The first edition of the 3RIDES Gravel Race, part of the 3RIDES bike festival at the Aachener Chio was an instant success as more than 1150 riders signed up for a race over 7 laps with a first part of the course combining road and cobbles and a second half with more technical sections in the wood.
A group of 6 quickly split up from the rest with World Champion Gianni Vermeersch (BEL) impressing next to Paul Voss (GER), Ryan Christensen (NZL) and three cyclocross pros, Eli Iserbyt (BEL), his teammate Ryan Kamp (NED) and Daan Soete (BEL).
Vermeersch and Voss often tried to make a gap, but the group remained together until Vermeersch had a mechanical problem and a flat tyre kicked him out of the race. Kamp lost contact and in the final lap, Joris Nieuwenhuis (NED) and Juri Hollmann (GER) closed the gap and the race ended with a sprint where Paul Voss pleased the German public with a home win before Nieuwenhuis en Soete in a close sprint.
In the female race, Carolin Schiff (GER) and Tessa Neefjes (NED) battled for a long time for the win and it was Neefjes winning the sprint before Schiff at the end of the 7 laps while European road champion Lorena Wiebes (NED) got third spot four minutes behind.
In the race over 4 laps counting as qualifier for all women over 50 and men over 60, Luc Deckers (BEL) also won in a sprint before Matthias Ball (GER) while Reza Ravenstijn (NED) won the female race!
