After finishing seventh two weeks ago in Spain, EF-Education road rider turned graveleur Toby Perry left no doubt he was the strongest rider at the second edition of Wish One Gravel in France on Sunday.
On the 146 kilometer route in Southern France, the 23 year-old Brit dominated the UCI Gravel World Series race filled with top pros and amateurs. He finished in 4:34:43 with an insurmountable seven minutes lead over the next competitors – multiple grand tours veteran Geoffrey Soupe of France and top American MTB/gravel racer Russel Finsterwald.
Additional pros left in Perry’s dust include Nathan Hass, Freddy Ovett and Deelen Diederik, plus 500 riders trying to qualify for the UCI Gravel World Championships by finishing in the top 25% of their age/gender category.
2023 Garmin Unbound Gravel champion Carolin Schiff (Canyon CCLCTV) of Germany won the women’s race in 5:13:20, also with a commanding lead – over twelve minutes. Jade Treffeisen and Rosa Kloser finished in second and third place respectively.
This coming Saturday the UCI Gravel World Series moves across the Atlantic to Fayetteville, Arkansas USA at the Highlands Gravel Classic. So far, with only 298 riders registered to compete the field is likely to be one of the smallest on the Gravel World Series circuit.
Photo Credit: Wish One Gravel
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