to just $125.95 from the usual $174.95.

For UK shoppers, the Giro Cadet is discounted to £125, from £150 at Balfe's Bikes, which is a 17% reduction there. It's only available in white, but the majority of sizes are showing as in stock.

The Giro Cadet is marketed as a dual-purpose road shoe for riding both at home and outdoors, designed to bridge the gap between road performance and indoor training. For dedicated indoor use, our gear experts picked it as the best overall choice.

Key highlights include a one-piece perforated Synchwire upper that maximises ventilation and dries quickly, keeping feet cooler during intense trainer intervals. The build also keeps things reasonably light, with a claimed weight of around 265g per shoe in a men's size 42.

While it's not as featherweight as top-tier road shoes (which often hover around 200–220g), the small weight trade-off brings versatility. The Cadet can accommodate both 2-bolt and 3-bolt cleat setups. True dual-compatibility is rare in a sleek road shoe, giving you the flexibility to clip into traditional road pedals or use 2-bolt spin-bike setups without swapping shoes.

Underneath, the Cadet features a carbon-reinforced nylon composite outsole. It strikes a sweet spot between comfort and power transfer. It's rigid enough to eliminate flex during high-wattage standing sprints, yet forgiving enough to prevent hot spots during long, static turbo sessions.

Finally, the Cadet features a quick-release BOA L6 dial that lets you pop the shoe off immediately after a session. While it skips the dual-direction micro-adjustments found on premium shoes, it keeps costs down without compromising overall performance.

If you are looking for an all-in-one indoor riding setup, then Zwift currently has 10% off the Zwift Ride V2 bundle. Or if you wish to use your own bike, there is 10% off the Wahoo Kickr Core 2 with Cog and Click.

Alison Jackson (St Michel-Preference Home-Auber93) ignited the fourth day of racing at Nedbank Gravel Burn as the elite women contested their first bunch sprint, and the Canadian scored the unexpected victory after recovering from a mechanical.

Jackson returned for her second appearance at the weeklong 750km South African gravel stage race, where she finished 11th overall last year, and was looking for her first stage win.

“I approached this year differently; last year I had a surf camp ahead of the event but this year I kept riding, so I had no excuses. The first few days didn’t go to plan with crashes and mechanicals, but you never give up," Jackson told organisers.

Jackson began the opening day of racing from Graaff-Reinet in the lead pack, which was split with 49km to go on the climb of Conical Peak, where Nele Laing (Canyon DT Swiss ATR) accelerated away. Jackson suffered a crash and then struggled in the chase on the hilly 90km route, finishing 7:30 off the pace to begin the week in seventh overall.

The next two stages combined for 242km and nearly 2,000 metres of elevation gain as the race moved south into the Great Karoo, a vast desert-like landscape that translates to 'land of thirst'. The GC standings settled into place with Laing in the lead, South African gravel champion Hayley Preen (ChemChamp Honeycomb) in second place and Clara Koppenburg (Tudor Pro) in third, with Jackson into eighth.

During the loop route Wednesday through valley roads and then a climb back to Merino, Jackson dropped out of the lead group to deal with a battery mechanical on the rear derailleur. As the race camera caught her working on the bike at an aid station, she said, "I can still win this day", and this proved to be a true statement.

She worked her way back on the loose gravel and dry dirt to catch the lead pack, and then surged from the 12-rider group in the closing 500 metres to win the stage.

"I know I can sprint – a sprinter can always sprint at the end; it doesn’t matter how tired you are,” the former Paris-Roubaix champion confirmed after the win. She's had a number of top 10s on the road this year, including stage 4 of the Giro d'Italia plus the time trial and road race at Canadian Nationals. At the UCI Gravel World Series event, The Gralloch, earlier this year, she finished sixth.

Laing comes to the race for the first time fresh off fourth place at UCI Gravel World Championships. She finished safely in the bunch behind Canyon DT Swiss ATR teammates, third place going to Larissa Hartog, who was also third at UCI Gravel Worlds for the Netherlands, and Carolin Schiff in sixth, and Jade Treffeisen going 10th. The German took the first orange leader's jersey with the opening stage win and now has 56 seconds on Preen and 4:14 on Koppenburg.

The men's division saw their second sprint finish of the week so far, stage 4 with 13 riders going to the line in a cloud of dust, with South Africans Travis Stedman (Toyota Specialized Imbuko) and Ryan Gibbons (RoadCover SunGod) going one-two and USA's Cole Davis (SpeedStudio) in third.

GC leader Matthew Beers (Toyota Specialized) let the breakaway go and finished 2:41 back, marking his rivals, with second-placed Filippo Colombo (Scott-SRAM) 32 seconds back and third-placed Tristan Nortje (Toyota Specialized Imbuko) at 51 seconds.

The final three stages take the riders to Gwanishi and the southernmost point at the Shamwari Private Game Reserve in the south. Beers seeks a second consecutive GC title, while defending women's champion Axelle Dubau-Prevot (EF Education-Oatly) has work to do to move from 13th position and 8:23 from Laing.

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It's indoor cycling week here at Cyclingnews, and our experts will be bringing a week of indoor-riding advice and features, from the best cycling apps to buying advice on the best smart trainers.

The Wahoo Kickr V6 is undoubtedly one of the most impressive and expensive indoor smart trainers on the market. It holds the title of the best smart trainer for racing, and just narrowly missed out on the best overall to its more budget-friendly Wahoo Kickr Core 2 sibling.

Right now at Tredz you can pick up the Wahoo KICKR V6 for just £699, discounted by £75.99 from its usual £774.99.

If you're gearing up for indoor riding, you won't go wrong with either of these Wahoo offerings. However, if you want to take your indoor riding beyond fitness and casual spins, the Wahoo Kickr V6 takes things up a level, with an all-new Race Mode which uses WiFi capability to broadcast power up to 10x faster.

As well as seamless connectivity, this Wahoo Kickr deal is paired with the equally impressive Zwift Click and Cog virtual shifting system, perfect for Zwift racing. The Cog and Click is considered a significant tactical advantage, as virtual shifting changes resistance electronically at the trainer flywheel without moving the physical chain. So no risk of dropped chains, loud crunching, or hesitation that can come with a standard cassette when dumping gears during a sprint.

If you are looking for an all-in-one indoor set-up, then Zwift currently has 15% off the Zwift Ride V2 bundle. Or if you're after a more budget-friendly purchase, there is 20% off the Wahoo Kickr Core 2 with Cog and Click. You'll have to be quick, as these deals end very soon.

In his Wahoo Kickr V6 review, Cyclingnews' Associate Editor, Josh Croxton, awarded it a flawless 5 out of 5-star review. Although Josh chose to test the cassette version, the build is exactly the same as the Zwift Cog and Click version.

You get the hassle-free virtual shifting, and the Kickr's top-level specs include 2200-watt resistance, 20% gradient, +/- 1% accuracy and five-degree left-right movement courtesy of the Axis feet.

If you prefer a cassette model, then Wahoo has that available for £774.99.

This Wahoo Kickr deal is UK-only, but below you'll find the best deals available in your territory on Wahoo trainers, including the Kickr V6.

The third-generation Canyon Grail was released this September after being sighted earlier in the year at the Traka.

The Grail has been in the Canyon range since 2018 and is the brand's racier, performance-oriented model.

Gravel bikes designed for competition are becoming more aerodynamic, race-focused, and are getting bigger clearances; this latest update sees Canyon take the Grail down that path further still.

The new machine is more aero, lower, racier and now has 57mm tyre clearance. The previous Grail had 42mm clearance, so this is a big jump. That smaller clearance number was probably the key weak spot in the 2nd-gen bikes' armour as gravel machines progressed at pace.

Canyon said it took its time with this update, and wanted to keep the Grail feeling like a Grail. I can understand that; the previous bike was one of the best gravel bikes and was pretty much universally regarded as a strong all-rounder.

This time around, I have tested the CF SLX 8 AXS, the model I also tested last time, in the eye-catching 'Strawberry Shake' colourway. The price for this second-tier CF SLX model is $5,999 / £4,799 / €4,999.

Design and aesthetics

You can see the outgoing Grail up above and compare the visual differences, but let's cover what exactly has changed first.

Tyre clearance has really been boosted from 42mm up to 57mm, and that new number is a big talking point when it comes to the new Grail.

Canyon has achieved this by using a thin but solid section of driveside chainstay and by growing the rear chainstays by 10mm. Up front, a revised fork provides plenty of clearance. 57mm + 4mm either side in line with ISO guidelines.

The new frame is a little heavier; my Gen 2 CF SLX 8 weighed in at 8.2 kg out of the box. This time we were at 9kg on my scales. If you're a racer, the increased aero will probably make you faster, depending on speed, but as a general gravel bike for an everyday rider, I think the added weight at times makes the bike feel just a touch less nimble.

The frame has some deeper tube profiles and more aero overall shapes; you can read about Canyon's claims regarding aero performance in our Grail news piece.

The seat tube/seat post area is also very similar to the recently updated Canyon Endurace CF SLX road model.

On the aero topic, there's also a new, more aerodynamic seatpost, the SP0093 VCLS. Canyon says it offers 25% more vertical compliance than a rigid unit.

The front end is more aggressive; it's now 15mm lower, but Canyon is speccing shorter stems on models. Small to large bikes come with an 80mm stem as well as an adjustable 390-440cm bar. The stem has been pretty much ideal for me, but bigger riders or those wanting a long reach may want or need a longer front end.

On the geometry, the Grail has received some slight tweaks, but on paper things are very similar to the old bike. For a small, my size, the head tube angle of 71.5 degrees stays the same, and the seat tube angle steepens slightly, going from 73.5 to 73.9 degrees.

The chainstays have grown by 10mm, and the wheelbase is 5mm longer. The stack is 15mm lower, whilst the reach number is the same.

That stem is part of the adjustable CP0048 integrated handlebar with width-adjustable Control bar drops. You can buy alternate drops or handlebars, but you will have to pay extra to do it.

The CF SLX model also has full fender mounts, something the race-focused CFR model doesn't. If you choose to use the Canyon FAST Fender system, you won't be disappointed; it's very easy to use and provides excellent protection in bad weather. Don't forget you may need to come down in tyre size with them depending on what you are running.

Canyon has also produced some new frame storage bags for the bike in partnership with Cyclite; these are lightweight options and integrate neatly. They are available separately for $119.99 for the big bag, and $69.99 for the top tube option.

