The gravelliest UCI Gravel World Championships of all of them – An in depth have a look at the 'good storm' of terrain that riders will face this October in Western Australia

Till this 12 months, the UCI Gravel World Championships has taken place in Europe however the flavour of the occasion will change distinctly in 2026 because the race is heading all the way in which to a nook of Australia, the place UCI bike races could also be a rarity however the terrain to carry this one on is bountiful.

“I am a bit of bit biased however the southwest area of Western Australia is a gravel biking mecca,” occasion and race director Stephen Gallagher informed Cyclingnews. “You will have the local weather, and the topography of the area could be very hilly – it’s a very Liège-Bastogne-Liège sort of elevation and demand – in order that mixed with 1000’s of kilometres of pristine gravel has given us the right storm for sensible gravel biking.”

It is not only a theoretical assertion, however well-tested, with the realm not solely a preferred off-road biking venue year-round but additionally the house of the SEVEN gravel race, which started in 2018. When the UCI Gravel World Sequence started in 2022 was one of many first and largest occasions within the calendar in its inaugural 12 months. It was additionally introduced again then that Western Australia had received the suitable to host the primary UCI Gravel World Championships exterior Europe in 2026.

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That call got here at a time when the idea was nonetheless discovering its toes and the explosion of recognition had but to unfold however, 12 months on 12 months, the planning has continued for a World Championship occasion of a significantly increasing scale. A part of that was the exploration of route choices from among the many many potentialities, with the SEVEN gravel race proving each a useful testing floor and inspiration.

“For us, it was an apparent option to hold that begin/end at Nannup and, to as a lot an extent as we may, to maintain the ethos and the great thing about what SEVEN is,” mentioned Gallagher of the course winding by way of the gravel roads, forestry trails and farmland of the Blackwood Valley.

“The opposite factor that was a essential consideration was the spectator enjoyment and the spectator expertise, so we knew with that there needed to be a change in how folks have been in a position to entry the riders, watch the riders and be a part of the occasion.”

The outcome ended up being a 123.1km course for the elite ladies’s race on October 10 and a 140.7km course for the elite males’s occasion on October 11, with a route that loops out from Nannup to key climbs which have lengthy been pivotal within the World Sequence race. Nevertheless, there’s additionally a brand new part to take riders across the city of Nannup and supply loads of prime viewing places, earlier than the race headd again to the beginning/end line the place the winners of the rainbow jerseys shall be determined. The course may even get a check run on the SEVEN UCI Gravel World Sequence occasion on Could 16.

All in all there shall be greater than 80 % gravel on the programs which embrace 3,625m of elevation achieve for the lads and three,100 for the ladies, and the route will be damaged into three distinct elements – every is separated by a flatter part of both tarmac or pristine gravel which is able to give riders a brief break from the constant climbing.

The course was launched earlier in April however now let’s take a better have a look at every of the three sections, with the one who is aware of it inside out, Gallagher, taking us by way of the small print.

The opening gambit

The race begins with a comparatively flat part of round 15 kilometres, the primary 9 of that being a tarmac floor earlier than turning left onto the gravel.

What to learn subsequent

“That is permitting us to prepare, to get deeper into the race and take a bit extra of a deep breath earlier than you hit the climbs,” mentioned Gallagher. “That is the primary distinctive half and that subsequent onerous part, you’ve got received about 30 kilometers there of onerous terrain with 1000 meters of elevation achieve.”

The primary of the climbs in that part comes on Killarney Rd however it’s the subsequent, Brockman, that has probably the most chew with its 2.4km at a mean gradient of 8.2% and a brief dip all the way down to the primary feed zone earlier than one other succession of shorter climbs, Shale Hill and Maidment.

“In my eyes there shall be a definite choice there,” mentioned Gallagher.

Then a considerable descent that begins at about 45km into the occasion will present a possibility for a reset.

With about 14km of mixed descent and flat “the entrance group will most likely swell” says Gallagher of the possible state of affairs of the lead in to the center part of climbing within the race.

Although how lengthy that lasts is one other factor given what’s forward.

Quick-lived reduction

By way of the flat lead in, there’s additionally a second feed zone, and shortly after that’s the place the elite males take off on an additional loop of lower than 20km. This loop provides the Arcadia climb – 2.7km at 7.5% – earlier than they then rejoin the identical course that the ladies race on. Even with out Arcadia that center part accommodates a hearty dose of climbing, as not lengthy after the lads’s loop rejoins there’s additionally the powerful Ellis Creek ascent – 2km at 9.1%.

“on this block right here, from about kilometer 60 to round 100,” mentioned Gallagher referring to the lengthy course, “you’ve got two very onerous, longer climbs and the important thing factor that what makes these climbs onerous is that after every of them there is not any descent.”

As a substitute riders must hold the stress on as soon as they attain the height – with a noticed like profile for these sections relatively than the triangle of a fast up and down.

It is a part the place Gallagher expects the teams to begin getting smaller and for opportunists to maybe attempt to go lengthy.

The chance to attempt to pull again time on those that might make the most of the climbs to take off will possible have to attend for the descent and following flat part which begins with underneath 40km of racing to go. That additionally provides a final probability to catch a breath earlier than the decisive loop round Nannup.

Rainbows on the horizon

Simply when riders are nearly again to the place they began, having headed towards city after the center part on the flatter however nonetheless undulating tarmac, they are going to be directed left to tackle a 24km loop round Nannup. This may provide spectators loads of vantage factors and riders one other array of possibilities to shake off their rivals.

Actually, one of many tougher climbs of the race, notably given what’s already within the legs at this level, opens up the ultimate part. Whereas the race information for SEVEN might define that it’s 2.4km with a 4.8% common, that does not inform the complete story given there’s an easing up half means by way of after which it steepens throughout the ultimate kilometre or so. What’s extra, there is no such thing as a easing off on the prime, with it being one other a kind of ascents that has no fast downhill after, however a flattening out as a substitute the place riders nonetheless have to remain on the pedals.

It will not be be the ultimate decider, mentioned Gallagher, because the climb continues to be 20km from the top of a race that has challenges nonetheless to come back, “however I might see that as being one of many main factors the place the race shall be received or misplaced.”

There are some extra quick punchy climbs on the loop after which a remaining effort up Lindsay Rd – 2.36km at 2.6% – which Gallagher mentioned “I might finest describe as a really onerous drag”. Plus it’s one with a large open view, so there shall be no hiding from any pursuers that might be making an attempt to shut the gaps and hold their World Championships hopes alive.

As soon as excessive there’s a few kilometre of descent. Then for the final practically two-and-a-half kilometres it’s is a comparatively flat remaining run to the road in Nannup with the race ending on a large paved highway, which has a rainbow jersey ready on the finish of it.