The PRO Gravel Thread

[Stevovo]

 

[Danger Dassie]

Tragic news for the cycling community - https://www.velonews.com/news/gravel/sule-kangangi-of-team-amani-tragically-dies-at-33/

"The Kenyan professional cyclist succumbed to injuries sustained in a crash while racing in Vermont.

Kangangi found new life breathed into his cycling career with the advent of the Migration Gravel Race, a four-day stage race that debuted in Kenya in 2021. The race brought international talent, like Ian Boswell and Laurens ten Dam, to compete with aspiring pros from East Africa on gravel in the Maasai Mara of Kenya.

Kangangi finished second overall in the inaugural race. In June, he won Evolution Gravel, the second stage race from the Amani Project to debut in East Africa."

A bit more upbeat news with local pro HB Kruger who podiumed in third at Yuzzu Gravel Series, Belgium. Part of the UCI World Gravel Series. The result see him represent SA at Gravel World Champs. 

110km
2000m of ascent
3h37 of racing

https://www.instagram.com/p/ChzZcBMqZYb/?hl=en 

[Spookie]

I think Rossouw Bekker (also from Valley Electrical Titan Racing) also hooked a spot for Gravel Worlds at the same race

['Dale]

Meanwhile, PFP and Mathieu van der Poel will participate in the very first edition of the UCI Gravel World Championships in 🇮🇹 Italy.

*drum roll*

[stringbean]

As well as Sagan.Top 10 at wc for him on that difficult course means he’s got some form.

Just so happens I’ll be 30 min  away from the start next week🤗

 

Might go give boys a shout

Edited October 3, 2022 by stringbean

['Dale]

Meanwhile…

[Danger Dassie]

Yes, looking forward! See Cath Colyn, HB and a few others are there as well. 

['Dale]

The pap is thickening

[Tim Brink]

That's an awful lot of ascent...

[jcza]

18 minutes ago, Tim Brink said:

That's an awful lot of ascent...

Bunch sprint and loads of crashes 

[splat]

1 hour ago, Tim Brink said:

That's an awful lot of ascent...

Apart from the ripples at the beginning, that is pan flat!
That's going to be fast racing 
Aero rigs with big chainrings will be the order of the day

Our SA gravel champs had 2400m climbing and the American events are crazy with their vert, so I find this quite strange.

[Shebeen]

1 hour ago, Tim Brink said:

That's an awful lot of ascent...

wow that is nothing. most of the ascent probably from bridges at river crossings.

How much of it is gravel:tar?

if it's a bunch ride on white stuff, then surely the pro roadies have the edge?

 

holding thumbs that this kid can make a name for himself, again

https://www.instagram.com/p/CinkgvoK5QA/?hl=en

 

[splat]

29 minutes ago, Shebeen said:

wow that is nothing. most of the ascent probably from bridges at river crossings.

How much of it is gravel:tar?

if it's a bunch ride on white stuff, then surely the pro roadies have the edge?

 

holding thumbs that this kid can make a name for himself, again

https://www.instagram.com/p/CinkgvoK5QA/?hl=en

 

https://cyclingtips.com/2022/10/preview-what-you-need-to-know-about-the-first-ever-gravel-worlds/

The men’s race comprises:

• 36% unpaved roads
• 18% hard gravel
• 1% cobbles
• 17% hard surface
• 27% asphalt
• 1% ?

[J Wakefield]

They can also re-name it "Bike path world champs" looking at the parcours

[BuffsVintageBikes]

or Wheel-sucking World Champs... expect plenty of blood to be spilled.

[The_Phoenix]

When and where can we watch this? Guessing SuperSport wont cover?