The CF SLX 8 arrived with a solid range of equipment. There's an excellent SRAM Force XPLR groupset with a left-hand power meter. Stock cranks are also 165mm in length, very on-trend.

The wheels are carbon fibre DT Swiss GRC 1400s, a hardy and aerodynamic option. They are wrapped in 45mm Schwalbe G One RS tyres. Some may criticise the decision not to fit a 50mm+ tyre from the off, but there is nothing wrong with the stock 45mm tyres.

Performance

I'm constantly impressed by just how capable a good gravel bike is these days. They can do so much, so well. The Grail CF SLX is no exception; it's performed well everywhere.

It goes fast on the flat and on smoother gravel and broken tarmac. I often leave the road behind on my to-go loop and enter a short descent into a long, straight gravel track; I get the Grail up to speed there, and it just eats the road up.

That lower front end helps a touch, but the bike doesn't feel aggressively low; it's a measured change. I like it.

The bike is stable at speed and under hard braking in the drops, and handles rough technical sections well. There's no doubt this is a hugely capable bike; I haven't found it wanting in any one area. The bar has been raised wholesale with modern gravel bikes; the differences are finer and more specific now, I find.

The Grail is undoubtedly more race-oriented; however, I don't find the CF SLX super stiff, and it doesn't feel quite as agile and, dare I say it, as fast as the Argon 18 Anti Matter I rode in the summer did.

It's a calmer experience with the Grail; it has not put a foot wrong on any terrain during my testing, but at times the ride feels a little muted.

Perhaps it's the capability of the overall package that just makes things feel calmer, or the longer chainstays, bigger rubber and slightly heavier wheelset (1600+ grams) on this model reducing some playfulness.

I started on the stock Schwalbe G One R 45mm tyres, then switched to big 2.2" Continental Dubnital tyres in their fastest version, and went back to the 45s, and I think I had more fun on the 45s at home riding solo.

The big tyres fit comfortably, and part of the reason for switching was to verify the bike's clearance myself. It's there, and the bike's proportions still look very normal. Canyon has executed it very well.

It's heartening to know that big clearance is there for when you need it, but a 45 or a 50mm tyre is still very capable, and the bike feels a little more nimble and exciting to ride, in my opinion. I'd maybe go big where needed if I was racing a gravel calendar, and run a 45 or 50mm tyre at home.

My standard advice now is to shop for a gravel bike with a SRAM XPLR 1x groupset if you are looking for a gravel bike. They are fantastic groupsets for off-road riding. I have no complaints about the drivetrain performance, and the brakes are fantastic for scrubbing off speed off-road.

At times my knees have scuffed the Cyclite top tube bag; I've found the bag material quite rough, sharp on the edges, even. It's my problem, but long term I'd probably need a different bag, or even no bag, to prevent knee grazing.

The strong speccing continues through the CF SLX 8 model; the drivetrain is excellent, and the wheel and tyres package is great; the Schwalbe G-One tyres are excellent all-rounders. The wheelset is a touch on the heavier side in its 50mm version; perhaps some lighter wheels may help boost the feeling of acceleration and nimbleness.

Aside from some rough bag material, the Grail has performed perfectly. No mechanical issues of any kind, which is always good.

Maintenance and servicing

We're heading into winter here in the UK, and my thoughts are already turning to winter maintenance. I've had to hose down a muddy Grail a few times already.

At risk of sounding like a broken record, the key maintenance area to watch here is the integrated handlebar and stem assembly. You can't remove the stem easily, so trapped water and dirt will stay inside the headset/head tube area. A full strip-down for replacements will be expensive. Look after it by minimising aggressive hosing, and consider a front fender in some conditions.

Elsewhere, I'd recommend staying on top of the seatpost clamp assembly, thru-axles, and AXS rear derailleur sleeve in general. There's also a press-fit bottom bracket, which shouldn't cause too much of a headache, really. Though, of course, creaks do arise sometimes.

Value

You're starting in a competitive place immediately with Canyon's direct pricing.

This bike costs $5,999 / £4,799 / €4,999 at RRP. The SRAM Force XPLR-equipped Factor Sarana I tested in the summer costs $2,500 more than this bike. Though you can spec your desired bar width and stem length at checkout with the Factor.

There's a solid spec with no gaps here, and any and all spare parts or hardware you might need are easily found on the Canyon site. The Grail range also has several cheaper bikes with this, and in my experience, Canyon bike specs are generally solid.

As ever with Canyon models, it would be nice to get the computer mount included with the bike, and you will, of course, need to buy any accesories you need separately, such as the frame storage bag, frame bags, or mudguards.

Verdict

The latest Canyon Grail is a massively capable bike that will handle pretty much whatever you throw at it; it's a tank.

Canyon has given it a thorough update and improved the areas that were seen as the weaknesses of the old bike, namely the conservative tyre clearance. Riders and racers alike can now go as large as they want depending on preference or the demands of a course, that's to say nothing of mud clearance.

As I said in my first ride piece, the Grail still largely feels like a Grail; performance and capability have increased. I'll hammer the point home: this is a massively capable gravel bike, but it isn't quite as lively as the previous bike.

Perhaps this is where gravel bikes are now heading; if you're a racer looking for the most capable aero race bike with big clearance, you can just get on and race, then step this way.

The first 2027 Australian qualifier of the UCI Gravel World Series, Gravelista, crowned two very different first time series winners. The 19-year-old Ruby Taylor claimed the elite women's victory and an Olympic silver medallist in rowing, Great Britain's Harry Leask, won the elite men's category.

They both, however, crossed the line solo in muddy and wet conditions after the race, for a second year, was hit by a cool turn in the spring conditions. That resulted in a shortening of the original 135km course to 97.1km with 1,154m of elevation gain.

Taylor excelled in the conditions to take her first UCI Gravel World Series elite victory in dominating style. The young rider, who won the junior Australian gravel title two years ago, crossed the line after three hours, eight minutes and 36 seconds with a margin of nearly nine minutes to the closest women's competitor, Laura Tomlinson, who was riding in the 19-34 year old age-group category.

The 40-44 rider Belen Lopez Morales, who from 2011-13 claimed the Spanish time trial title on the road, was next over the line and it was then a group of six, including Great Britain's Hayley Simmonds, at nearly 11 minutes that fought for the next places in the overall and the remaining two spots on the elite women's podium.

The 35-39 category rider Philippa Birch won that sprint and then elite women's category riders Karoline Risager Schmidt – who finished in the top 30 at the UCI Gravel World Championships in Nannup – and Amanda Poulsen took the next two positions. In the process, Risager Schmidt and Poulsen also came second and third in the elite category.

For Taylor the top step was the continuation of a year where she hasn't just been easing her way out of the junior ranks, but blasting into a new category with victories that have often left her older and more experienced rivals leagues behind.

The run of successes has crossed disciplines and includes two stage wins at the three-stage ProVelo Super League round of the Tour of Tasmania plus an U23 Australian XCO Mountain Bike title that not only saw her shed her category rivals but also make up the one minute deficit at the start line to nearly all the elite women out on the course, the only exception being elite victor Rebecca Henderson.

In the men's elite race at Gravelista, which started and finished in Seymour in Victoria, the field included former Australian gravel champions Mark O'Brien and Connor Sens as well as past UCI Gravel World Series race winner Tasman Nankervis but Leask had also marked himself out as a potential threat with second at Devils Cardigan earlier this year.

Leask, who after rowing also became a cyclor in the America's Cup, made a crucial early move with Nankervis and O'Brien.

"Another wet and muddy race. Managed to get away 3 up after the main climb at 30k, then was able to get a gap in the last 6/7k to come across the line solo," said Leask in a post on social media.

The British rider crossed the line in two hours, 31 minutes and 16 seconds, which was 23 seconds ahead of second-placed Nankervis. O'Brien, a further four seconds back, claimed third in the elite category. It was then more than three minutes later when a group of four riders crossed the line to fight for fourth place, with Oliver Johnston leading them over.

Gravelista is one of the early qualifying events for the 2027 UCI Gravel World Championships, which will take place in Châtel on August 26 and 27.

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Rosa Klöser (Canyon-SRAM-MAAP) defended her title at Alentejo Gravel in Portugal on Sunday while Filipe Francisco (Aviludo-Lauletano-Loulé) out-sprinted two Belgian rivals to win the elite men's division at the 2027 UCI Gravel World Series event.

A silver medallist at this year's UCI Gravel World Championships in Nannup two weeks ago, Klöser went back to work and won her third UCI Gravel World Series race of the year, this one counting towards qualification for next year's rainbow jersey race.

The German was part of a small group of six riders who chased two escapees across the first half of the 119km course in southern Portugal and then she rode away solo for the win in a time of 3:42:32, a full 11 minutes ahead of Sarah Lange. Émilie Morier (St Michel-Preference Home-Auber93) of France was third, another 6:39 behind the US rider.

Ester Maqueda set the pace with a solo charge and opened a three-minute advantage on Celina Carpinteiro (CDASJ) with 61km to go. As the bulk of the 1,750 metres of climbing took place in the Algarve hills, it was on these southern-most dusty trails through Santa Clara A Nova where Klöser and Lange made their moves.

"The course did not have any long climbs so I figured my best move would be to use the 'climb-y' section of the course starting at mile 30 to try to break things up. I pushed the pace on the longest climb (which was still less than 4 minutes) and Rosa and I were able to get a gap on the rest of the ladies," Lange, who was eighth a week ago at Big Sugar Gravel, explained in an Instagram post.

"We worked together for the next 10 miles until the elite men came rolling by us. Rosa had the legs to hop on their train but I didn’t have that gear."

Klöser had planned to race Gravel Burn in South Africa this week, but changed her plans for the GWS event to stay closer to home, where her partner Paul Sandmann was recovering from "a freak accident with a car". She did not explain the details, as Sandmann also competed at Alentejo Gravel and finished ninth in the elite men's division.

"With a large gravel race calendar, choices are never easy. While I was really looking forward to race Gravel Burn, a last-minute change of plans (amongst others Paul [Sandmann] getting hit by a car) meant I was happy to return here again. Now it’s time for off-season!"

Alentejo Gravel debuted last year, with Lukas Malezsewski (GVA Gold Gravel) taking the elite men's victory. His bid to repeat fell short as he finished one spot off the podium, 2:22 away from a three-rider sprint.

