2613 riders from 49 different nationalities have been fighting for glory on the dusty forest and farmer roads in the Forests of Brabant this past weekend. While the elite races garnered significant media attention, the age group championships were equally fierce.
2183 riders qualified for the age group races, having finished in the top 25% of their age group in the TREK UCI Gravel World Series or as national champions. The men over 65 and women over 50 had a direct finish after the 88km in line from Halle to Leuven. Women categories under 50 and men between 50 and 64 had to do another 47km local loop for a total distance of 136km on Saturday.
The men age groups between 19 and 49, totalling 1280 riders started five minutes behind the men elite on Sunday for the same course distance of 182km, 88km in line plus two local laps.
In the results we see Belgian Joyce Verbeken as only rider successfully renewing her world title from last year, although in a next category. Belgians dominated the younger female categories, while American riders claimed all the titles in the older women’s categories. In the men’s categories, Belgium, France, and Spain each won multiple medals.
New World Champions:
F19-34: Marine Lenehan (IRL)
F35-39: Kim Knaeps (BEL)
F40-44: Joyce Vanderbeken (BEL)
F45-49: Stefanie Adam (BEL)
F50-54: Marijke De Smedt (BEL)
F55-59: Bente Kortbaek Kibsgaard (DEN)
F60-64: Laura Van Gilder (USA)
F65-69: Ruth Clemence (USA)
F70-74: Vanessa Cooney (USA)
F80-84: Wendy Skean (USA)
M19-34: Killian Tharrut (FRA)
M35-39: Jo Pirotte (BEL)
M40-44: Carlo Porco (BEL)
M45-49: Loic Herbreteau (FRA)
M50-54: Juan Sebastian Horrach Ripoll (ESP)
M55-59: Jonas Tell (SWE)
M60-64: Mario Fernandez Martinez (ESP)
M65-69: Andreas Suls (BEL)
M70-74: Wilfried Straub (GER)
M75-79: Jozef De Wever (BEL)
M80-84: Roger Landeloos (BEL)
