For the first time in its history, the UCI Gravel World Championships will be held outside Europe as the world’s best gravel riders converge on Nannup, Western Australia, this weekend for the fifth edition of the championship. A total of 920 riders from 48 nations have made the journey to Australia’s South West, underlining the growing global appeal of gravel racing and marking a significant milestone for the discipline.
The 2026 championships feature 158 Elite athletes (104 elite men and 54 elite women), while another 762 competitors will contest the 20 Age Group categories. Titles will be awarded across 11 men’s categories, ranging from 19-34 to 80-84 years, and nine women’s categories, extending up to 70-74 years.
Set among the forests, rolling farmland and rugged gravel roads surrounding Nannup, the courses promise demanding racing despite the absence of long mountain climbs. Riders will instead face an endless sequence of steep rises and descents that are expected to wear down even the strongest competitors.
The championships get underway on Saturday with the women’s elite race contested over 125 kilometres featuring 3,175 metres of climbing and an impressive 84% gravel surface. The same day will also see the older age categories in action, with men aged over 65 and women over 50 competing on a shorter but still challenging 90-kilometre world championship course.
Sunday will be devoted to the elite men and the younger men’s age group categories. They will tackle a 144-kilometre route with 3,731 metres of elevation gain and 85% gravel roads, making it one of the toughest UCI Gravel World Championship courses to date.
In the women’s elite race, all eyes will be on 2024 world champion Marianne Vos. The Dutch superstar enters the event as the rider to beat, but faces a strong competitive field. Rosa Klöser (GER) arrives in outstanding form after a string of victories in UCI Gravel World Series events over recent weeks. Australian hopes rest with Nicole Frain and Tiffany Cromwell, both of whom know the local terrain well and can count on strong home support. Sofia Gomez Villafañe (ARG) and reigning European Champion Femke Markus (NED) complete a highly competitive list of contenders for the rainbow jersey.
The men’s elite race is equally stacked with talent. Defending world champion Florian Vermeersch (BEL) returns seeking a second consecutive title after already collecting silver medals in the 2023 and 2024 editions before finally claiming gold last year. The Belgian will face fierce opposition from European Champion Mads Würtz Schmidt (DEN) 2025 UCI MTB Marathon World Champion Keegan Swenson (USA), Connor Swift (GBR), Petr Vakoč (CZE) and Paul Voss (GER).
Nannup is set to deliver another memorable chapter in the rapidly evolving story of gravel racing.
Fans around the world will be able to follow the action live through the UCI YouTube Channel as well as a range of linear television broadcasters carrying the championships internationally. As gravel racing continues its remarkable global expansion, the roads of Western Australia will provide the perfect stage to crown the 2026 UCI Gravel World Champions.