Francesco, who earned the silver medal last month in a photo finish at Portugal's Gravel Nationals, was part of a three-rider breakaway that rode at the front with last year's runner-up Daan Grosemans and Olivier Godfroid (Baloise Verzekeringen-Het Poetsbureau Lions).

Riding on home roads in southern Portugal, Francesco edged Godfroid for the win with the same time of 3:18:00, and Grosemans another one second back for third.

The wrap-around calendar for qualification events in the UCI Gravel World Series had two races on two continents on Sunday, with a wet and muddy Gravelista contended in Seymour, Victoria, Australia. The next races take place in Thailand for Dustman Gravel on November 14 and Greece for The Gravel of Marathon on November 15.

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It was back in 2013 that Lachlan Morton, a young WorldTour professional with Garmin Sharp, set out on an adventure with his brother that spawned the Thereabouts series. That series set the Australian on a path that would eventually send him wildly deviating from the life as a professional cyclist he had once envisaged for himself and fully embracing the opportunity to run an alternate calendar at EF Pro Cycling.

Now, after eight years pushing the pedals in the pink kit of the team from the United States, the rider who has won Unbound 200, set a record time around Australia and captured the imagination with his Alt Tour of the Tour de France is branching out on his own. He confirmed his departure to Cycling Weekly earlier this month.

Morton's last race with the team was the brutally tough 61km Three Peaks Cyclo-cross in the United Kingdom – which he won – at the end of September and then he quickly set off on his final adventure with the squad. That was his effort to beat the 160-year-old 1,998-mile (3,217-kilometre) horseback record across the American West with his own set of steel steeds, and it was a feat he well and truly pulled off as he eclipsed the six-day 21 hours and 15 minute mark by 19 hours and 45 minutes.

It wasn't exactly a pre-mediated plan to deliver such a jam-packed final send-off to the EF colours,

"It just worked out like that," said Morton of piling the two very different efforts into a narrow window. "But I'm glad it did because it kind of felt like those two events sum up my time with the team pretty nicely.

"Combining a three-hour race with a week-long push, is like it's been in my time with the team. I've combined a lot of different disciplines and elements of racing, and I've always enjoyed that kind of challenge."

It also harked back to the time when Morton's adventures were his own, not under the guise of a team but in the case of the Thereabouts enterprises, a shared endeavour with his brother Angus.

It was important to Morton that he was there to capture this pivotal career moment too, in fact that was reason for the late-season position of the ride dubbed the 'Pony Express'. The timeline needed to be pushed a little later than originally envisaged because his filmmaker brother had welcomed a daughter into the world a couple of months ago, in what is proving to be an era of new beginnings for the siblings.

Early deviations – 'I'm sure that they were not stoked'

It's a little hard to imagine Morton as anything but the multidiscipline adventurer now, but there was a time when he couldn't even conceive of the path that he ended up following with EF Pro Cycling. After all, what was on show at the time he was starting out was a far narrower version of what you had to deliver to be able to ride your bike every day and call it a job.

"I was very much a road racer, and all my my goals were to succeed and win races and do as much as I could in the WorldTour, and then that sort of started to shift," Morton told Cyclingnews. "The more I was exposed to it, I guess I started to gradually follow the other passions in cycling and that was sort of happening outside of racing.

"But I never dreamed that I'd be able to race and follow those kind of passions, simultaneously or under one banner. Initially, it was definitely just kind of like a hobby, it was not very closely in line with with what I was doing for a job. I didn't think that the kind of set-up I've had at EF would ever be something that that I could actually do."

It certainly wasn't the norm for a WorldTour professional to go and spend his off season riding 2,500km to Uluru and filming the adventure along the way. But back then, a young Morton didn't really care to do the expected, and that was probably a good thing.

"I was pretty stubborn, and I would just do the things I was going to do anyway," said Morton when asked what the Garmin Sharp team thought when he embarked on the first of three Thereabouts adventures in 2013, with the next two in the Colorado Rocky Mountains and Colombia in the following three years. "So I don't think I really took notice of what people thought, you know. I think the film led reassessing a little bit what I was doing racing."

"I think around that period of time, in my second year with the team, I wasn't racing particularly well, I wasn't particularly happy, and I think in that time I was definitely pretty self-absorbed," said a frank Morton, who isn't afraid to lean into a bit of typical Aussie self deprecation.

"So I don't think I really cared too much what anyone thought, just like a typical like 20-year-old, 21-year-old who is trying to work things out. So yeah, I actually haven't really thought about what they thought. I'm sure that they were not stoked. Maybe, I remember my coach wasn't super happy about it."

Fast forward a few years to the EF Pro Cycling team that formed out of the shell of that original squad, and there was a wholly different attitude. In 2019 Morton, after his sojourn with Jelly Belly and Dimension Data – decided to head back to a set up which was now far more enthused about embracing the unconventional.

It was, in fact, a move he made even though at that point he was quite content in the WorldTour.

"With Dimension Data, I found that as a professional. I was like, 'OK, I found a nice groove here where I can be happy in my life, training and doing this thing and accept the level that'll get me," said Morton.

But the lure of alternative plan was too hard to pass up.

"I remember speaking with some friends of mine at Rapha at the time, and they sort of mentioned the possibility of this idea," said Morton. "Initially, there wasn't any team really attached to it, and still I committed to doing it, which at the time felt sort of risky because it didn't really exist at that time, and cycling, I think, was even more traditional at that time.

"So there was a slight worry about if I was able to do this thing. And then if it doesn't work, if it could be hard to be taken seriously after that. I also didn't know physically, when I started to do longer distance stuff, how that would affect my ability to race. I don't think anyone really knew at that time, but it was just too good of an opportunity, and there were too many things that I realised that I wanted to do other than just road racing, so I was like, 'OK, let's go for it'."

All in on the alternative calendar

Initially while at EF Pro Cycling, Morton combined his alternative calendar with stints of racing with the WorldTour team "as needed". However, as time progressed and Covid came and went, dropping that made more and more sense, particularly with the build in level that meant ducking into the pro road peloton less than ideally prepared was a huge challenge.

"As a rider, I've never had biggest engine, so I need to show up really prepared generally, especially in in that kind of racing," said Morton, who didn't have the room for the type of preparation required given the alternate schedule commitments.

"It was very hard to do the job I needed to do at the race, but also mentally to just like show up and get your head kicked in. So yeah, it just no longer made sense to me to be doing that, especially when it's like there's 18-year-olds who are knocking on the door that deserved that spot more than I did."

By that time, however, there was no doubt of the value of the alternative calendar with the 'Alt Tour' in 2021 a validating experience that capture the public's imagination and showed that "if you do things a little bit outside the box, there's still space for it, it still exists alongside the traditional path," explained Morton.

That and his latest adventure, inspired by an affinity for the courage and tradition of the Pony Express riders that delivered mail through the harsh terrain, were two of the memorable moments he picked out from his time with the team when we spoke to him in the days following the conclusion of his last adventure under its umbrella.

"That was really, really satisfying, from the the group of people I had there and then the route itself, and then the way I was able to ride it. That was a dream one for me, and also to be so removed from cycling in a way, the route itself, it's not one that's been ridden a lot," said Morton.

"It was also cool to get to a point where you could say to the team, 'Hey, I want to do this', and there wasn't a huge amount of questioning about it. There was a trust."

'It's just time'

That trust, and evident satisfaction that comes through from Morton when discussing his time with the team raises on big question. Why is he leaving?

"Above everything, I think it's just time is probably the biggest reason," said Morton. "I also don't want to be just going through the motions, knowing I can just do this thing that that works for everyone and just kind of be comfortable in doing that.

"The sport has changed very dramatically, I would say, in the last seven years that I've been with the team, and the the focus that is needed on performance I think is pretty drastic. I just don't see myself fitting in with that really anymore."

So where does he see himself fitting and what are his plans now?

"I think there's some even longer rides I would like to do, and being able to have complete flexibility in my calendar, there's space to be like, 'OK, yes I can go on a ride for like six weeks here' which I'm really excited for," he said.

"I'm also excited to have time to go to specific places and dive into the cycling culture that exists there and learn in a way. Without going into the specifics of routes and places, I think there's a lot of learning I know I'm going to have to do and I'm excited for that."

Still, many things will also be similar, as while Morton says he is well aware of the benefits of the support he gets from the squad, he has put together a good group to fill some of those gaps. Plus the plan is to continue on the path of chasing a mix of races – with Leadville among his goals – and challenges that motivate him. There will, however, perhaps be more of an emphasis on the travel and exploration side of riding, much like where it all began with Thereabouts.

"I've had a lot of a lot of freedom," said Morton of his time with EF. "There hasn't been a lot of compromise on what I would like to do but I just think I'm interested to see where I end up with it, and the things I can do without that kind of attachment and also without the safety net.

"As a 34-year-old man, that has grown up in teams since I was 18 years old, I think it's time for me to get out there by myself."

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After a season full of setbacks and his contract with Lotto-Intermarché coming to an end, Taco van der Hoorn is uncertain whether he will be in the pro peloton in 2027, according to Weilerflits.

The 32-year-old made his reputation as one of the most aggressive riders in the bunch, and his breakaways paid off with a Giro d'Italia stage win in 2021 and a handful of one-day race victories.

However, he was sidelined for most of two seasons after a crash in the 2023 Tour of Flanders left him with severe concussion symptoms. He made his return late in 2024, going on to win the Elfstedenrace, but his last two years have been riddled with illness and injury, which can make contract negotiations difficult.

"At the moment, I actually have no idea what I'm going to do next year," Van der Hoorn said. "There is still a possibility that I will stay with my current team, but it is also possible that I will have to leave. There is also contact with other teams, but that is far from concrete at the moment. So it could go in any direction. It is quite possible that I will still be riding in the WorldTour next year, but it is also possible that I won't be able to find a team at all."

Teams have already had to file their paperwork, including rider contracts to the UCI for the coming season, but there is still time for riders out of contract to find teams before January. Van der Hoorn says his chances of finding a team are fifty-fifty.

"It could just turn out the right way, but it could also just not ... There are still a lot of good riders available on the market for many teams. That makes it difficult. I would really like to continue, because I still enjoy training, racing, and professional life immensely. The difficult thing is that you don't have it entirely in your own hands."

A litany of physical problems, including knee surgery in February and then compensatory pain in the other knee, ruined his spring. Then, just as he was getting back to his top form, another setback hit.

"In Poland, I was really good again. I was part of breakaways and noticed that I was starting to ride at my old level again. That was a huge relief. I regained the confidence that I could still fight for a win this year. And then I crashed again."

