Belgian Gravel Champion on beating Van Aert and his 'dark horse' status at the Gravel World Championships in Australia

Notably, it was around Herentals—on the roads that Van Aert and Soete know so well—that the pair battled for the Belgian title. They found themselves at the front together, but the top favorite from Visma | Lease a Bike was simply dropped by his close friend and training partner. That’s how he claimed the Belgian title. Now Soete heads to the World Championships as a contender.

However, he did have to pay for the trip entirely on his own. “That’s just the way things are in Belgium right now,” Soete tells Sporza. “In other countries, the federations do chip in, but not here yet. So it is an investment. But over the past few years, I’ve really become a true gravel rider. So it’s definitely worth the investment.”

For many, Australia is a new destination, but that’s not the case for the 31-year-old Belgian. For him, the race for the rainbow jersey will be extra special. “My girlfriend is Australian, so that was a nice bonus. Her parents will probably come to watch the race, even though it’s still a four-hour flight for them.”

It does feel different, though, compared to, say, last year’s Limburg Championships. “The World Championships are experienced completely differently in Australia than in Flanders or the Netherlands. Australia is far removed from the traditional cycling nations. There will be fewer riders at the start on Sunday, but the village is already starting to fill up nicely with riders. You can really feel that something is about to happen.”

The town of Nannup, Australia, is home to a grueling course. It features many short climbs, which could prove to be a stumbling block for the true sprinters. Soete has already had a chance to test it out. “The organizers say there are 3,700 meters of elevation gain. I’ve already scouted almost the entire course, and I think it’s more likely to be around 3,000. So it’s going to be very tough.”

Tough, but not unpleasant. “It’s a beautiful course. Only the first eight kilometers are on asphalt. The rest is almost entirely unpaved. That’s pretty unique. The gravel itself is fairly smooth, which does make it technical. But the views are fantastic.” For Soete, the course will be a close call. “On top of that, my preparation wasn’t ideal. I’ve been struggling with illness and I also took a fall.”

So he won’t be starting as the top favorite. Who could win? “Mads Würtz Schmidt has been impressive this year. He also has strong teammates at Specialized, so they’re capable of working well as a team. But I also expect a lot from Florian Vermeersch. Those elevation gains are just within his capabilities. He’s got a lot of power, so he’s definitely still among the favorites.”