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Follow us on GoogleThe Gravel World Championships kicked off on Saturday with the elite women’s race. Read here about everything that has happened so far in Western Australia, where the first World Championships outside of Europe are being held.
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One of the most difficult Gravel World Championship routes ever seen
On Saturday, the women will cover 125.6 kilometers, during which they’ll have to climb a total of 3,100 meters. Eighty-four percent of the course consists of gravel paths, forest roads, and sections through eucalyptus forests and across private property.
Those 3,100 meters of elevation gain aren’t so much the result of a single grueling climb, but rather a series of short climbs ranging from 1 to 4 kilometers in length, with gradients between 5 and 8 percent. These climbs follow one another in rapid succession.
Each race begins with a paved approach of about 9 kilometers, after which the race will quickly pick up speed in the rolling countryside around Nannup. The final stretch includes a local loop around the town, with steep climbs just before the finish line.
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Dutch women flood the starting line
Marianne Vos was—certainly from a Dutch perspective—the most well-known name on the starting line. Other Dutch participants included Tessa Neefjes, Larissa Hartog, Wendy Oosterwoud, Elisa Serné, and near-Unbound winner Geerike Scheurs.
Other notable names include Sofie Wright, Maddy Nutt (Great Britain), Tiffany Cromwell, Nicole Frain (Australia), Sofia Gomez Villafane (Argentina), Romy Kasper, Rosa Klöser (Germany), Erica Magnaldi (Italy), and Aisleigh Moolman-Pasio (South Africa).
Read more below the photo!
At 10:10 a.m. local time (4:10 a.m.), the women set off, after it had rained a bit earlier that morning in Western Australia. As a result, the gravel was a bit wet and therefore treacherous. The Netherlands immediately took control of the race, while Klöser had to make up ground right away due to mechanical trouble.
Serious crash for Scheurs, who is left behind in pain
Eventually, the German rider made her way back to the front, where there was also a strong Dutch presence with Vos, Scheurs, Hartog and Serné. The first real attack came from local hero Cromwell, who broke away 75 kilometres from the finish in her final race.
In the group behind, we were startled by a heavy crash involving Moolman-Pasio and Schreurs; the Dutch rider, who finished second in Unbound earlier this year, remained on the ground in great pain, and even Moolman-Pasio checked on her to see if she was all right.
Cromwell opens up a gap at the front
Cromwell – whose partner Valtteri Bottas also qualified but had to race in the Formula 1 GP in Singapore this weekend – meanwhile pulled further and further away. Within 10 kilometers, she had a lead of well over a minute over the chasing group, with Vos then joining them at the front.
On Ellis Creek, the toughest climb on the course, the group behind Cromwell broke up and they quickly closed in on the Australian. Vos, Hartog, Magnaldi, Klöser and Nele Laing (also from Germany) proved to be the strongest, whilst the Argentine favourite, Gomez Villafane, was forced to play catch-up due to a puncture in her front tyre.
Tiffany Cromwell attacked in her last professional race
Everyone is watching Vos, and she’s watching everyone
Vos was the first to clear the climb, with Laing and Klöser hot on her heels. Hartog, like Magnaldi, lost a few seconds with 57 kilometres still to go at that point. Vos played it smart, however, and let her compatriot rejoin the group, whilst it also began to rain again in south-western Australia.
Five riders eventually found themselves at the front. Magnaldi initially refused to cooperate, but after pressure from the German and Dutch duo, she too joined the breakaway.
However, she was riding on reserve, allowing the Australian Nicole Frain, the Swiss Irina Lützelschwab and the Dutch rider Serné to catch up. As a result, the Netherlands had three riders in the breakaway, 35 kilometres from the finish.
Naturally, all eyes turned to the orange jerseys – and Vos in particular – which allowed even more riders to close the gap. In fact, Cromwell, of all people, surged straight past them, 25 kilometres from the finish.
Vos forced to chase with teammates behind
Vos stuck to the German’s wheel, knowing that was the wheel to stay on. Although her compatriot Laing – with Hartog hot on her heels – was the first pursuer, Klöser, for her part, knew that this climb was the moment to put pressure on Vos.
However, Vos didn’t crack – or at least not yet. Together, they entered the final 10 kilometres.
This report is being updated!
2026 World Gravel Championships Results - Elite Women
David Bavin-HobbsChief Editor
David has been working in the sports & cycling industry for 16 years. Covering racing, business and technology, he has worked in communications for cycling companies, teams, and as a journalist. His proudest achievement is winning the first bike race he ever entered. He hasn't won a race since.
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Latest Comments
- I’m a bit confused by the photo finish explanation—if the image shows time rather than distance, how can it prove who crossed first? And why was the result not explained immediately after the race?velodromevirtuoso109-10-2026
- 13,000 captures per second is some serious technology! Still, I can understand why Ciccone felt frustrated when the margin was so tiny. Hopefully the organisers publish the full image so fans can see exactly what happened.patriciaw09-10-2026
- Evenepoel handled this well. No need to turn a razor-thin result into a bigger argument, especially with the governing body confirming the procedure. That jersey and Specialized bike combination should look absolutely brilliant in Lombardy.cadencekingm09-10-2026
- A finish decided by fractions of a second will always create debate, but the UEC’s explanation of the EtherLynx system sounds pretty conclusive. Photo finishes are often misunderstood—the image represents time, not a normal view of the riders’ position. Fair play to Ciccone for accepting it graciously.pedalpowe2909-10-2026
- This feels a bit overdramatic from the media. Until Roglic or his agent confirms it, all these “insiders” are just guessing. Still, seeing him line up with Pidcock would be pretty cool.breakawaybikerd09-10-2026
- I’m still learning the team side of cycling: if a team has 29 contracts already signed, how can it still add Roglič? Do riders leave, or are there limits on how many can be registered?samanthak09-10-2026
- So many conflicting reports — Tudor favourite one week, completely out the next. Surely someone in the camps knows what’s happening? Either way, Roglic deserves a team built around him rather than another uncertain setup.jeremya09-10-2026
- Pinarello-Q5 with Roglič, Pidcock and Ciccone would be a seriously interesting project. Plenty of firepower, although three big personalities sharing one team could get complicated during the Grand Tours.sprocketspiny09-10-2026
- The transfer rumours are becoming a race of their own! Tudor still makes sense, but a clear leader role at Lotto-Intermarché could be exactly what Roglič wants at this stage of his career. Let’s see what comes out after Lombardia.gearguru3309-10-2026
- Big challenge ahead—bonne chance, Grischa!lindae09-10-2026
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