Road Stars Triumph in 2023 UCI Gravel World Championships: Niewiadoma and Mohorič shine in elite titles

Posted : 13 October 2023

At the 2023 UCI Gravel World Championships, experienced road cyclists Kasia Niewiadoma and Matej Mohorič made a stunning transition to conquer the challenging terrain, securing the prestigious Elite titles. Their remarkable achievements garnered praise from Nathan Haas, a former Australian professional cyclist turned gravel enthusiast, highlighting their comprehensive athletic abilities.

Kasia Niewiadoma, leading the UCI Women’s WorldTeam Canyon//SRAM, ventured into the world of gravel racing with a victorious Women's Elite race, expressing her joy at winning the coveted rainbow jersey. Meanwhile, Matej Mohorič, triumphing in the Men's Elite race, admitted it was his first-ever gravel race. Despite his novelty, his extensive experience on similar surfaces was evident in his spectacular performance, as he dethroned the previous year's champion, Belgian Gianni Vermeersch.

The trend of road cycling stars excelling in the UCI Gravel World Championships was highlighted by Nathan Haas, emphasizing the importance of skills beyond sheer power, such as Matej Mohorič's remarkable bike-handling abilities. These champions' backgrounds revealed their versatility, not confined to gravel racing. Mohorič had roots in mountain biking, while Vermeersch had a cyclo-cross background, echoing the diversity showcased by renowned figures like Mathieu van der Poel and Wout van Aert.

On the women's side, the versatile French cyclist, Pauline Ferrand-Prévot, secured the inaugural UCI Gravel World Championships title. Haas praised her as the "princess of versatility" and reserved the title of "queen" for Marianne Vos, who excelled in various disciplines. Kasia Niewiadoma, now crowned in 2023, primarily focused on road racing but overcame her inexperience on off-road terrain with the support and advice of her teammates.

Niewiadoma's victory attested to her innate talent and the guidance she received in equipment, gearing, and tire selection from her teammate, Tiffany Cromwell, who competed in both road and gravel races. Her triumph marked her first rainbow jersey since her 2019 OVO Energy Women's Tour stage win, underlining the formidable challenges of gravel racing, as emphasized by Dutch cyclist Demi Vollering, who found it more demanding than any road race she had participated in.

Road Stars Triumph in 2023 UCI Gravel World Championships: Niewiadoma and Mohorič shine in elite titles

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