The UCI’s inaugural Gravel World Championships may have looked a bit more like a spring classic, or #marathoncyclocross, but at the start, all eyes were still on the star-studded lineup that the organizers attracted.
Four-time cyclocross world champ Mathieu van der Poel (NED) certainly was a top favorite, just as he was in Australia for World Roads, but this time around he had a sound night of sleep and made the start line with a smile.
On the journey towards rainbow stripes 🌈
Get ready to watch the Men Elite Race at the 2022 UCI Gravel World Championships from 14:00 CEST ⏱#Veneto2022
— UCI (@UCI_cycling) October 9, 2022
Columbia’s Miguel Angel Lopez started the attacks on the first climb, and was then joined by Denmark’s Magnus Cort Nielsen. The two were soon joined by South Africa’s Matthew Beers and Italy’s Samuele Zoccarato, but then a chase led by Van der Poel brought them back.
Soon, Italy’s Daniel Oss and Belgium’s Gianni Vermeersch took the reigns and stretched out a gap of over five minutes, and the rest were racing for bronze.
🇮🇹 @Daniel87Oss 🆚 @GVermeersch 🇧🇪
Who is your favourite for the rainbow stripes?#Veneto2022 pic.twitter.com/SOHM7ExY7J
— UCI (@UCI_cycling) October 9, 2022
Vermeersch and Van der Poel share the same trade team of Alpecin–Deceuninck, and the Dutch superstar wasn’t about to bring back his teammate.
The peloton isn't gaining much time as the gap still sits around 5min ⏱
👉 @MathieuVDPoel, @PetoSagan and @MagnusCort are amongst the chasers#Veneto2022
— UCI (@UCI_cycling) October 9, 2022
With six kilometers to go, Vermeersch took advantage of a singletrack section and a cramping Oss, and struck out for a solo finish heading into the cyclocross-style finale.
Attack from @GVermeersch ‼️ ⚠️
The @BELCycling rider has broken away from @Daniel87Oss with only 5km remaining #Veneto2022 pic.twitter.com/Sw0Zq1QMXX
— UCI (@UCI_cycling) October 9, 2022
Golden glory @GVermeersch 🇧🇪#Veneto2022 pic.twitter.com/UovHHQd39V
— UCI (@UCI_cycling) October 9, 2022
Oss rode in for second, delighted with his place and the event.
Splendid silver for @Daniel87Oss 🇮🇹 🥈
Well deserved second place at the first-ever UCI Gravel World Championships!#Veneto2022 pic.twitter.com/kxIL77L6Hr
— UCI (@UCI_cycling) October 9, 2022
Behind, Van der Poel made it two podium spots for his trade team with a sprint for bronze.
Battle for 🥉 😮@mathieuvdpoel 🆚 @GregVanAvermaet #Veneto2022 pic.twitter.com/fjBV9c9WQz
— UCI (@UCI_cycling) October 9, 2022
WORLD GRAVEL CHAMPION GIANNI! 🥇
BRONZE MEDAL FOR MVDP! 🥉
GRAANNDEEEE 🌈🌈🌈 pic.twitter.com/XGQhEaXn32
— Alpecin-Deceuninck Cycling Team (@AlpecinDCK) October 9, 2022
Griffin Easter, winner of this season’s Stetina’s Paydirt gravel race, finished 46th, the top American. See the full results below.
See how the Elite Women’s Gravel World Championships played out along with complete results.
Watch the Women’s Gravel World Championships here.
