Marianne Vos claimed the UCI Gravel World Championship in Leuven, out-sprinting Belgium’s Lotte Kopecky in a dramatic two-rider duel. The 134km race, filled with punchy climbs, gravel paths, and technical sectors, saw the two riders break away early and hold off the chasers, setting up a tense final sprint.
How the race unfolded
The elite women’s race kicked off under unseasonably warm skies in Halle, where a large group of contenders set off, including Vos, Kopecky, Lorena Wiebes, Soraya Paladin, and Puck Pieterse. The course, featuring a mix of long gravel stretches and sharp cobbled climbs, was a demanding test of skill and endurance.
The first major shake-up occurred around the 40km mark, when Lotte Kopecky launched a sharp acceleration. A group of eleven formed at the front, consisting of Vos, Wiebes, Pieterse, Paladin, and others. The peloton, though stretched, managed to keep them in sight.
The decisive move came with just under 50km to go, as Kopecky and Vos powered away from the remaining breakaway riders, quickly gaining a significant gap. Lorena Wiebes and Soraya Paladin were unable to follow, leaving the Belgian and Dutch riders in a head-to-head battle. By the time the race hit the gravel paths and wooded sections around Leuven, the duo had extended their lead to over three minutes.
The two riders worked together, alternating at the front and navigating the unpredictable terrain, which included rough farm tracks, small forest paths, and sections where shadows made the uneven surface even trickier. Despite multiple attempts to attack each other on the climbs and gravel sections, neither could break the other, setting the stage for a final showdown.
In the final 10km, it was clear the race would be decided between Kopecky and Vos, as the gap to the chasers continued to grow. A late attack from Vos on the Ramberg, a short cobbled climb just 1.6km from the finish, was quickly answered by Kopecky, bringing the two riders back together for the sprint.
With just 200 metres to go, Vos made her move, accelerating sharply and holding off Kopecky to claim the world title. “I went full with 200 metres to go,” Vos explained after the race. “Fortunately, I was able to hold on until the end.”
Meanwhile, behind the two leaders, the battle for third was heating up. Lorena Wiebes surged ahead of her chasing companions, including Pieterse and Romy Kasper, to secure the final spot on the podium, crossing the line almost four minutes after Vos.
Photo Credit: Cor VosRider reactions
Marianne Vos reflected on the tough race after securing her fourteenth world title. “It was a true battle of attrition, Lotte and I quickly found ourselves in the front. I knew right away that it would be a tough race, but it quickly became clear that we would sprint for the title. I wasn’t confident in my sprint, but when I saw I couldn’t drop her, I decided to wait and go all in at the finish.”
Lotte Kopecky, who came into the race just a week after winning the road race world title, admitted she didn’t have high expectations for her gravel debut. “It’s no shame to come second after Marianne. It was my first gravel race, something completely different. I should have approached the sprint differently. I had fun, but when I was with Marianne, my lower back exploded. It was painful from all the hits from the holes in the gravel paths.”
Despite her discomfort, Kopecky was gracious in defeat. “I tried to put pressure on Marianne on the climbs, but she was really strong. I’m happy with my performance, but maybe I should have gone earlier in the sprint.”
Lorena Wiebes, who secured third place, acknowledged how tough the gravel terrain had been for her. “I didn’t have my best legs, but gravel is about fighting until the end,” Wiebes said after the race. “Lotte made it really hard, especially on the climbs. At one point, I had to let them go, but I’m happy to take the bronze in my first world championship gravel race.”
Puck Pieterse, who finished fourth, knew from the moment Kopecky and Vos broke away that the podium was slipping out of reach. “I saw Lotte make her move, and that was it. I tried to hang on, but they were too strong. It was a hard race, but I’m happy with how I rode.”
Romy Kasper, who rounded out the top five, was left to fight for the minor places with Pieterse. “It was clear we were racing for third, but when Lorena went on the Ramberg, I just couldn’t follow. I’m happy with fifth in a race like this.”
2024 Women’s Gravel World Championships result
Results powered by FirstCycling.com
Main photo credit: Cor Vos
