World Gravel Championship course receives criticism from gravel specialists: "All challenging climbs and descents on asphalt"

We had an extensive conversation with Neefjes on Sunday, October 1, shortly after her seventh-place finish at the European Championships in Oud-Heverlee. She expressed reasonable satisfaction with her performance in Flemish Brabant but also raised several critical points, not directed at herself but rather at the event. 'It's often easy to label something as a gravel or dirt track, but for me, it's quite different. We maintained an average speed of 33 kilometers per hour, which is unusual for any UCI Gravel World Series race.

At the European Championships, which also served as the national championships, there was considerable chaos related to the presence of men from different categories on the course: these men were either leading the race or intermingling with the women. European champion Lorena Wiebes told that she liked this aspect, but Neefjes had a somewhat more critical perspective. "It was genuinely chaotic. At one point, strong elite men caught up with us, and we found ourselves riding amidst dropped-out men from various age categories. While I could make way for a few individuals, it's challenging to let hundreds of people pass. In the end, it became a matter of who could keep up with the men the longest, determining the winner," she explained.

The latter issue won't arise in Veneto, as the women's elite race starts one day ahead of the men's elite. Furthermore, there is a more significant gap between the start times of the various categories, which eliminates a potential problem. However, what can be considered a 'shortcoming' once again is the scarcity of gravel sections. The road riders participating, including top favorites Demi Vollering and Lorena Wiebes, might not be bothered much, but riders like Neefjes – who secured the top position in the final standings of the UCI Gravel World Series this year – will certainly be disappointed. "I know the entire course by heart because I've explored everything except for ten kilometers," Neefjes says with a smile as she commences her assessment of the 140-kilometer route, which encompasses an overall elevation gain of about 1,600 meters.

"I also participated in the World Cup last year, but this year's course is significantly more appealing. Last time, it was very flat and incredibly fast. That's not the case this year. However, on the flip side, almost all the challenging climbs and descents in the two loops are on asphalt, which is regrettable," laments Neefjes, who speaks on behalf of a substantial group of like-minded gravel enthusiasts. 'After all, it's a gravel World Cup, not a road World Cup. Fortunately, there are a few delightful sections in the initial phase, including a pleasant gravel climb. There are also some enjoyable gravel segments and tricky bends throughout the rest of the route, which makes it all the more frustrating that the challenging descents are all on asphalt roads. In total, 45 percent of the 140-kilometer course is asphalt, not including the easy gravel sections. The first ten to fifteen kilometers even involve riding on wide lanes of asphalt!

"In essence, the final part of the course is extraordinarily beautiful. The last twenty kilometers feature continuous climbs and descents. But, unfortunately, it's once again on asphalt. Fortunately, the scenery is stunning as we ride continuously through the vineyards," Cousins adds in her analysis. In the northeastern part of Italy (specifically the Venetian regions), the competitors have to conquer several steep climbs, such as the Nogarolo wall (700 meters with an average gradient of 11.6 percent), the Ca' del Poggio wall (1.2 kilometers with an average gradient of 12.2 percent), and the San Vigilio wall (300 meters with an average gradient of 15.6 percent). 'Impressive climbing, indeed!' Neefjes chuckles, concluding that she has mixed feelings regarding her overall assessment."

Neefjes also shares an amusing anecdote: 'The penultimate descent is quite steep and challenging, even though it's mostly on asphalt. However, there's one extremely tough section of 100 to 200 meters on gravel. Initially, I was excited about it, but unfortunately, it was very short. Then I heard stories from other riders who were fearful of that descent. Some even abandoned their bikes and ran down that stretch! It's moments like these that make me feel it's somewhat representative of the UCI Gravel World Series. But, in the end, it's just going to be a tough race. The closer you get to the finish, the more demanding it becomes.

After the European Championships, we asked Neefjes if she could specify a particular result that would constitute a successful World Championship for her. 'I'm not counting myself out in advance,' she replied, acknowledging that she would be competing against road cycling leaders like Vollering and Wiebes. 'I'd gladly challenge such accomplished riders on a true gravel course, but the situation is a bit different now. In Italy, my approach remains the same.'If all the climbs were on gravel, I would genuinely have been in the running for a good result. However, that's not the case, so I have to expect that I won't be able to keep pace with the road racers. I've decided to give it my all and have an enjoyable race. Let's see what the results will be. I'm genuinely looking forward to it!'"