His fall in the Renewi Tour left him with a broken hand and elbow, but he still geared up for a return in October, closing out his season at the Eneco Tour.

"It wasn't easy mentally to get myself there again," he said. "But I wanted to try one more time. Of course, I felt the urge to prove myself. I wanted to show that I am still good enough."

Van der Hoorn believes he still has more to give to the sport, like controlling breakaways for a team leader, mentoring young riders or even taking up a completely different sport.

"Suppose it doesn't work out to stay in the WorldTour or as a pro on the road at all, then I could also take up gravel. There are no concrete plans for that yet, but it is something I aspire to. I just really still enjoy cycling and have a competitive mindset. Moreover, I could combine that well with finishing my studies."

Van der Hoorn studied exercise science and is currently pursuing a degree in psychology.

"I think that with my studies and ten years of experience as a pro, I have quite a strong CV to get started somewhere in sports. For example, as a trainer or mentoring young riders. But I don't have any concrete plans for that yet. If I don't manage to find a contract, it could just as easily be that I take a year off and focus entirely on my studies. I wouldn't mind that at all.

"If it ultimately doesn't work out, then so be it. For now, I still hope that I can continue my career as a professional cyclist. I am open to any adventure that comes my way."

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Keegan Swenson and Sofia Gomez Villafañe, both with Specialized Off-road, claimed overall titles in the Life Time Grand Prix on Saturday, each winning respective elite divisions for a fourth time in five years.

The husband-wife duo may host the same trophies, but their paths were considerably contrasting across the six-race series. Villafañe, who now has four consecutive series wins, topped the leaderboard from start to finish across five of the six races in which she competed, with victories at Sea Otter Classic Gravel, Unbound Gravel 200 and Chequamegon MTB.

Swenson, who was unseated as champion last year after a trio of winning seasons, didn't move into the top position until after Unbound 200 and his win at Leadville Trail 100, but never padded his lead by a large margin. The former World Champion in MTB Marathon was consistent, and held off Australian Brendan Johnston by just one point once the dust settled after the series finale at Big Sugar Gravel presented by Kenetik. Matthew Wilson, who gained entry as a wildcard this year, was three points behind Swenson for third.

Swenson's margin of victory was the slimmest in the five years of the Grand Prix. On the other side, Villafañe won by her largest margin in four years, scoring 21 points more than runner-up Hayley Preen and 25 points more than third-placed Cecily Decker.

"Although it’s the fourth one, this win is by far the most special and for sure the one I had to work the hardest for," Swenson posted hours after finishing Big Sugar Gravel, a mandatory race start required for final standings.

"I made it extra hard on myself by flatting just 13 miles into the race…. I was nearly 5 minutes down at one point but figured I had nothing to lose. So I just put the pedal to the floor and ran the motor to the limit. 24th overall but salvaged 13th in the Grand Prix by the finish and bagged just enough points to win the overall by the skin of my teeth."

Swenson took the tough path, and Villafañe the easy path, to claim $50,000 each as series winners, as well as new trophies and invitations to compete again in 2027.

Johnston received $33,000 and the 2027 invitation, equal to Preen for elite women, but was left to reflect on the "ifs and buts" of his season on where he could have done something, anything, extra. It came down to math, not effort, he concluded.

"I fought from the drop of the flag right to the line at yesterday’s Big Sugar, worked through the extreme tactical battles and executed it exactly as I’d planned. I tried to win the race," he wrote on Instagram, going to the finish in the front bunch of nine and sprinting to seventh.

"I overcame multiple disasters at Unbound Gravel to make the podium there. I worked harder and invested in Leadville for a career best result. I raced with instinct and freedom at Chequamegon to finish P2 there. I missed my only shot at a home world championships to claim points at Little Sugar. I spent 400 hours travelling just to Life Time Grand Prix events alone.

"So while I have spent the past 24 hours pondering ifs and buts, it’s been a proud season for me on reflection."

What probably stung the most was his decision to forgo the long-distance travel to Western Australia for UCI Gravel World Championships to focus on the Grand Prix. He netted fourth-place points at Little Sugar, and it could not tip the scales. If he had found one point somewhere, his fifth-place points at Big Sugar would have given him the tie-breaker over Swenson on Saturday.

Both Swenson and Villafañe skipped Little Sugar MTB to compete at the UCI Gravel Worlds, both having leads in the Grand Prix and having travel costs covered in full by Specialized Off-road. They both finished sixth in elite races, then just had to have moderate finishes at Big Sugar to seal the deal.

Last year's men's champion Cameron Jones, as well as runner-up Simon Pellaud, missed the top 10 this year, Jones going 12th overall and Pellaud 13th. Newcomers to the LTGP, Andreas Seewald and Mārtinš Blūms, finished sixth and seventh, respectively.

On the women's side, Melisa Rollins, Lauren De Crescenzo and Hannah Otto missed the top 10 this year, while newcomer Karolina Migoń finished fourth.

All riders in the top 10s of the Grand Prix earn a share in the $350,000 prize purse, and receive automatic entries into the invitation-only competition next season. The 2027 LTGP will offer seven events, The Rad Dirt Fest back in the summer.

Top 10 Life Time Grand Prix 2026

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Stella Hobbs (MAAP-ENVE) soloed to victory in the elite women's gravel race at Big Sugar Classic in Bentonville, Arkansas on Saturday. From a four-rider chase group, Sofia Gomez Villafañe (Specialized Off-road) won the sprint for second and Hayley Preen (ChemChamp Honeycomb) secured third.

Karolina Migoń (PAS Racing) jumped early to the front before the final left-hand bend that led to the uphill straightaway, and she finished fifth, passed at the end by Kylee Hanel (Cervelo-Maxxis).

The race was the sixth and final event in the Life Time Grand Prix. Overall leader Villafañe took a 12-point lead into the race and added to that margin to win her fourth series title in five years. Preen secured her second place overall with her third-place finish, while Hobbs moved up to 12th overall.

Last year in the storm-shortened Arkansas event, Hobbs finished third. The year before on the traditional 100-plus mile route, she finished seventh. A podium spot was a target to make a big move from 12th in the series into the top 10, where the season-ending prize purse of $350,000 would be shared among women and men.

"I have often said here I would just really like to see the front of the race finish. I've always wanted that, and that can be a really good motivator," Hobbs told organisers at the finish.

"When I broke away over the top of the 'power line' climb, I thought, maybe. And then I quickly backed myself down from that. Then we have those two paved climbs into the finish, and I did not believe that I would get over the top of both of those without getting caught, until I was through [the climbs and final corners], and then I finally believed I could win it.

"This is my favourite race on the calendar. I would say the first half I wasn't so sure if it would be my favourite race of the day. We just had such a big group, and I kind of lost track of myself and didn't really know what I should be doing or where I should be. But by the second half, I remembered how much I love it here."

Villafañe said the race was made in the second half, where climbing was more substantial at a 24% gradient along a rough road after the final checkpoint and riders had to overcome tired legs.

"You start to have a lot of climbs, and you had Paige [Onweller] really looking to animate the race, and Karo [Migoń] was animating, and so was I. The group just slowly started to whittle down, whittle down, and really going into the second feed zone, Stella was really, really pushing the pace, and I was like, I think this girl has winning legs today. But I didn't want to quite tell her that.

"I was hoping to make it up the power line climb with her, and then be able to go. We tried really hard to bring Stella back and we couldn't.

"Super hard day. It was actually very, very tactical. I am super happy to have a good ride," Villafañe told Life Time broadcast at the finish.

One of the surprising moves of the day came from Hanel, the U23 leader in the Life Time Grand Prix who stayed with the elites to the end. The result should give her the women's U23 title. A total of 18 of the top 20 riders in Big Sugar were part of the Life Time Grand Prix.

Bold move on steep climb

A total of 53 women took the early-morning start in Bentonville 10 minutes after the elite men. The front group held together across the early 30 miles of mixed terrain in northwest Arkansas, crossing into Missouri, with Morgan Aguirre (PAS Racing), Hannah Otto (Scott Sports USA) and the stars-and-stripes of US gravel national champion Paige Onweller (Trek Driftless) at the front.

The climbing picked up beyond the first aid station in Pineville, and New Zealander Charlotte Clarke took a flyer after two hours of racing.

With under 55 miles to go, Clarke's escapade was over and she found herself in a chasing group behind a new lead pack, Villafañe with Onweller, Migoń, Cecile Lejeune (Trek Driftless), Hobbs, Preen, and Sarah Lange, as well as women's U23 rivals Samanth Johnson (Lunchbox Racing) and Hanel.

Heading to the final checkpoint near Washburn, Missouri at Rockford Grange, the lead group hit out on one of the rougher roads with a two-minute margin on solo attacker Lauren De Crescenzo. There was a 1:20 gap to the next group of chasers, which included Johnson, Agurirre, Alexis Skarda, Danni Shrosbree, Haley Smith, Ruby Ryan, Samara Sheppard, Emma Langley and Decker. Otto had fallen off the pace, riding in 19th position.

Six riders - Villafane, Hobbs, Onweller, Preen, Migon and Lejeune rolled through Rockford Grange in a long line as they took final hydration, none stopping for technical assistance. Lange dangled about 10 seconds back with Hanel close by. They were all together once on a short paved section.

Back on gravel, on a steep climb with loose dirt and rocks, Hobbs punched hard and gained a little gap, as a few riders swerved and tried to stay upright behind, now in chase mode. She gained 25 seconds at the top of the climb, and another 33 seconds across the next 10 miles, leaving 15 miles to go.

Hobbs continued to build her lead and never saw the chasers in her rear view, gliding across the pavement at the finish line with her first Life Time event victory.

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Results elite women's top 25

Tobias Mørch Kongstad (PAS Racing) led out a nine-rider sprint and won the Life Time 2026 Big Sugar Classic gravel race on Saturday in Bentonville, Arkansas.

The third-placed finisher at this year's Unbound Gravel 200 was part of an early breakaway and then chased back to the lead pack to take the win in 4:36:03. He finished ahead of a pair of Life Time Grand Prix contenders, Mārtiņš Blūms (Velo Express) taking second and Cole Paton (Giant-RCC) in third.

