This weekend, the Woerthersee Gravel Race takes centre stage in Austria as the Gravelking UCI Gravel World Series returns to Velden am Wörthersee. With around 1700 riders from 40 different nationalities on the start line, the event once again confirms its status as one of the most internationally supported gravel races on the calendar.
A demanding Alpine gravel course
The race starts and finishes in the heart of Velden, right on the shores of Lake Wörthersee. Elite men and age groups up to 59 will tackle the 150 km course with 1713 metres of elevation, while older categories ride a 94km race. The course is built around a large opening loop and a second, slightly altered loop, combining fast gravel sections, forest roads and punchy climbs.
The first major selection comes early, with a steep gravel climb just a few kilometres after the start to immediately stretch the peloton. Riders then face several climbs spread across the course, including a decisive ascent in the finale back towards Velden. With long gravel sectors, rolling terrain along the Drau river and sustained climbing, positioning, pacing and equipment choice will be crucial.
Strong favourites in elite fields
The elite men’s race features an impressive line-up of international gravel and former WorldTour stars. Anton Palzer, Paul Voß, Alban Lakata, Daniel Federspiel, Lukas Pöstlberger, Jason Osborne and Brun Nils headline a field that promises an aggressive race.
In the elite women’s race, Australian Nicole Frain is the big favorite after her wins in Belgium and Portugal in the last two races. Her nearest opponents could be Dutch Wendy Oosterwoud, German Romy Kasper, Swedish Hanna Johansson or Austrian Jana Gigele. The course suits strong all-round riders who can handle repeated climbs while maintaining speed on exposed gravel roads, setting the scene for a selective race and potentially small-group or solo finish.
