2nd European Gravel Championships in Veneto (Italy)

Barely one week after the UCI World Gravel Championships in Halle, Belgium, the 2nd edition of the European Gravel Championships will take place in Asiago, Italy, in Venice, a gravel race for elites and amateurs, both men and women. Flanders Classics, the Belgian organiser of the Tour of Flanders, among others, is supported by PP Sports Events, the events agency of former Veneto region cyclist Filippo Pozzato.

In October 2023, Heverlee was the setting for the first ever European Gravel Championships. Jasper Stuyven and Lorena Wiebes were the very first winners of the European jersey. Now, almost a year later, the cycling peloton heads to Asiago in the Italian region of Veneto, not far from where the 1st World Gravel Championships took place in 2022, also organised by PP Sports Events.

For the Belgian organiser, it is the 2nd international collaboration in the gravel world. "In August, we organised Heathland Gravel, the very first European Unbound Gravel qualifier, as a result of a cooperation with Lifetime Events" points out Tomas Van Den Spiegel, CEO of Flanders Classics. "We are now looking forward to helping shape this 2nd edition of the European gravel championship, one month after the European Road Championships of which we are co-organisers."

For the UEC European Gravel Championship in 2024, 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 crowd of fans and athletes" says Filippo Pozzato, CEO of PP Sport Events.

"We believed in it from the beginning and are proud to be the 1st to host the UCI World Gravel Championships in 2022. Now we are ready for an exciting new challenge: the UEC Gravel European Championships, which will be held in the beautiful Altopiano area of Asiago."

The Altopiano di Asiago, a plateau between the Pianura Veneta plain and the mountains, is the setting for the upcoming European Championships. The course consists of a local lap about 50 km long, 70% of which is gravel. The course includes a 10km climb through the forest.

"That amount of gravel is very important, but the course can definitely be selective too" Van Den Spiegel stressed. "Gravel races are increasingly coming into their own. It cannot be the intention to organise races that are won by default by a strong road rider with good terrain skills. So we hope to welcome real gravel specialists to Italy."

"I am sure it will be a fantastic spectacle, both from a technical point of view with top athletes in the field, and because of the beautiful landscapes, because Asiago is a place to discover, on the bike and beyond" Filippo Pozzato promoted his region. "We have designed a varied and demanding course that will showcase both the riders and the unique beauty of the area" he told Wielerverhaal

Unlike the World Gravel Championships, qualification is not necessary and anyone can participate. In other words, a unique opportunity for an amateur cyclist to experience a cycling race among professional cyclists which might be a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity as future gravel championships will probably require qualification ... Registration for the European Gravel Championships is still open until 9 October.