Van Aert set to swap cobbles for gravel at UCI Gravel World Series race in Limburg

All eyes are on the Giro d'Italia this weekend, but it's worth saving a little attention for the Netherlands too. On Sunday, a round of the UCI Gravel World Series takes place in Limburg — and none other than Wout van Aert will be on the start line, alongside world champion Florian Vermeersch.

Van Aert has not raced since his victory at Paris-Roubaix. After his iconic win at the Vélodrome in Roubaix, the Belgian took a break to build his way back to top form for the Tour de France — though that doesn't mean he's been sitting still. last week he turned up in the Netherlands for a multi-day bikepacking trip with friends.

But it seems the race itch has got the better of the Visma | Lease a Bike Belgian, who has decided to lace up his race shoes again — not for a road race, but for a gravel event. The Marly Grav Race in Limburg covers 150 kilometres and starts on the Cauberg climb, with a 46-kilometre loop ridden three times.

Van Aert is far from the only big name on the start list. Vermeersch will be there too. The Belgian won the gravel world title last year — and where was that championship held? Right here, in Limburg. Other major names set to start include Joris Nieuwenhuis, Greg Van Avermaet, Daan Soete, Niels Vandeputte, Jasper Ockeloen, Mathijs Loman and Michael Vanthourenhout.

On the women's side, the world champion is also in the field. Lorena Wiebes rode her last race at the Amstel Gold Race and will be back on the road on 16 May at the Omloop der Kempen, but first she is making a pit stop to show off her rainbow jersey — the one she claimed in Limburg after a truly extraordinary race, in which the Dutch women made life very difficult for each other.