UCI Gravel World Championships LIVE – Four-man group lead the race in elite men's race

It seems Floris Van Tricht wasn’t dropped after all - here he is with the other three leaders in the front group.

The three leaders are in a strong position, their advantage over the peloton having grown to almost a minute and a half.

The four leaders at the front, before Van Tricht was dropped.

Vermeersch is with them, but Van Tricht has been distanced.

Politt and Biesterbos have attacked the two Belgians and managed to go clear.

A throwback to the past - Greg Van Avermaet riding in the peloton.

Meanwhile Rick Ottema of the Netherlands is trying to bridge up to the four leaders, but still has over 20 seconds to make up.

Politt has managed to join Vermeersch, Van Tricht and Biesterbos, and they have a 40 second lead over the peloton.

The leading trio are about 10 seconds ahead of Politt, and 40 seconds ahead of the peloton.

Nils Politt is also out of the peloton and in pursuit of the leading trio.

Another group of three has formed off the front of the race, this time consisting of Florian Vermeersch, Floris Van Tricht and Frits Biesterbos.

The peloton has been significantly reduced, down to about 60 riders. The course is taking its toll.

Hermans, Swift and Reinderink, before they were brought back.

The trio has been caught and the peloton is together again.

Here’s an idea of the kind of road surfaces the riders are tackling on the course.

A group of three has managed to slip clear of the peloton - Quinten Hermans, Connor Swift and Pepijn Reinderink.

One of the riders dropped from the peloton is Romain Bardet. Despite impressing on the gravel circuit since his retirement from the road earlier this year, including a few wins, the Frenchman won’t be competing for a high finish at his Worlds debut.

The Belgian contingent towards the front, with Tim Wellens among them.

The punchy course is claiming its victims, with the peloton reduced to about 100 riders already, with 150km still to ride.

150KM TO GO

The peloton is still together, and the favourites up towards the front.

Here is Politt, pulling at the front of the peloton.

As well as Belgium, Germany are also getting involved, with Roger Kluge riding at the front. They have Nils Politt in their roster today.

The startlist today is notable for a number of retired veterans of road cycling - including Greg van Avermaet, one of the top classics specialists of the 2010s, who has been on the gravel scene these past two years.

The Belgians are utilising their strength in numbers and riding at the front of the race.

A first glimpse of the riders out on the course today.

One of the most anticipated names today, Tim Melier, has pulled out of the race before it began. But the Belgian line-up is still stacked with talent, with the likes of Tim Wellens, Florian Vermeersch and Gianni Vermeersch all riding.

Here was Laurens Sweeck, a gravel specialist riding for Belgium, at the start today.

The skies are blue and the temperature pleasant in Limburg today.

Pidcock might be the headline name starting today, but he’s also coming into this race as a novice of the format - as he admitted before the start.

Here was Mads Würtz Schmidt before the start, one of the gravel specialists hoping to be in the mix today.

And they're off!

OFFICIAL START

The race is set to get underway in just five minutes.

Here's the bike Pidcock will be riding today - one he's only used a few times.

Tom Pidcock is perhaps the biggest name competing today. In theory he has everything it takes to excel here, but is coming into these championships with little experience of riding gravel races.

Tom Pidcock starting Gravel World Championships without seeing course and only riding new Pinarello bike 'a little bit'

Here are the details of the course the riders will be taking on today.

UCI Gravel World Championships 2025 route includes pass of Wijnandsrade Castle, Bronsdalweg climb and finish on gravel path

Lots of big names will be on the start line this morning, including some WorldTour stars, but the startlist is also missing some key figures in gravel, like Keegan Swenson and Lachlan Morton.

Our colleague Jackie Tyson is on the ground in the Netherlands and has been talking to European riders about the absence of certain stars.

'To race the highest level of the year, they should come here' – Dutch rider Jasper Ockeloen disappointed by absence of top US racers at UCI Gravel World Championships

The men's race starts in Beek in just under 45 minutes.

The women's race wasn't without its drama, of course. Will we see more of that today?

Shirin van Anrooij feels 'my chance at the world title was taken away' as another Dutch rider helped close her solo lead at Gravel World Championships

The World Champs already kicked off yesterday with the women's race. You can catch up here.

UCI Gravel World Championships: Lorena Wiebes claims elite women's world title with sprint victory for dominant Dutch team

Good morning and welcome to Cyclingnews' live coverage of the men's race at the UCI Gravel World Championships 2025!