UCI Gravel World Series: Romain Bardet and Sophie Wright stretch the gaps to win Monaco Gravel Race

Romain Bardet (DSM-Firmenich PostNL) and Sophie Wright (Fenix-Deceuninck) emerged victorious at the Monaco Gravel Race, part of the UCI Gravel World Series. Bardet outpaced Paul Voß for the men's win, while Wright, after catching and dropping Nicole Frain, secured the women's title. Both riders established significant leads, marking a dominant performance in the high-profile event.

This result is particularly noteworthy for Bardet, a Grand Tour podium finisher, as it signals a continued, successful diversification into gravel, following his recent Strade Bianche performance. For Wright, a former road and cyclocross talent, it represents a significant step in her gravel career, demonstrating her versatility and strength against a competitive field. The presence of such established road pros in the Gravel World Series underscores the discipline's growing appeal and the increasing crossover of talent.

Ultimately, these wins are less about UCI points and more about validating the gravel ambitions of two distinct, yet equally capable, riders. It seems the peloton's elite are finding new playgrounds.