Three critical course features at the UCI Gravel World Championships

As the UCI Gravel World Championships unfolded in Nannup, Western Australia, three key features of the course emerged as potential game changers for racers. The elite men's course measured 144 kilometers while the women's route stretched to 125.6 kilometers, with both showcasing a challenging landscape. Riders faced daunting vertical ascents, with the men's course featuring 3,713 meters of elevation gain and the women’s at 3,179 meters, likened to the infamous "Liège–Bastogne–Liège" climbs.

Riders described the course as "draining" upon their first experience, highlighting the intensity of the race where no portions could be deemed easy. With about 84% of the course covered in gravel, the terrain involved extended undulating plateau sections and tricky descents that required constant vigilance to avoid slipping on the pea gravel corners.

Among the critical features, the Brockman climb stood out. Though not the initial climb of the race, the 2.4-kilometer ascent, averaging 8.2% in steepness, typically marks the onset of significant team splits. Race director Stephen Gallagher pointed out that this spot would significantly test the riders. He indicated, "You are going to see if you've either got good legs or bad legs on Brockman." Following this climb, racers faced a prolonged jagged route, including more ascents before reaching a brief respite of flat terrain.

Next, the Ellis Creek ascent presented another pivotal challenge. This climb, covering 2 kilometers with an average gradient of 9.1% and gaining 169 vertical meters, emerged after approximately 85 kilometers for the men and around 65 kilometers for the women. Tasman Nankervis, the 2023 elite men's race winner at SEVEN, recalled that the fatigue at this stage often dictated race dynamics. He noted, "It’s logical to make a move from there, whereas to make a move from Brockman, that’s a bit of a high-risk maneuver."

Finally, a new addition to the race was the Folly climb, incorporated in the finishing stages of the course. This climb could potentially be a pivotal point, acting as a critical juncture for riders nearing the end of the event.

Overall, the combination of these climbs and race conditions set the UCI Gravel World Championships in Nannup as a formidable challenge for participants, where endurance, strategy, and terrain mastery were tested to their limits.