Bahrain Victorious Riders Set to Compete at UCI Gravel World Championships
This weekend, three Bahrain Victorious riders will be representing their team at the second ever UCI Gravel World Championships in Northern Italy. Matej Mohorič, Fran Miholjević, and Matevž Govekar will be wearing their national jerseys as they take on the challenging 169km route from Lago Le Bandie to Pieve di Soligo on Sunday.
The Bahrain Victorious riders are coming off a successful performance at the Cro Race, where Mohorič claimed victory on the “Queen Stage” and Miholjević and Govekar showed their strengths in breakaways and sprints. Despite a long and demanding season, the trio is excited for the unique experience of racing on gravel.
Mohorič expressed his excitement, stating, “I have no expectations for a result, but I’m still looking forward to racing on the gravel bike. It’s a new experience for me and I will embrace it and do my best.”
The course for the UCI Gravel World Championships consists of a mix of tarmac and gravel, with challenging rough trails. There are nine climbs and 1890m of ascending, with most of the climbing taking place on normal roads. Mohorič shared his thoughts on the course, saying, “The course is quite varied…some asphalt sections, some gravel but flat. Then there are some parts that are super technical, especially in the final loop, with quite a few short but really sharp climbs. There are single track segments, and plenty with real ‘gravel racing’ characteristics.”
One notable difference in this race format is the grid start, where each competitor is assigned a starting position based on their previous gravel race results and UCI rankings in road, mountain bike, and cyclocross. Mohorič believes that riders with more off-road experience will have an advantage, as they train and race on gravel bikes year-round. He also believes the race will suit cyclocross riders.
The elite men’s race at the UCI Gravel World Championships will feature a star-studded start list, with over 220 entrants. Belgian riders Wout Van Aert and defending champion Gianni Vermeersch are among the notable names competing alongside the Bahrain Victorious team.
The race is scheduled to start at 10:30 local time in Veneto, Italy.
