Lorena Wiebes clinches win in small group sprint at Marly Grav as Wout van Aert carves out solo celebration at the UCI Gravel World Series race

Lorena Wiebes of SD Worx-Protime demonstrated her formidable sprint prowess, securing victory in a five-rider dash at the UCI Gravel World Series event in Marly Grav. Meanwhile, Jumbo-Visma’s Wout van Aert delivered a characteristic solo masterclass, breaking away with approximately 20 kilometres remaining to claim a dominant win in the men's race. Both riders showcased their undisputed class across the challenging gravel parcours.

These victories underscore the growing trend of top-tier road professionals diversifying into gravel, particularly within the UCI Gravel World Series, which serves as a qualifier for the World Championships. For Wiebes, this win further cements her status as arguably the fastest woman in cycling, irrespective of terrain. Van Aert’s performance, conversely, is less a surprise and more a confirmation of his unparalleled versatility and engine, adding another discipline to his already impressive palmarès and reinforcing his status as a multi-surface phenomenon.

While some might question the competitive depth of these particular gravel events, the sight of road cycling's elite dominating off-road simply confirms what we already knew: class, ultimately, is permanent, regardless of the surface.