Cole Davis (SpeedStudio-Basso), like Kongstad not looking for Grand Prix points, was one second back in fourth. The next four spots were filled by Grand Prix contenders, Matt Wilson (Scott Sports USA) going fifth, Drew Dillman sixth, Brendan Johnston (Giant) seventh and Andreas Seewald (Singer KTM Racing) eighth. Gliding across the line at the back of the bunch in ninth was former collegiate racer Henry Nelson (Lunchbox Racing).

The race was the sixth and final event in the Life Time Grand Prix. Overall leader Keegan Swenson (Specialized Off-road) had an early mechanical that hindered his catch of front groups and he finished 3:41 off the pace, 24th overall. His 13th place finish in the Grand Prix provided enough of a margin for him to take back the overall title, just one point ahead of Johnston.

"I just tried my best in the sprint, and sometimes your best is enough. And yeah, it was good," Kongstad told organisers at the finish, not thinking about the series at all.

He escaped early and led much of the first half of the 101.4-mile race with Hayden Christian (Trek Driftless-MAAP), as the two lost a third partner, John Borstelmann (Ventum), to a mechanical.

"I'm just lucky that my competitors still allow me to go into breakaway. I got caught at the bottom of a super steep climb out there, and that was not the best. But I tried to manage my effort before I got caught, so I was not fully cooked.

"So from there on, I think I played a technical game, saying to guys, "Hey guys, I've been in breakaway all day. I cannot pull'. Luckily, I convinced them. Sometimes you just need to play your cards right."

Blūms admitted he went off course early in the race and rode with Simon Pellaud (Cervelo-Assos-Maxxis) to get back to a big group. He was the top finisher in the Grand Prix at the race.

"I was with Pellaud way back behind the big bunch because he got a flat. I took the wrong turn. I had to turn back, and we didn't see the front group, so I had no clue what's happening in the front at all. We catched the front just before the first aid station. So we burned matches quite a lot to get there," he told Life Time livestream cameras.

"I was just trying to recover. I was struggling a lot at some point, but yeah, somehow I got in the rhythm. I tried to attack a couple times before the finish, and there were still some guys interested to chase me down.

"I just tried to stay more in the front because we were quite a big bunch there. At the finish last corners, I was still in the front there, so I just went on a couple of wheels and made my way through the bunch to second."

From breakaway to chaser to winner

The first shakeout of the day came from Brendan Johnston (Giant) and Matthew Wilson (Scott Sports USA), who moved away from the peloton in the first dozen miles but it was all back together with 80 miles to go as the first moderate climb led riders across the Arkansas state line into Missouri.

With 62 miles to go, a group of three riders had driven away and carved out a one minute gap - Kongstad, Borstelmann and Christian. Pellaud was back in the pack of chasers, having had to deal with a mechanical in the first 30km. He rode with Cole Paton, Bradyn Lange, Brendan Johnston, Matt Wilson, Alexey Vermeulen, Andreas Seewald and Cobe Freeburn, among the favourites.

Borstelmann then had a mechanical and had to stop on the side of the road, leaving Christian and Kongstad to set the pace. The duo held a 1:13 lead passing the checkpoint with under 50 miles to go. Chasing were 39 riders in a large pack, led by Cameron Jones (Scott Sports USA-RCC), last year's Grand Prix overall winner who was looking to get back into the top 10 at this final race.

Meanwhile, current overall Grand Prix leader Swenson was in 46th position, three-and-a-half minutes back, having suffered a mechanical early on and stopping for a wheel swap in an aid station.

The most northern part of the course completed, the two leaders carried only 40 seconds as they moved southward toward the second and final checkpoint near Washburn, Missouri at Rockford Grange, riding one of the rougher roads on the route.

Kongstad's lead was precarious, as with less than 27 miles to go Christian joined forces with seven others and began to close down the gap. Swenson was 2:40 back, making up some time.

One of the steepest climbs of the day, with 24% gradients, followed with 23 miles to go across the top and soon Kongstad was no longer alone. He drove on with 20 miles to go in a group with a pack that included Christian along with Seewald, Drew Dillman, Blums, Daxton Mock and Pellaud. Behind the new configuration of leaders by 50 seconds loomed Johnston with Cole Davis, Ryker Brand, Henry Nelson, Nathan Spratt and Wilson. More favourites were just another 20 back of that group, including Paton, Freeburn, and Jones.

Now back in Arkansas on some fast descents, six riders remained together at the front - Dillman, Blums, Mock, Seewald, Kongstad and Pellaud. Six others trailed by 32 seconds, kicking up the dusty doubletrack with 15 miles to go, and across the next few miles the two groups merged.

With 8 miles to go, Nelson gave it a go with a solo attack, now mixing with the 50-mile rider traffic. He carried his momentum onto the pavement and uphill section back to downtown Bentonville, the chasers not panicked as the former University of Arkansas rider was not in the Grand Prix.

With 2 miles to go and going past the Crystal Bridges Museum of American Art entrance, Nelson looked back and could sense the big favourites getting close. In the final mile he relented and was part of the final drag race, won by Kongstad.

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Results - elite men's top 25

The second edition of the seven-day Gravel Burn gravel stage race in South Africa, October 25-31, introduces a teams classification with points to determine standings and prizes. It will be the first such classification recognition at a gravel stage race.

Trade teams of three to four riders, as well as alliances of independent riders, will be eligible for the new classification. The top three riders from each team will earn points that will contribute to the daily standings.

Organisers developed the format in collaboration with several individuals, including pro road and gravel veteran Peter Stetina of Canyon x DT Swiss ATR and Adam Hansen, president of the CPA (Cyclistes Professionnels Associés), both having participated in last year’s inaugural race.

"This innovation provides another dimension to the racing and also rewards the riders’ efforts and the teams’ investment," said race founder Kevin Vermaak.

"Independent ‘privateer’ racers formed the foundation of professional gravel racing, adding to the ‘freedom’ and charm of gravel. We recognise that the emergence of ‘superteams’ is a threat to that. That’s why we opened the Teams Classification to all to help level the playing field, where they may form ad-hoc teams to compete with the more formal outfits.”

Canyon x DT Swiss ATR will field a women's team led by former Unbound Gravel 200 winner Carolin Schiff. They will also start two men's teams, one led by former US gravel champion Bradyn Lange. Scott-SRAM will have one team in each division, the women's team including Life Time Grand Prix contender Alexis Skarda and the men's team with Filippo Colombo, who won the UCI Gravel World Series Ceder race in February. Toyota Specialized Imbuko will have two men's teams with all-South African rosters, while Mattia De Marchi will lead a three-rider men's team for The Grip.

The solo race remains the foundation of Nedbank Gravel Burn, with a $150,000 US prize purse split equally between the pro women and pro men categories, including daily payouts to the top 3 and overall top 10. Gravel Burn is a full-service stage race in the Eastern Cape of South Africa, covering 750 kilometres and 8,500 metres of elevation gain.

Among the debutants for individuals are two-time Marathon MTB world champion Henrique Avancini of Brazil, multi-time Japanese XCO mountain bike champion Kohei Yamamoto, as well as 18-year road pro and a former Cape Epic winner Jakob Fuglsang.

Last year's men's champion Matt Beers returns, as well as runner-up Simon Pellaud. Women's champion Axelle Dubau-Prevot will defend her title, lining up against third-placed Hayley Preen.

Belgian Waffle Ride series seeks sixth event in Colorado

Five events have been confirmed for the Belgian Waffle Ride schedule next year, with a new Colorado event taking shape. Registration opened October 13 for a quartet of US events spread from March to September, while Mexico takes place in late November.

The sequence of events remains the same, opening in Arizona in early March and then moving to Southern California on May 2, the 16th season for the signature event. The Utah event in Cedar City shifts from June to mid-May, and the Bozeman, Montana event then moves from June to mid-September.

Event organisers Monuments of Gravel are looking to fill the summer with a new event in Colorado, though the location has not been named and it is not known if this will be part of the series. The final ride in the BWR mixed-surface collection will again be held in Mexico on November 21, but is not part of the elite series.

"What began as one questionable idea in San Diego has now carried us through more than 42 events, with a remarkable collection of riders, partners and friends giving it far more life than we could have imagined," noted BWR founder Michael Marckx.

The Quad-Tripel Crown of Gravel series has been offered for several seasons across the US-based collection of events, and will return with the best three of four races determining elite winners. A usual suspect in the series has been Utah, but it may be a standalone race in 2027, according to organisers, and could become a UCI Gravel World Series qualifier.

The Quad-Tripel Crown was won this year by Hayden Christian (Trek-MAAP Pro.Fwd) and Cécile Lejeune (Trek Driftless).

Belgian Waffle Ride schedule 2027

• March 6 - BWR Arizona
• May 2 - BWR California
• May 15 - BWR Utah
• July - tbd
• September 18 - BWR Montana
• November 21 - BWR Mexico

30th season for Grasshopper Adventure Series

The race schedule for the 2027 Grasshopper Adventure Series, now in its 30th year, was released with five races in northern California. The opener takes place at Low Gap on January 31, a 59-mile gravel event with 95% dirt tracks in Ukiah, and culminates at Ukiah Mendo Epic on May 23, a 70-mile mixed-terrain adventure in the same area.

The middle of the schedule includes the classic mixed-terrain Huffmaster on February 28, the road and climbing-heavy King Ridge on March 20 and the gravel-singletrack challenge of Jackson Forest on April 10.

Registration is open, and a series pass for all five events is $675, plus fees, with individual races at $155 each. Prices go up after November 30, two months before the opener.

Last year, Jen Tavé (SpeedBlock-Terún Pro Cycling) and Cassius Anderson (Marin Service Course) secured the overall titles for elite divisions in the five-race Grasshopper Series.

Grasshopper Adventure Series schedule 2027

• January 31 - Low Gap at Ukiah, California
• February 28 - Huffmaster at Maxwell, California
• March 20 - King Ridge at Guerneville, California
• April 10 - Jackson Forest at Casper, California
• May 23 - Ukiah Mendo Epic at Ukiah, California

On Friday Geerike Schreurs (Netherlands) could be seen out on a course reconnaissance of the final loop of the UCI Gravel World Championships, quick with a smile as she passed on the crucial Folly climb and looking every bit relaxed and ready for the challenge that lay ahead on Saturday.

The Dutch rider and her Specialized Off-Road team had put a big target on the event, coming out early and with plenty of support to make sure they made the most of this opportunity for a gravel rider to clinch the rainbow jersey. Their roster was thick with favourites and Schreurs was certainly prominent among them.

