On 5 and 6 October, the Bolero UCI Gravel World Championships are coming to Flanders, Belgium for the first time, with the start in Halle and the finish in Leuven. A star-studded ensemble of champions from different cycling disciplines are on the line-up, including UCI Road World Champion Lotte Kopecky (BEL), UCI Cyclo-cross World Champion Fem van Empel (NED), UCI Mountain Bike World Champion Puck Pieterse (NED), current UCI Gravel World Champion Matej Mohoric (SLO), European Gravel and Road Champion Lorena Wiebes (NED), Gravel European Champion Jasper Stuyven (BEL), etc.
The provisional list of participants is full of big names. Among the women, not only Lotte Kopecky, Fem van Empel, Puck Pieterse and Lorena Wiebes, but also former UCI Cyclo-cross World Champions Sanne Cant (BEL) and Lucinda Brand (NED) are expected to participate. Ditto for Marianne Vos (NED), silver medalist in the Paris Olympic Games in the road race and multiple winner of the UCI Road World Championships and the UCI Cyclo-cross World Championships.
The battle in the Women Elite category, taking place on Saturday 5 October, will however see more than Dutch and Belgian contenders.. South Africa’s Ashleigh Moolman-Pasio, Germany’s Carolin Schiff and Australia’s Tiffany Cromwell are just a few of the riders that also have impressive gravel credentials. The same goes for Canada’s Alison Jackson, who, as the winner of Paris-Roubaix 2023, will undoubtedly feel at home on the gravel roads of the Bolero UCI Gravel World Championships course, which runs through the Brabant forest.
On Sunday 6 October, it is time for the Men Elite. Among them, the Slovenian defending champion Matej Mohoric is once again one of the big favourites. From Belgium, opposition will initially come from Jasper Stuyven, who was crowned European Gravel Champion last year. What’s more, Stuyven is from Leuven and will therefore be extra motivated to end up on the highest level on the podium in front of his home crowd. Other Belgians to look out for are Greg Van Avermaet, Jan Bakelants and Toon Aerts.
The Netherlands is counting on Dutch Champion and UCI Vice Cyclo-cross World Champion Joris Nieuwenhuis. The Czechs have a real gravel specialist with Petr Vakoc, Italia is counting on Mattia De Marchi, Australia on Nathan Haas and Germany on Paul Voss.
Supporters can attend the 2024 Bolero UCI Gravel World Championships on front row in Halle and Leuven on 5 and 6 October. There will be a large fan zone on Pozzosplein in the start city Halle, including food and drink stands and big screens, so you can follow the race and don’t miss the finish in Leuven. In Leuven, there will be large fan zones on Martelarenplein and Ladeuzeplein & Hooverplein, with a gravel expo and an afterparty. In both Halle and Leuven, the fan zones are easily accessible by train.
In addition, local fan zones will be set up in various municipalities along the route.
FUN RIDE
Not qualified or want to explore the UCI World Championships course at your own pace? On Sunday morning you can join the Fun Ride and discover the local circuit in Leuven (50 km), just before the Men Elite come through.
PRACTICAL INFO 2024 BOLERO UCI GRAVEL WORLD CHAMPIONSHIPS
Programme Saturday 5 October 2024:
• 12pm: Start Women Elite
• 12.15pm: Start Men Age Groups 50 – 54
• 12.17pm: Start Men Age Groups 55 – 59
• 12.19pm: Start Men Age Groups 60 – 64
• 12.20pm: Start Women Age Groups 19 – 34
• 12.21pm: Start Women Age Groups 35 – 39
• 12.22pm: Start Women Age Groups 40 – 44
• 12.23pm: Start Women Age Groups 45 – 49
• 12.24pm: Start Men Age Groups + 65
• 12.25pm: Start Women Age Groups + 50
Programme Sunday 6 October 2024:
• 12pm: Start Men Elite
• 12.05pm: Start Men Age Groups 19 – 34
• 12.07pm: Start Men Age Groups 35 – 39
• 12.09pm: Start Men Age Groups 40 – 44
• 12.11pm: Start Men Age Groups 45 – 49
Start:
• Possozplein, Halle
Finish:
• Martelarenplein, Leuven
Principal Participants Women (provisional list of participants):
• Fem van Empel (NED)
• Lucinda Brand (NED)
• Alison Jackson (CAN)
• Ashleigh Moolman-Pasio (RSA)
• Tiffany Cromwell (AUS)
• Femke Markus (NED)
• Carolin Schiff (GER)
• Sanne Cant (BEL)
• Lorena Wiebes (NED)
• Marianne Vos (NED)
• Puck Pieterse (NED)
• Lotte Kopecky (BEL)
Principal Participants Men (provisional list of participants):
• Jasper Stuyven (BEL)
• Joris Nieuwenhuis (NED)
• Toon Aerts (BEL)
• Petr Vakoc (CZE)
• Mattia De Marchi (ITA)
• Nathan Haas (AUS)
• Paul Voss (GER)
• Greg Van Avermaet (BEL)
• Jan Bakelants (BEL)
• Matej Mohoric (SLO)
Live on TV (VRT/Sporza & Proximus):
• Saturday (Elite Women): 2.15pm to 4.30pm
• Sunday (Elite Men): 2.15pm to 5pm
