Preview World Gravel Championship Men 2024 | Van der Poel, motivated Belgians and above all spectacle in Leuven!

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.

2023 Matej Mohoric
2022 Gianni Vermeersch

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 

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!

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)

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.