Heading into race day, where recent rain had made the course particularly tough, Schreurs remained every bit the contender through much of the opening stages of the 125.6km race with 3,179m of elevation gain. But before she could get into the second half, the situation changed dramatically.

"What started out with a perfect lead in and amazing support from the [Specialized Off-road ] team, became a nightmare in a split second," said Schreurs in a post on Instagram. "I was feeling great both physically and mentally heading into the race and up until the crash everything was going according to plan.

"It is crazy how fast things can change; my front wheel got caught in a rut, pulling me to the left into the ditch and I crashed hard. I knew immediately that something was wrong and I had a lot of pain in my back."

The rider, who won the very unofficial Gravel Worlds in Nebraska earlier this year, was clearly not going to be able to continue on in the pursuit of an official rainbow jersey. In fact, after the crash – with Ashleigh Moolman Pasio (South Africa) also coming down in the same rut – there were far more important things to be concerned about than a world title chase, with the Dutch Federation having earlier on Monday outlined what was a daunting list of injuries.

"A big thank you to [Ashleigh Moolman Pasio] for staying with me. A few ambulance rides and a medical helicopter ride later, I arrived at the hospital in Perth," said Schreurs. "As a result of the crash I sustained multiple fractures in my neck and spine as well as a broken collarbone and some broken ribs.

"I underwent surgery on my back yesterday and thankfully it went well. I will remain in Perth to recover for a few weeks before flying back to the Netherlands to continue my rehabilitation."

Schreurs, who has quickly become one of the strongest players in the gravel world, may be facing a challenging period but showed the determination so often on display in races when she talked of plotting a course through it.

"I am in good hands here and am going to get back to full strength step by step."

The dust, and mud, just settled from a weekend of furious racing across every field at the UCI Gravel World Championships, held this year in Nannup, Western Australia.

Pre-race, there was plenty of talk of the area's plentiful gravel roads providing the first 'real' Gravel World Championships course. Both the elite women's and men's races had over 80% gravel, which produced no-holds-barred racing.

Marianne Vos (Netherlands) took victory in the women's race, whilst Magnus Bak Klaris (Denmark) confirmed pre-race speculation that this might be the first year a non-European road pro might win the rainbow jersey by taking a classy win.

We took a look at some of the bikes and tech on offer thanks to experienced cycling photographer Russ Ellis (@cyclingimages). Gravel often provides a more varied and interesting range of things to look at compared to a WorldTour road race, and this year's Worlds was no exception.

Some of the year's hottest new gravel aero race bikes were on display, including the elite men's race-winning Factor Elara and the latest Canyon Grail CFR, both bikes with very healthy 57mm tyre clearances.

There was plenty of tape on tools and tyre plugs to be observed, as well as big rubber, mix-and-match groupset arrangements and some very interesting handlebar notes.

Gravel tech is only getting more exciting; we can't wait to see what next year brings.

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Dutch rider Geerike Schreurs suffered multiple fractures in a major crash at the UCI Gravel World Championships at the weekend, breaking vertebrae in her neck and back in the fall.

Schreurs crashed out of a strong chase group behind then-race leader Tiffany Cromwell, falling along with South Africa's Ashleigh Moolman-Pasio with just over 70km to run in the 125.6km race.

The 37-year-old underwent surgery on Sunday, the Dutch federation confirmed, with the operation going positively.

"As a result of her fall, she sustained several fractures, including fractures to her neck and spine. She underwent surgery yesterday, and thankfully, the operation went well," the federation said on Monday.

"Considering the circumstances, she is doing well. Her pain is under control, and she has been able to move both her arms and feet."

Schreurs is in for an extended hospital stay following her crash and operation. The federation stated that the length of her recovery is as-yet unknown.

"She will need to remain in hospital for at least another two weeks. At this stage, it is difficult to say how long her recovery will take or what it will look like. Our focus is on doing everything we can to give her the best possible chance of making a full recovery without any major limitations."

Schreurs was rounding out her season in Australia after another very strong gravel season in 2026. Racing for the Specialized Off-Road Team, she picked up wins at Gravel Desert by The Traka, Core4 in Iowa, the Lauf Gravel Worlds, The River by The Traka, and The Gralloch round of the UCI Gravel World Series.

Other season highlights have included a pair of second places (behind teammate Sofia Gomez Villafane at The Mid South and Unbound Gravel 200.

Schreurs, who has raced to 16th and 19th at the past two Gravel World Championships, unfortunately couldn't leave her mark on this year's race after her crash. However, she's already looking forward to getting back to competition, the Dutch federation said.

"There is still a long road ahead, and there will be ups and downs along the way, but she is incredibly strong and determined.

"Of course, her first question was, 'When can I ride my bike again?' — she is a cyclist through and through!"

The first UCI Gravel World Championships outside Europe certainly brought a different flavour to the rainbow jersey race, tucked in a corner of Western Australia where gravel is plentiful but infrastructure is a little more sparse. Though the organisers had already long proven that they could truly cater to the numbers and deliver a world-class race despite the challenges, and in the end, many of the aspects that could have been perceived as pitfalls became positives.

The biggest positive, of course, was the long stretches of gravel roads that unfold around Nannup, which meant the race played out on roads that were more than 80% gravel with plenty of climbing, well over 3,000 vertical metres of it in fact.

These unrelenting gravel roads delivered the first repeat victor in the elite women's race when Marianne Vos (Netherlands) claimed the win on the 125.6km course, while Rosa Klöser (Germany), with number 13, managed to hold on to silver despite having to repair a puncture and suffering a late crash when she was out front with Vos. Such is gravel.

Then in the elite men's race the remainders of the early break of Lukas Pöstlberger (Austria) and Peter Schulting (Netherlands) were swept up on the Folly climb and a group of four ultimately charged to the line for a sprint. That was won by Magnus Bak Klaris (Denmark), who held off defending champion Florian Vermeersch (Belgium) and Connor Swift (Great Britain).

Cyclingnews was on the ground in Nannup watching it all unfold, and here are a few of our key takeaways from two days of charged racing.

A brutal course that delivered

This was always going to be a course like no other; the environment was completely different from the past four World Championships in Europe. Wide open roads, lots of gravel and lots of climbing. Plus, while the distances on the face of it may not have looked that long in gravel race terms, with 125.6km for the elite women and 144km for the elite men, the unrelenting terrain meant it wasn't to be taken lightly.

Between the 3,179 vertical metres of elevation gain in the women's race and 3,713m in the men's race, then the pea gravel, the slippery mud and the constantly undulating nature of the terrain, this was a brutal day out. It was, Vos said to Cyclingnews before the event, a course where the "best riders will end up in front" and it will be a "fair and honest race".

The challenging nature of the course was telling in the times, particularly for the women who on Saturday faced wet conditions that made the terrain even harder work. The women's race was 6km shorter than last year's event in the Netherlands, yet the winning riders were out on course half an hour longer, with a winning time of 4:30:04 for Vos compared to 3:58:16 for Lorena Wiebes in 2025.

The men's elite race, which faced far drier conditions than the women's race, was about 35km shorter in 2026 yet only took 30 minutes less.

Not a home nation winner, but still a home favourite

In the elite women's race, while the fairytale for the home crowd may have been a winning farewell for Australia's Tiffany Cromwell or a flying run from another one of the nation's key gravel contenders, Nicole Frain, but you got the sense that if it couldn't be an Australian, Marianne Vos was the pick that had captured the heart of the community.

Not only is she a rider who is often labelled the G.O.A.T. (greatest of all time) who had embraced the opportunity to come out to Nannup for this far-flung Gravel World Championships, but she also has made the trip out multiple times before, even when there was not a rainbow jersey at stake.

A "nice letter" from the organisers of the Margaret River Tour last decade started her adventures in the region, and when the same organisers stepped into gravel, first with the SEVEN gravel race and then a World Championships, the Dutch rider's interest was immediately piqued.

Couple her enthusiasm for the region with her quiet but always gracious manner and propensity to make time for fans, and it's no wonder why she was such a popular winner. And after taking her second Gravel World Championships title in Nannup, Vos may perhaps have even more reason to fondly remember this patch of the world so far from home. The prolific world title winner has been good to Nannup, and Nannup has been good to her.

Finally, a gravel specialist wins

Since the UCI Gravel World Championships began, it has been dominated by road professionals, with the one exception perhaps being the win by Pauline Ferrand-Prévot in 2022, as back then she was operating mostly as a mountain biker, although one with impeccable road credentials.

Nannup, however, had been expected to be the best opportunity to change that, with a course that was far more akin to what gravel riders tackle in the big races on the calendar than in previous years, which leaned a little more to Classics-style races which tended to suit the road professionals. Add to that the travel distance, with it always being in Europe till now, which gave the European-based road professionals a distinct advantage.

To be fair, the number of big-name road professionals who have jumped into the fray in pursuit of a rainbow jersey has done a considerable amount to raise the profile of the race. Though as the years of road professionals on the top step continued, the sense was that it would be nice to have an actual specialist in the discipline winning the jersey.

That way, instead of being hidden away for all but the very occasional outing, it would be seen out on course month in and month out throughout the discipline's calendar. Plus, it would give the gravel fraternity a sense that there actually was a jersey of their own to aim for, rather than one in name only, where the odds were so far stacked against them that obtaining it felt almost impossible.

Magnus Bak Klaris (Denmark) finally proved on Sunday that a gravel rider could claim the gravel world title, pulling off a huge surprise win as he sprinted to victory against defending champion Florian Vermeersch (Belgium) and Connor Swift (Great Britain), pros for UAE Team Emirates-XRG and Netcompany Ineos on the road, which left him standing on the top step of the podium above the two World Tour professionals.

Now let's see if organisers can deliver another course which delivers a fighting chance for the gravel specialists to be in with a shot to do it again.

'Trained for one race, arrived to another' – Rug pulled out from some riders after late UCI rule change

In a year of qualifiers for Worlds, riders duly followed the rules and raced in the UCI Gravel World Series age-group category to, as instructed, be entered for that same group at the UCI Gravel World Championships . Those who finished high enough then received an invitation to enter, invested in the training and considerable travel costs so they could line up in Nannup on October 10 or 11.

Though getting confirmation of the entry, it seems, and having followed all the rules, wasn't enough, as at the start of October the UCI put out a huge document with rule changes, including this one: "Riders from a UCI registered team of any discipline and any rider who has one or several UCI points in the latest UCI individual world ranking prior to the UCI gravel world championships in any discipline shall only be entitled to compete in the elite category".

