Over 1300 amateur and professional gravel cyclists participated in the UCI Gravel World Championship qualifying race in Roden, Netherlands on Saturday 15 July, with professionals Pauliena Rooijakkers (Canyon/SRAM Racing) and Sam Gademan (Allinq Continental Cyclingteam) taking overall victory and earning starting bibs for the 2023 Gravel World Championships.

Rooijakkers, 30, won the 150km women’s race by over six minutes, crossing under the finish banner in 4:32:33. She handily defeating a field of top caliber pro riders, including Carolin Schiff (4:38:47), Moniek Tenniglo (4:39:00) and 3x World Road Champion as well as 8X World Cyclocross Champion Marianne Vos (4:39:00).

Gademan, 22, was the fastest man, out sprinting Jonas Lindberg to take the win in 4:12:04, with Piotr Havik (4:12:13) finishing third just ahead of a hard charging chase group. The three riders worked tirelessly together for most of the race to stay away until the finish.

In the shorter 80km qualifying race for older age categories (50+ women and 60+ men), Hermann Sinnigen (2:29:19) was first to reach the finish line, with Judith van Maanen (2:38:49) the first women.

Riders finishing in the top 25% of their age/gender category automatically qualify to race in the upcoming UCI Gravel World Championships taking place in Italy next October.

Photo Credit: Canyon/SRAM Racing

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