The Gravelking UCI Gravel World Series welcomed a new addition to its calendar on Saturday with the inaugural edition of The Wolf in Dronninglund, North Jutland. Set on a demanding 52 km circuit through the surprisingly hilly Danish countryside, riders tackled three laps for a total distance of 156 km. The race attracted a highly competitive Scandinavian and international field. The challenging 52 km loop through the forests and gravel roads around Dronninglund had been highlighted before the event as a course that would surprise many riders expecting typically flat Danish terrain.
All-Danish Sweep in Men’s Elite Race
The men’s elite race delivered a dominant display from Andreas Stokbro Nielsen, who proved to be the strongest rider on the demanding North Jutland course. After more than four hours of racingand three laps, Stokbro Nielsen crossed the finish line in 4:17:53, averaging an impressive 36.3 km/h over the 156 km distance.
Behind him, the battle for the remaining podium places remained intense until the finish. Fellow Dane Gustav Frederik Dahl secured second place, winning a sprint for the runner-up position 51 seconds behind the winner. Rasmus Bogh Wallin completed the podium in third after crossing the line alongside Dahl, while Simon Bak narrowly missed out on a podium finish in fourth.
The chasing riders were unable to bridge the gap to the leading quartet, with the remainder of the field arriving more than two minutes later. Ian Millennium rounded out the top five after another strong ride on Danish soil.
The result provided a perfect outcome for the home crowd, with Danish riders occupying the entire elite men’s podium.
Kasper Leads International Women’s Podium
The women’s elite race produced a far more international outcome as experienced German rider Romy Kasper claimed victory after a powerful performance across the North Jutland circuit.
Kasper completed the 2 lap race in 3:16:33, finishing comfortably ahead of her nearest challengers. Dutch rider Elisa Serné secured second place at 55 seconds, while Gravel World Series leader Wendy Oosterwoud added another podium finish to her season by taking third, 1 minute 24 seconds behind the winner.
A strong Danish contingent followed closely behind the international podium. Klara Sofie Skovgaard Hansen was the first home rider in fourth place, finishing 2:31 behind Kasper, while Signe Thomsen completed the top five at 5:25.
A second win for Kasper this season after also winning Gravel One Fifty in April.
