Mathieu van der Poel will participate in the first gravel World Championship in Italy this weekend: cycling on unpaved roads. And he is not the only one from Brabant, because Mathijs Loman from Eindhoven and Puck Moonen from Sint Michielsgestel will also start at the first World Championship in gravel racing in Italy’s Veneto.
Gravel bikes have their origins in touring bikes, especially in America. It is combined with ‘bikepacking’ (luggage on the bike). Into nature and choose your own path. “Very relaxed”, says Mathijs Loman. A few years ago, the races were added. These are of course without luggage, but riders normally have to provide a repair kit and spare tire themselves. Puck Moonen: “It is a kind of cyclo-cross but then a marathon. Gravel racing gives a familiar feeling.”
Mixed course
For the men there is a course of 194 kilometers at the World Cup on Sunday in the Italian region of Veneto, for the women 140 kilometers on Saturday. About a third of it is on unpaved roads, a third on asphalt and the rest is a combination of gravel, cobblestone and tamped clay roads. There is a lot of climbing in the first 30 kilometers.
This mix is beneficial for participants who are not specialized in gravel, but who also perform well on other types of courses. Matthijs Loman is just a clay court specialist. He had hoped for more climbing. “On gravel you have less advantage from riding in the peloton. There is much more resistance from the surface and the pressure in the tires is lower. You just have to pedal harder to stay in the group. That is less necessary on this course .”
Puck Moonen is sober about the course. “I expect the World Cup to be more like a road race.”
Special gravel bike
The tires on a gravel bike are usually a lot thicker than average, just like on a mountain bike. Also, most gravel models have a longer wheelbase. This makes the bikes more stable on rough terrain. Puck only just got her special gravel bike, but it didn’t take long to get used to it. “Due to delivery problems, I only got it three weeks ago. I finished third in my first race. After all, a bicycle is a bicycle.”
Loman was a road racer for a long time without too much success. He made the switch last year. “I like it better, but I don’t know if everyone can just make this switch. This season I finished fifth in a race in Belgium and eighth in a race in the Netherlands.”
contender
Mathieu van der Poel (27) participates for the first time in the World Championship clay. It is an established favorite on the road, cyclocross or mountain biking. After the failed World Championships on the road for him, he is especially enthusiastic about the Gravel World Championships. “We are going to write history”, says Van der Poel. Although he had never ridden a dedicated gravel bike until recently, first impressions were good, he said.
Van der Poel is careful about his chances of a world title. “For me it’s especially fun to participate. If the feeling is good on Sunday, I will of course do my best for the best possible result.”
on your mouth
Mathijs Loman (22) from Eindhoven studies Biological Technology at the Technical University and is modest in his ambitions. “Of course it is my dream to drive in the front and I will try to do that. It is by far the best field of participants I have ever been in, with many pros too. A good result is going to be difficult.”
Puck Moonen (26) was a professional, but now rides as an amateur. “I especially like clay racing. On the road, the tampers often have an advantage. Driving on gravel is much more technical. If you can’t steer, you go nuts. I really have nothing to lose at this World Cup.”