Lorena Wiebes of the Netherlands claimed victory in a thrilling sprint finish at the 2024 UCI Gravel world Championships in Veneto, Italy, besting Marianne Vos for the rainbow jersey. The race, held Sunday, October 7th, saw Wiebes and Vos emerge from a leading group after a challenging 140km course featuring varied terrain and demanding climbs.
The win marks a significant achievement for Wiebes, already a prominent figure in road cycling, as she successfully transitions her sprinting prowess to the burgeoning discipline of gravel. The Gravel World Championships, established in 2022, are rapidly gaining prestige within the cycling world, attracting top riders from across multiple disciplines and offering a considerable prize purse.This victory for Wiebes underscores the growing competitiveness and appeal of gravel racing, and sets the stage for a dynamic 2025 season with the World Championships heading to South Limburg, Netherlands.
After a tactical race, the decisive moment arrived in the final kilometers as a select group of riders contested the sprint. Wiebes expertly navigated the final corner and unleashed a powerful sprint, holding off the persistent challenge of Vos, a three-time road world champion. Italy’s Elisa Longo Borghini finished third,completing the podium.
“It’s astonishing,” Wiebes said after the race. “I felt good all day, and my team did a fantastic job positioning me for the sprint. to win the rainbow jersey in gravel is a dream come true.”