It wasn't so much the rule that anyone objected to, but the late implementation.

Several athletes were then told just days out from the race that they had qualified for, that they would now be racing in the elite category. As Garry Millburn put it on social media, "trained for one race, arrived to another".

Peta Mullens was another, who was shifted to the Elite category at the last minute because she had 100 UCI points from the last UCI race she competed in 14 months ago.

"We played by your rules all season. You changed them at the finish line," she said on social media.

In the end, both lined up in the elite races, with Mullens finishing 31st in the elite women's race, while Millburn was 69th in the elite men's race.

The challenges that become the charm

There was no question that this was a small town the UCI Gravel World Championships was heading to, with a population of under 1,000, and while there were gravel roads on tap, there were some other necessities that did require some working out when it came to logistics, resources and accommodation.

The solutions ranged from turning an oval into a campground, a food truck park to supplement food options, and also roping in the much larger nearby Busselton to act as a pre-event hub.

They were all so well tried and tested through years of the SEVEN UCI Gravel World Series race, that it seemed to function seamlessly and it was easy to forget that there were ever any obstacles to overcome in the first place. What's more, the small-town nature of the venue meant that instead of the World Championships being held in Nannup, it was Nannup.

The whole town was flooded with bike riders and spectators, the locals fully invested, and really it just seemed like one massive event village. What's more, any available accommodation was packed with cyclists, which did plenty to foster gravel camaraderie.

In fact, the local caravan park camp kitchen, just two minutes from the start line, became a hub where riders from around the world and scattered across the different categories swapped notes on the courses, training and generally were on deck to help out if anyone found they had forgotten some crucial piece of equipment. The small-town vibe was the perfect way to ensure that this wasn't just a gravel race, but a coming together of a gravel community.

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Florian Vermeersch (Belgium) came into the Nannup UCI Gravel World Championships with a perfect podium record and as defending champion, and when he was coming toward the finish line with four riders, it looked like there was every chance he would spend another year in the rainbow stripes.

That was even despite the challenge of a climb-heavy course, with 3,713 vertical metres of climbing across 144km, which in theory should have worked against the WorldTour Classics specialist who races for UAE Team Emirates-XRG.

"It was super tough," Vermeersch told Cyclingnews after going to the podium to accept his third silver medal at the UCI Gravel World Championships.

"I knew if I wanted to go for a good result today, I had to just follow the whole day and not waste any energy because, yeah, a guy of my weight is at a bit of a disadvantage on the climbs, and I think actually until the last kilometre, I did the perfect race."

That perfectly played race, where he kept finding his way back to the front, even though there were times when he looked to be battling on the climbs, left him heading toward the line with fellow WorldTour professional Connor Swift, with the rider from Britain racing for Netcompany Ineos on the road, Mads Würtz Schmidt (Denmark) and compatriot Magnus Bak Klaris. Neither of the gravel specialists were noted sprinters.

That meant Vermeersch had made it seamlessly through all the territory that was expected to leave him on the back foot, and now all he had to deliver in an area which was within his comfort zone, the sprint.

"I was actually pretty confident I could do a good sprint. I sprinted for the win a few weeks ago in Belgium," he said, referring to the Flandrien 0.0 Classic where he came third in a tight battle to the line. "And I felt after a hard race, my sprint was still quite okay."

Though gravel is nothing if not unpredictable and it was the rider who most probably least expected who won the day, Bak Klaris.

"In the sprint, I made a small mistake by being on the wrong side of the wheel of the winner," said Vermeersch. "But he deserves all the credit, he was super strong all day, so he deserves to win."

The victory may have eluded Vermeersch this year, even though he came ever so close with second, despite the climbing on the course testing his limits, though next year there is the potential that the terrain of the Gravel World Championships could take it to even another level. Gravel will be part of the multi-discipline Haute-Savoie Mont-Blanc World Championships and the race starts in Châtel, in the heart of the Chablais mountains. So will he be back to try and hit the podium five years running?

"Next year is in the French Alps with a lot of climbing, probably so I think that will be a different a different kind of race," said Vermeersch. "But we'll see. First, I want to see the course, and then we'll make a decision for next year."

His more immediate cycling plans, however, are clear. It's back to the road with UAE Team Emirates to race the Tour of Guangxi.

"Tonight I'm flying to China," said Vermeersch. "There I go back to full domestique mode. We have Jhonny Narváez for GC. We have [Juan Sebastián] Molano for the sprints. So I think I'm in for a pretty fun week.

"It's my first time in China, and I look forward to it. It's also the last week of the season, and one of my goals actually always is to finish the season on a high with a good level. I think it's fair to say that's the case also this year. So, yeah, I'm quite happy and looking forward to next week."

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It has taken five years, but finally a gravel specialist has taken victory at the UCI Gravel World Championships and it came in the form of an unexpected winner, even for that winner himself.

The big gravel names that everyone were expecting would be the best chance to take the mantle in the event dominated by road pros since its inception in 2022 were the likes of three-time Life Time Grand Prix winner and 2023 Unbound Gravel champion Keegan Swenson (United States), or this year's Unbound and The Traka 360 winner Mads Würtz Schmidt (Denmark).

The stars, however, aligned for a different Danish gravel specialist, Magnus Bak Klaris, who isn't such a prolific winner but crossed the line first when it mattered most.

"I said before the start that I wanted to to risk it and go for a big result and it was the podium I was thinking about," Bak Klaris told reporters as he stood in his new rainbow jersey after the podium ceremony.

"So there where a few times where we were in a front group with four, and I was like, 'This is a pretty good chance of going on the podium'. So I was always having the podium in my mind."

He was, after all, charging toward the line in a group of four which included one of the big pre-race favourites, his compatriot Würtz Schmidt, plus two WorldTour riders in UAE Team Emirates-XRG's Florian Vermeersch (Belgium), the defending champion, and Netcompany Ineos rider Connor Swift (Great Britain), who was on the podium at the event in 2023.

Even though there were two Danish riders in the lead group, there was no guarantee that this would play to either rider's advantage as while gravel riders are racing in national colours, it is generally a more individual pursuit with national federations most often not funding the title chase. In the case Würtz Schmidt was out in Australia supported by his Specialized Off-Road squad, while Bak Klaris had paid his own way out to Nannup.

"To be honest, Mads and I talked before the start, and we were racing individually because we both – I don't know who paid his trip, but I paid my own trip and I qualified myself to come here – and we said, 'Of course, we want to help each other if we can benefit ourselves', but we were not like someone is a domestique rider for another," said Bak Klaris. "So we were racing each our race, and if it could turn out, we could also help each other."

It actually did turn out that the national affiliation played into Bak Klaris' hands, not perhaps in the way he expected because it was a most unfortunate turn of events for Würtz Schmidt in a corner with just over 3km to go.

"Then Mads crashed and I was like, 'I need to try to take advantage of this. So I tried to wait for him and let the others work," said Bak Klaris. "So I think that was also the nice move, to wait for your countryman, but also a smart move where we could take advantage of being two from the same country and on the same team."

Würtz Schmidt rejoined, so it was four charging toward the line but Bak Klaris certainly wasn't the one anyone expected to come out on top in a sprint scenario, not even the rider himself, though gravel often proves to be an unpredictable beast and such was the case again in Nannup.

Swift lead out and went early and Bak Klaris was in his wheel, and in the tight sprint that unfolded with the two WorldTour pros and his well-credentialed country man.

"I usually don't have a really good sprint, so I just tried to find the wheel, and I think I was pretty lucky with how Connor Swift did the final," Bak Klaris said in an interview with broadcaster SBS. "I could just stay in the wheel, pretty much the last kick, and then have a small last kick."

That was the final piece in the puzzle, as Bak Klaris turned a course that suited him and strong form, which he put on display by winning the UCI Gravel World Series race of Gravel Grit n Grind in the lead in, into an unexpected world title victory. And even better it was with friends and family that had travelled out with him also on the sidelines watching.

"Worlds is a race where you think it's almost too big, it's so difficult to make a good result here, but it's it's also a big chance," said Bak Klaris.

So with the rainbow jersey now in the hands of a gravel specialist who plans to put it regularly on show in UCI Gravel World Series races, the Gravel Earth Series and also in the US at events like Unbound, what does this win actually mean for Bak Klaris?

"I have no idea," he said with a chuckle. "I have to to find out what it means. I've never tried it before, so yeah, we will see."

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It was a tough near-miss for Connor Swift (Great Britain) at the UCI Gravel World Championships on Sunday, coming the closest he ever has done to a rainbow jersey but missing out by a matter of centimetres.

Swift had been active and animated all day long in Nannup, Australia, ultimately making it into the lead group after his teammate Jenson Young was reeled back from a long breakaway, and he found himself in an elite group of four heading towards the finish line.

He was one of the main aggressors in the group, at one stage nearly going clear with Florian Vermeersch (Belgium), and narrowly avoided disaster when Mads Würtz Schmidt (Denmark) slid out right in front of him on a late corner.

But after over 144km of racing and plenty of attacks, it became clear that the rainbow jersey was going to come down to a four-man sprint. Swift went early to try to seize his chance, and it looked for a long time like he was going to make it, but Magnus Bak Klaris (Denmark) came through right at the last to grab the win, with Vermeersch just pipping Swift to silver, too.

"I was like 'you've got to be on a mission or do something pretty solo', then I was more just thinking if nothing goes, then back my sprint," he explained to the host broadcasters about realising it would come down to a dash for the line. "But yeah, unfortunately, it didn't pay off today, and I'm pretty gutted actually."

Despite the disappointment with bronze – the same result he took at the Gravel World Championships in 2023 – the 30-year-old could look back on his ride with positives, at least before he took a gamble in the sprint.

"I felt good. I knew that I was on a really good day. Especially at the top of some of the climbs when there was just three or four of us, I knew I was with the strongest guys on the day, and I knew that I could match anyone who was trying to attack," he explained to Cyclingews after completing his podium duties.

"But I kind of knew also like 30, 40k out that maybe it does come down to a sprint, and maybe that's the best thing [for me]. I think the danger guy today was obviously Mads Schmidt – you let him have a gap, and he just time trials away. So like any movement he went, I was straight on it. Maybe he won't like that, but yeah, that's what you've got to do.

"I think I was just a bit disappointed because maybe I messed up that sprint a little bit. But I just thought if I was first in at like 200 metres to go, where there's a little kink in the road, slightly downhill, that first guy into there wins. But yeah, it didn't quite work out."

