The third edition of the Houffa Gravel race in Southern Belgium drew a massive field of 1850 riders, eager to tackle the challenging 110km course under a bright sun. The event, centered around the hilly region of Houffalize, featured a total of 1600 meters of elevation gain, including the steep Côte du Saint Roch.
In the men’s elite race, French rider Alexys Brunel made a break halfway the race, building a maximum lead of two minutes. However, Sebastian Schönberger, who had faced mechanical issues, fought back to catch Brunel in the final kilometers. Schönberger ultimately secured the victory by a narrow margin of 16 seconds over Brunel. Belgian Arne Baers from the Lotto U23 team finished third, edging out compatriot Kevin Panhuyzen in the sprint.
In the women’s elite race, German rider Romy Kasper, making her gravel debut, formed a strong partnership with Australian Nicola Frain. Kasper eventually broke away, claiming a decisive 5-minute victory over Frain. Tiffany Cromwel, another Australian rider, rounded out the women’s podium.
The Houffa Gravel event provided a perfect opportunity for many riders to qualify for the upcoming 2024 UCI Gravel World Championships, which will be held in nearby Leuven.