2022 UCI Gravel World Championships Results - Elite Men - Veneto, Italy
| Pl | Bib | Rider | Nat | Time |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 76 | VERMEERSCH Gianni | BEL | 5:10:40 |
| 2 | 113 | OSS Daniel | ITA | 5:11:24 |
| 3 | 53 | VAN DER POEL Mathieu | NED | 5:12:09 |
| 4 | 120 | VAN AVERMAET Greg | BEL | 5:12:10 |
| 5 | 10 | FEDOROV Yevgeniy | KZK | 5:12:19 |
| 6 | 74 | CORT-NIELSEN Magnus | DEN | 5:12:20 |
| 7 | 115 | DE MARCHI Alessandro | ITA | 5:12:21 |
| 8 | 118 | STYBAR Zdenek | CZE | 5:12:26 |
| 9 | 59 | BALLERINI Davide | ITA | 5:12:34 |
| 10 | 40 | NIELSEN Andreas stokbro | DEN | 5:13:23 |
| 11 | 63 | SCHÖNBERGER Sebastian | AUT | 5:13:26 |
| 12 | 60 | HAVIK Piotr | NED | 5:13:58 |
| 13 | 79 | NAESEN Lawrence | BEL | 5:15:42 |
| 14 | 99 | SAGAN Peter | SVK | 5:15:44 |
| 15 | 80 | TRARIEUX Julien | FRA | 5:15:44 |
| 16 | 102 | HAAS Nathan | AUS | 5:17:03 |
| 17 | 67 | BEERS Matthew | RSA | 5:17:05 |
| 18 | 85 | MORTON Lachlan | AUS | 5:17:09 |
| 19 | 48 | KIVISTIK Gert | EST | 5:17:20 |
| 20 | 64 | FERNANDEZ Clément | BEL | 5:17:20 |
| 21 | 75 | CALMEJANE Lilian | FRA | 5:17:20 |
| 22 | 7 | BRUN Nils | SUI | 5:17:20 |
| 23 | 30 | VOISARD Yannis | SUI | 5:17:54 |
| 24 | 35 | ZOCCARATO Samuele | ITA | 5:18:24 |
| 25 | 41 | MEO Felix james | NZL | 5:18:27 |
| 26 | 77 | VERONA QUINTANILLA Carlos | ESP | 5:18:52 |
| 27 | 116 | VOSS Paul | GER | 5:18:53 |
| 28 | 138 | LOPEZ MORENO Miguel angel | COL | 5:19:32 |
| 29 | 134 | LAKATA Alban | AUT | 5:19:51 |
| 30 | 132 | MORENO FERNANDEZ Daniel | ESP | 5:19:51 |
| 31 | 28 | FROIDEVAUX Robin | SUI | 5:20:12 |
| 32 | 17 | PRITZEN Marc | RSA | 5:20:14 |
| 33 | 8 | PERRY Toby | GBR | 5:22:45 |
| 34 | 125 | BUNDGAARD Thomas | DEN | 5:22:46 |
| 35 | 89 | DEVALCKENEER Sieben | BEL | 5:22:49 |
| 36 | 131 | LOSADA ALGUACIL Alberto | ESP | 5:22:49 |
| 37 | 70 | SLIK Ivar | NED | 5:22:49 |
| 38 | 126 | CHIARINI Riccardo | ITA | 5:22:49 |
| 39 | 136 | REBELLIN Davide | ITA | 5:22:51 |
| 40 | 46 | BIRD Matthew | AUS | 5:23:07 |
| 41 | 94 | QUÉMÉRÉ Tao | FRA | 5:25:44 |
| 42 | 43 | RITZINGER Felix | AUT | 5:27:00 |
| 43 | 93 | MOTTRAM Michael | GBR | 5:27:19 |
| 44 | 39 | VERMEULEN Moran | AUT | 5:29:24 |
| 45 | 6 | ŠTAJNAR Mihael | SLO | 5:29:24 |
| 46 | 87 | EASTER Griffin | USA | 5:30:14 |
| 47 | 124 | ROCHE Nicholas | IRL | 5:30:18 |
| 48 | 18 | ČEMAŽAR Nik | SLO | 5:30:36 |
| 49 | 101 | DIEDERICH Tim | LUX | 5:30:42 |
| 50 | 106 | COMINELLI Cristian | ITA | 5:31:03 |
| 51 | 31 | ROCHE Alexis | IRL | 5:31:04 |
| 52 | 5 | JONGEDIJK Jelle-wietse | NED | 5:31:07 |
| 53 | 38 | GØTKE Rasmus | DEN | 5:31:07 |
| 54 | 82 | FINOULST Jan-frederik | BEL | 5:31:07 |
| 55 | 130 | ZUBERO ALDEKOA Julen | ESP | 5:31:08 |
| 56 | 62 | BONDER Thom | NED | 5:31:10 |
| 57 | 90 | PETTINA Nicholas | ITA | 5:31:19 |
| 58 | 119 | KREUCHLER Christian | GER | 5:31:25 |