The feeling of missing out was made sharper not only by the fact that Swift has travelled halfway around the world to chase this rainbow jersey, but also the feeling he had that there aren't many races where he'll get closer to a world title.

"I've done the Gravel Worlds every edition since 2023, so it's a super nice way just to finish the season, going after a World Championship jersey," he said. "And if you think about it, in terms of cycling as a whole sport, the only World Championship jersey that I've got a real shot at getting and achieving is this one. I'm not going to win the road race, I'm not going to win the TT, I'm not going to win on the track because I don't do track and I'm not going to win cyclo-cross.

"So if I really want that jersey, it's this event, and that's the reason why I came out here. I've been on the podium before, it suits me well, but unfortunately today, two steps away."

Though not a gravel full-timer, Swift is a fairly familiar face at gravel races, not just the World Championships but at UK-based World Series events and the National Championships, which he won in 2024, squeezing in racing where he can alongside his road role for Netcompany Ineos.

"It takes you back to your roots of even before I was pro, you're racing your bike, you pin the number on, and there's no one in your ear telling you what to do, you can just get out there and go after it," he said of the discipline. "If you make a mistake, it's on you. If you get a result, it's obviously off your own back.

"It's just really pure racing. I feel like because there's not anyone really at the minute [with] teammates burning guys and then positioning and everything, there's not much draft and benefit in gravel. So normally the strongest guy wins and, for me, characteristics-wise just a super solid hard day on the bike suits me well. That's why gravel suits me, and I really enjoy it."

Going seriously for gold, the World Championships were certainly not just a fun season-ender for Swift, it does mark the end of his year, and it will soon be time to look ahead to his 2027 road campaign. He confirmed to Cyclingnews that he's hoping to start his season at the Tour Down Under before heading to the Classics, and then racing either the Giro d'Italia or Tour de France, with a special home Grand Depart on the cards for the latter.

And he'll definitely keep squeezing the gravel in, too, potentially with another shot at a rainbow jersey next September in France.

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Gravel specialist Magnus Bak Klaris (Denmark) outsprinted an elite trio of defending champion Florian Vermeersch (Belgium), Connor Swift (Great Britain) and his own teammate Mads Würtz Schmidt to win the the elite men’s title at the UCI Gravel World Championships in Nannup, Australia.

After an attempt at a late flier, Swift was forced to lead out the quartet with 300 metres to go followed by Bak Klaris, Vermeersch and Würtz Schmidt. Swift jumped first, and very nearly led to the line, but the 30-year old Dane was able to come around and get the win.

Vermeersch crossed the line in second place, letting out a curse in frustration a few seconds later, while Swift, who finished third, bowed his head over his handlebars.

Bak Klaris had spent most of the day working for Würtz Schmidt, closing down attacks, until the four riders escaped in the final five kilometres. Then, the Traka 260 winner attacked with Swift on his wheel but it was Bak Klaris who closed the gap.

Putting pressure at the front. Würtz Schmidt then slid out on a corner, but with Swift appearing to ease off rather than press the advantage, the Dane was able to catch back on, as the four riders sped towards the finish line. Bak Klaris also took a moment to look back for his compatriot and take a break from pulling.

Using their numbers, the Danish squad was content to stay mostly at the front of the field, accelerating on the climbs to shed riders off the back while a break of three was up the road. Austrian gravel champion Lukas Pöstlberger, British national champion Jenson Young and Peter Schulting (Netherlands) stayed off the front for 117 kilometres, getting a maximum gap of close to three minutes.

In the finale, Würtz Schmidt made numerous attacks, but it was his teammate that was fastest across the line.

"I can't believe it right now. It feels like it's it feels unreal right now," Bak Klaris said, describing the final kilometres, including Würtz Schmidt sliding, out as "hectic".

"I think we were all pretty tired at that point, and that's what we saw yesterday as well [when Rosa Klöser crashed in the women's race]. That's when you start to make mistakes. I tried to take advantage of we both from Denmark, so I tried to wait for him and let the other guys do some work, and in the end, everything just turned out.

"I usually don't have a really good sprint, so I just tried to find the wheel, and I think I was pretty lucky with how Connor Swift did the final, so I could just stay in the wheel, pretty much the last K, and then have a small last kick."

An exciting edition of the men's title race

For the fifth edition of the 2026 UCI Gravel World Championships, the elite men tackled 3,713m of climbing on a 144km loop out from Nannup. With 85% of the route on gravel, the demanding course wound through the Blackwood Valley, pine plantations, rolling farmland and forested terrain before returning to the off-road cycling hub of Nannup.

A few brief showers passed through in the morning, but the sun was peeking through as the 79 riders took the start. With little rain forecast and temperatures hitting 16°C, the elite men faced much drier conditions than the women did on Saturday, although some puddles and muddy sections remained on the course.

The first attack came early on the opening 9km paved section, with Austrian national champion Lukas Pöstlberger, British national champion Jenson Young and Peter Schulting (Netherlands) pulling away, with Jo Pirotte (Belgium) falling out of the group. The trio established a one-minute lead as they rolled onto gravel.

The trio saw their lead tumble down to 1:02 from a maximum of 2:33 as the dwindling pack led by Connor Swift crested Brockman Climb (1.7km at 12%). The first two ascents, starting with Killarney Climb, caused splits in the pack, with riders shelled off the back with 112km to go. Some of the riders falling off the pace include defending champion Florian Vermeersch, Matt Beers (South Africa), Daan Soete (Belgium) and Henrique Avancini (Brazil).

The peloton regrouped, with Vermeersch, Beers and Avancini rejoining on the undulating high roads after the climb as the three riders off the front continued to work well together, tackling Mader Climb first and then Shale Climb.

Jonas Lindberg moved to the front of the roughly 25-rider peloton, setting a hard pace for Danish team leader Mads Würtz Schmidt to close the 2:30 gap to the break. His hard tempo began to split the group as he looked to reduce the numbers even more to improve his teammate’s chances.

Schulting had some trouble staying with Young and Pöstlberger on a fast descent, churned with ruts, but he did manage to chase back onto their wheels as they rode through a short paved section, holding their lead with 88km to go.

The lead three riders had a strong three-minute advantage as they started the 27km Arcadia loop added to the course that the women raced on Saturday. Behind them, the Danish team once again drove the pace in the reduced peloton on the Arcadia climb, clawing back a minute by the top of the 2.5km ascent.

The peloton, down to 16 riders, included Beers, Avancini, Swift, Keegan Swenson (USA), Martin Stošek (Czechia), Casey South (Switzerland), Paul Voss (Germany), Dutch duo of Mathijs Loman and Jordan Habets, Mark O’Brien (Australia), Loïc Bettendorff (Luxembourg), Belgian duo of Vermeersch and Stan Dewulf, and Würtz Schmidt and his teammates Lindberg and Magnus Bak Klaris.

Denmark’s Bak Klaris and Lindberg, followed by Avancini sitting in third place, set a blistering pace through one of the course’s toughest sections, where narrow tracks, deep ruts, overhanging foliage, numerous potholes and even a wallaby hopping across the road made for challenging riding. But even though the pace was high, the break’s lead was still holding at 2:30 with 63km to go.

Mark O’Brien (Australia) overcooked a corner, slid out and then had to stop to fix his handlebars before remounting, covered in mud, to try and chase back onto the pack.

Under the impetus of Würtz Schmidt, setting a difficult pace on Ellis Creek Road Climb (2km at 9.1%), the toughest ascent of the day, the gap was down to around the one-minute mark, and only a few riders, such as South, Vermeersch, Stošek, Swift, Bak Klaris and Dewulf were able to stay on his wheel.

Not able to follow on the climb, Beers, Voss, Avancini and Swenson were able to claw their way back into the group with 57km to go. And that led to a lull in the pace, and the gap increased by a few seconds.

Lindberg managed to bridge back to the 13-rider chase group and immediately moved to the front, looking to close the 1:28 gap to the leading trio with 47km remaining. A few kilometres later, Vermeersch swung around to talk to the other riders, while Lindberg gestured for others to contribute to the chase. With three Danish riders in the group, the rest appeared content to leave the work to them, and the pace slowed down again.

With 41km to go, Pöstlberger, Young and Schulting still had 1:50 on the chase group as they tackled the Glacier Climb, but the Brit lost contact on the 3.8km ascent.

Meanwhile, behind, Würtz Schmidt put in a big acceleration, stringing the chase group, forcing his rivals to dig deep to stay with him while shelling a few more off the back, reducing the numbers to 10.

First Stošek and then Swift came to the front of the chase group to set a hard pace, sweeping in Jenson inside of 32km to go, as the duo up ahead still had a minute advantage.

Even though Schulting and Pöstlberger were still hammering at the front on a paved section, the gap had tumbled to 35 seconds with 25km to go, including the final climb of Folly (2.4km at 4.8%). The duo enjoyed the cheers from the fans lining the road as their lead continued to go down.

Stošek attacked on the climb, splitting the chase group and drawing six riders clear, while Swenson fought his way back as the leading duo were caught. The Danes immediately countered, triggering another selection that saw Swift, Würtz Schmidt, Bak Klaris and Stošek break away with 21km to go.

Though the group included two Danish riders, both Swift and Stošek also took turns at the front to drive the pace. The quartet had 10 seconds on a Vermeersch-led five-rider chase group five kilometres later.

Vermeersch, Voss, Dewulf, Schulting, and Swenson connected with the lead quartet with 12km to go, leading to another reshuffle at the front. Dewulf quickly shut down a move from Voss, as they sped back towards Nannup.

As the nine riders started to play cat-and-mouse games, Beers clawed his way back onto the lead group with 8.5km to go but it would a brief journey in the front group for the South African.

Würtz Schmidt attacked on an uphill with Swift covering along Bak Klaris with as Vermeersch worked hard to close the gap. Swenson and Stošek joined together to give chase with 5km to go.

A kilometre later, Würtz Schmidt continued to put the pressure on, with Swift covering his attack and Bak Klaris closing the gap to the duo. Soon after, the Traka 360 winner slid out on a corner, forcing Swift to slow down to avoid him. Neither Swift nor Vermeersch seemed to want to take advantage of their rival’s mishap, and the Dane was able to reconnect with 1.4km to go.

Bak Klaris took the front until Swift attacked on the right-hand side with the Dane jumping on his wheel. Swift was then forced to lead the quartet to the finish line, and Bak Klaris was able to come around to take the surprising win.

Results

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