Preview World Gravel Championship Men 2024 | Van der Poel, motivated Belgians and above all spectacle in Leuven!
Cycling
From Zurich to Leuven, and that in seven days. After the tremendously exciting World Road Championship in Switzerland, the attention of cycling followers shifts next weekend to Italy, where Tadej Pogacar finishes his first race in the rainbow jersey, and the World Gravel Championship with Mathieu van der Poel at the start in Belgium. IDLProCycling.com looks ahead to the latter in this preview!
Due to the steadily increasing popularity of gravel, the UCI also decided to jump on the train with a World Championship in 2022. At the time, in Citadella, Italy, Van der Poel washed away his Australian World Championship disappointment with third place behind teammate Gianni Vermeersch. Last season, Veneto was again allowed to host the World Championship, this time with Wout van Aert at the start. However, the Belgian encountered bad luck and eventually saw Matej Mohoric win well before him.
Also, in 2024, several top road riders will again be at the start. However, it should be noted that the early adapters from America have less and less interest in traveling to Europe for a World Championship. You won't find the Keegan Swenson and Lachlan Mortons in Leuven.
Practical information World Gravel Championship men 2024
- Sunday, Oct. 6, Halle - Leuven
- Participants
- Classification: World Championship
In this article
- Latest winners
- Parcous, weather and times
- Favorites
- TV information
Latest winners World Gravel Championship men
2023 Matej Mohoric
2022 Gianni Vermeersch
World Gravel Championship men 2024: Course, weather and times
The World Gravel Championship races start on the Possozplein in Halle, southwest of Brussels. The riders lap around the start point, mainly on farm tracks and some asphalt roads. After 12.5 kilometers, they cross Halle again, from where they head towards Leuven.
The riders will then continue to the so-called green lung of Brussels, also known as the Brabantse Wouden National Park. That means the participants will pass through the gravel paths of the Lembeekbos, Hallerbos, Zoniënwoud, and Meerdaalwoud towards the finish line. Leuven hosted another World Road Cycling Championship in 2021, a great success.
Just before reaching Leuven, the riders still have to climb the cobblestones of the Ramberg. This lies 1.8 kilometers from the finish, after which the last gravel section of the Donatus Park awaits the finishers at 1.5 kilometers from the finish. The finish is located right in front of the Leuven train station. The ladies ride one local lap in and around Leuven on Saturday and the men two on Sunday. This means they will ride 184 kilometers.
Weather
Sunday in Leuven will be dry, with a temperature of 16 degrees Celsius. There is also a small chance of rain, which could change the character of the race. The wind is not too strong.
Times
Start: 12:00 pm
Finish: 4:30 pm
Favorites World Gravel Championship men 2024
With Mathieu van der Poel, there is one absolute top favorite at the start of the World Gravel Championship. The Dutchman is a former world champion on the road and, more importantly, in the field. The cocktail of power and technique the Dutchman possesses is unmatched. But for it to deliver a victory in a World Gravel Championship is no mean feat. We saw that in the past two years. Another Dutchman who can achieve great results is Ridley man Joris Nieuwenhuis.
He could have a tough time if the Belgians race against the Dutchman. In particular, Leuven-born Jasper Stuyven, who became European champion in his home city last year, will be eager. But add former world champion Gianni Vermeersch, 2023 podium finisher Florian Vermeersch, part-time full-time cyclists like Tim Merlier, Timo Kielich, Quinten Hermans, Toon Aerts, Michael Vanthourenhout and Eli Iserbyt and you're talking about a solid team. Although at such a World Gravel Championship, it is mostly every man for himself.
Well, which WorldTour riders do we have next? Matej Mohoric is the previous winner, although he injured himself recently in a fall. His compatriot Matevz Govekar also does well on gravel, as does Connor Swift. The INEOS Grenadiers rider was on the podium last year and has won several more races this season. Isaac del Toro from Mexico and Luke Lamperti (United States) also popped up on the participant's list, as did Estonian Madis Mikhels and Germans such as Jasha Sütterlin, Juri Hollman, and Jonas Koch.
In terms of pure gravel racers, it has to come from Chad Haga and Ted King in the case of the Americans, while the Aussie's Nathan Haas and Van der Poel's crony Freddy Ovett are representing their country. Petr Vakoc from the Czech Republic, German Paul Voss, Sebastian Schönberger (Austria), and Mattia de Marchi from Italy are a few more familiar names on the circuit. Among the cross-country riders, Cameron Mason from Great Britain and the Spaniard Felipe Orts are coming up.