| 59 | 57 | ROMBOUTS Bram | BEL | 5:32:25 |
| 60 | 56 | JOVÉ RIART Xavier | AND | 5:33:00 |
| 61 | 29 | KAGIMU Charles | UGA | 5:33:09 |
| 62 | 19 | VAUGHAN Jacob | GBR | 5:34:11 |
| 63 | 1 | PEDERSEN Eric | SWE | 5:34:12 |
| 64 | 49 | JANSEN Richard | NED | 5:34:13 |
| 65 | 111 | ODEYN Seppe | BEL | 5:34:14 |
| 66 | 112 | WINTERMANTEL Janosch | GER | 5:34:15 |
| 67 | 9 | WOLLENBERG Tim | GER | 5:34:24 |
| 68 | 13 | BARRETT Travis | RSA | 5:34:25 |
| 69 | 66 | LANGHAM Jacob | AUS | 5:34:26 |
| 70 | 16 | GAZZOLA Marco | ITA | 5:34:48 |
| 71 | 50 | SCHESKE Frederik | GER | 5:34:51 |
| 72 | 12 | LOMAN Mathijs | NED | 5:34:55 |
| 73 | 135 | ORTIZ BARRANCO Antonio | ESP | 5:34:57 |
| 74 | 51 | VIEL Mattia | ITA | 5:34:59 |
| 75 | 83 | DEELEN Diederik | NED | 5:35:43 |
| 76 | 139 | GARRISON Michael | USA | 5:38:25 |
| 77 | 88 | KRUGER Hendrik | RSA | 5:38:25 |
| 78 | 117 | BRANDL Wolfgang | GER | 5:41:35 |
| 79 | 86 | SANCHEZ RUIZ Jose maria | ESP | 5:41:36 |
| 80 | 100 | WEISGERBER Pol | LUX | 5:41:36 |
| 81 | 98 | JENKO Robert | SLO | 5:41:36 |
| 82 | 23 | MALINEN Sampo | FIN | 5:43:23 |
| 83 | 109 | BÜTZOW Philipp | LUX | 5:43:28 |
| 84 | 84 | AUVINEN Markus | FIN | 5:47:11 |
| 85 | 127 | SHEPHERD Matthew | AUS | 5:47:20 |
| 86 | 33 | ROMBOUTS Seppe | BEL | 5:47:20 |
| 87 | 69 | VERDIJCK Niels | BEL | 5:48:57 |
| 88 | 97 | IMMING Bram | NED | 5:48:58 |
| 89 | 24 | BRAMLEY Travis | GBR | 5:49:22 |
| 90 | 15 | BEKKER Rossouw | RSA | 5:50:25 |
| 91 | 81 | BOND Metheven | GBR | 5:50:25 |
| 92 | 133 | PELANEK Lubos | CZE | 5:50:25 |
| 93 | 2 | SSEKANWANGI Jordan schleck | UGA | 5:50:28 |
| 94 | 58 | NOBEL Rick | NED | 5:50:28 |
| 95 | 137 | SCHNAPKA Matthias | GER | 5:50:29 |
| 96 | 27 | KIPKEMBO Salim | KEN | 5:50:44 |
| 97 | 44 | LARRY Max | LUX | 5:53:16 |
| 98 | 122 | VAN ORSDEL David | USA | 5:53:18 |
| 99 | 91 | ORSET Jonas | NOR | 6:07:25 |
| 100 | 73 | PAVLIC Marko | SLO | DNF |
| 101 | 45 | CHRISTENSEN Ryan | NZL | DNF |
| 102 | 71 | TERMENS NADAL Josep | ESP | DNF |
| 103 | 129 | STEPHENS Mat | USA | DNF |
| 104 | 140 | DAVIS Steven | USA | DNF |
| 105 | 47 | STAMATIS Matthew | RSA | DNF |
| 106 | 121 | VISINELLI Rafael | ITA | DNF |
| 107 | 55 | PETERSON Jacob | USA | DNF |
| 108 | 11 | MARZANI Marco | ITA | DNF |
| 109 | 114 | EINSLE Sebastian | LUX | DNF |
| 110 | 54 | FIORELLI Filippo | ITA | DNF |
| 111 | 108 | MODOLO Sacha | ITA | DNF |
| 112 | 107 | WEBER Sascha | GER | DNF |
| 113 | 37 | BUENAVENTURA Raymund | PHI | DNF |
| 114 | 92 | STALIUNAS Mantas | LTU | DNF |
| 115 | 61 | NEL Dirk | RSA | DNF |
| 116 | 3 | LYDIC Andrew | USA | DNF |
| 117 | 20 | BLAZEVIC Adam | AUS | DNF |
| 118 | 123 | MANTECON GUETIERREZ Sergio | ESP | DNF |
| 119 | 104 | LEROY Olivier | FRA | DNF |
| 120 | 4 | KARPENKO Gleb | EST | DNF |
| 121 | 128 | FAILLI Francesco | ITA | DNF |
