In just under six weeks’ time, Europe’s gravel stars will be competing for victory in the second edition of the UEC Gravel European Championships. A race for the Men Elite and the Women Elite will take place on 13 October in Asiago, Italy. Flanders Classics, the Belgian cycling association that organises the Tour of Flanders, among others, is being supported by PP Sports Events, the event agency of former rider Filippo Pozzato based in the Veneto region.
In October 2023, Heverlee was the setting for the first-ever Gravel European Championships. Jasper Stuyven and Lorena Wiebes were the very first recipients of the European jersey. Now, almost a year later, the cycling peloton is heading to Asiago in the Veneto region of Italy, not far from where the first gravel World Championships took place in 2022, also organised by PP Sports Events.
For the Belgian organiser, it is the second international collaboration in the world of gravel. Tomas Van Den Spiegel, CEO of Flanders Classics: “In August, we organised the very first European Unbound Gravel qualifier, as the result of a collaboration with Lifetime Events. We are now looking forward to helping to shape this second edition of the European Championships, one month after the European Road Championships of which we are co-organisers.”
For the 2024 UEC Gravel European Championships, Flanders Classics, with spring classics such as Omloop Het Nieuwsblad and the Tour of Flanders in its portfolio, is joining forces with PP Sports Events. “Gravel is a young discipline, but in just a few years, it has attracted a huge following of enthusiasts and athletes,” said Filippo Pozzato, CEO of PP Sport Events. “We believed in it from the very start and are proud to have been the first to organize the UCI Gravel World Championships in 2022. Now, we’re ready for an exciting new challenge: the UEC Gravel European Championships, which will be held in the beautiful area of the Altopiano of Asiago.”
Registrations are open
The Altopiano di Asiago, a plateau between the plain of Pianura Veneta and the mountains, is the backdrop for the upcoming European Championships. The course consists of a local lap about 50 km long, 70% of which is composed of gravel. The course includes a 10-km climb through the forest.
Tomas Van Den Spiegel: “That amount of gravel is very significant, but the course can definitely be selective as well. Gravel races are increasingly coming into their own. The aim cannot be to organise races that by default are won by a strong road rider with good off-road skills. So we are hoping to welcome real gravel specialists in Italy.”
The aim cannot be to organise races that by default are won by a strong road rider with good off-road skills. So we are hoping to welcome real gravel specialists in Italy
Tomas Van Den Spiegel
Filippo Pozzato: “I’m sure it will be a fantastic spectacle, both from a technical standpoint with top athletes in the field, and for its stunning landscapes, as Asiago is a place to discover—on a bike and beyond. We’ve designed a diverse and demanding course that will showcase both the riders and the unique beauties of the area. I can’t wait for October 13th.”
Unlike the World Championships, qualification is not necessary and anyone can take part.