And what well-known names are competing? For example, Laurens ten Dam and Niki Terpstra, Johnny Hoogerland, and AD journalist Thijs Zonneveld. We also met Greg Van Avermaet and Jan Bakelants, names from Belgium's recent road history. It's good to see you guys!
According to IDLProCycling.com, who are the favorites for the World Gravel Championship men 2024?
Top favorites: Mathieu van der Poel (Netherlands) and Jasper Stuyven (Belgium)
Outsiders: Tim Merlier, Gianni Vermeersch (Belgium), Connor Swift (Great Britain) and Matej Mohoric (Slovenia)
Long shots: Joris Nieuwenhuis (Netherlands), Florian Vermeersch, Timo Kielich, Tiesj Benoot (Belgium), Paul Voss (Germany), Petr Vakoc (Czech Republic), Luke Lamperti (United States) and Matevz Govekar (Slovenia)
TV World Gravel Championship men 2024
Sporza is providing live coverage of the World Gravel Championships this weekend. Sunday, you can switch on from 2:15 p.m. on VRT 1. The NOS will have a stream on NOS.nl starting at the same time. Eurosport shows online footage via Discovery+ or HBO Max.
The calendar for the new cyclo-cross season is now online! Check it out here. Or check out our general calendars for the remainder of the season for the men and women's races.
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Latest Comments
- Well explained, thanks for the clarity! Daniel DantasDanieldantas20-12-2024
- This is the kind of 'news' that belongs in a cheap tabloid. No matter how boring the offseason gets, nobody wants to read this.
santiagobenites19-12-2024 - I wish we could have seen him try. He'd absolutely get dropped before Pogi overtakes his domestiquesVeganpotter10-12-2024
- Talk is cheap! Next year barring crashes with a healthy team... all well be on track! Some need to talk to make a headline!mootman27-11-2024
- I do not see this event listed on HBO Max Sports Online? Can anyone confirm? Thanks!
MrYuck23-11-2024 - It seemed that he was focusing forward at the time of the crash, after seeing a quick video snippet. But one thing I think he should focus on more intently is breaking a bad habit he has, right now. And that is his constant looking over his shoulders. He does that so much, that I am very sure it is not good for him. Simply watch videos of the greats of CX and you will see very little of that constant looking over their shoulders. That is a behavior that betrays a bit of insecurity on his part. He shouldn't be so concerned, incessantly, about what is over his shoulder. He needn't worry they didn't all disappear. He neds to keep his focus more ahead of himself, and he needs to pay a bit more attention to himself, in a confident manner. It is very frustrating to watch, because it is apparent that he has a lot of potential, and is in much better shape thwan many of his competitors, but the mental game needs to be sharpened more, because that part of strategy plays a huge part in the final results
reemmo022-11-2024 - hahahaha love this shit! I didnt even watched the race, but reading all the gossip articles of how stupid this is!Zatoichi19-11-2024
- Van Aert is really handsome. He can influence me all day! Ditto for Philipsen. Why do you think many of us love cycling?: to see heroic attempts at climbing mountains at high altitudes or to watch speedsters sprint for the finish line or to watch a human being ride at break neck speed down a tricky descent? No, it's all about their lean physiques and muscular legs. (apologies for objectifying these dedicated and amazing athletes).BarwonHeadsUp25-10-2024
- It is unfortunate that the author can't feel the joy that Pogacar brings to the sport and his fans who are legion and I for one feel lucky to have watched such a memorable performance and historic season From the Strada until yesterday with multiple wins in stages in both tours and beyond dominance in the World's. He is proud to wear the Rainbow stripes, shows his leadership to protect his fellows and is as courteous and sportsman-like as the sport allows. He goes early to not have to respond to each attack as all the rest would make him do it. Any racer who could would do the same. Don't "grow tired" of greatness as it is always fleeting.ccrider13-10-2024
- What load of rubbish. Pog is likely a once in a generation cyclist, the like of which hasn't been seen since 'the Cannibal '. How many people were complaining that Merckx was making racing predictable? I remember this year's World RR as one of the most exciting I've watched. Mainly BECAUSE Pog was the favourite and launched what everyone thought (Pog included) was a suicidal attack with 80km to go. For the next 2 hours, I was on the edge of my seat thinking "this is too much, even for Pog". Maybe Zonnefeld prefers the snooze-fest that is a bunch sprint? Like most people I know, I can't watch two hours of the bunch riding very fast... I wait for the final 5km and watch just the sprint. In any event, most races are won from a sprint or lone break. What difference does it make who makes the lone break? Ultimately, the other contenders will have to figure out a way to beat Pog. Even if that means collaboration between teams. It's going to be an exciting few seasons, until the next Pog arrives on the scene. If this is boring, heaven knows what exciting looks like!Michael513-10-2024