The 2nd edition of UCI Monsterrato Gravel took place Saturday in the famous Piemonte wine region of Italy. The event afforded riders one last chance to qualify for the 2023 UCI Gravel World Championships by finishing in the top 25% of their age/gender category.

On the 125 kilometer course, 31 year-old pro Petr Vakoc (CANYON ISADORE) took his second UCI Gravel World Championship Series win, soloing across the finish line in 3:41:36 with a huge six minute lead over pursuers. The Czech rider is having a stellar season and is in top form heading into the world championships. In the last month he finished P2 at one of the toughest gravel races in the United States, SBT GRVL, P6 at UCI Houffalize Gravel in Belgium and P1 UCI Gravel Adventure in Poland.

From a chase group of four riders, recently retired WorldTour pro Jan Bakelants sprinted for P2, with Sebastian Schonberger taking P3, both credited with a time of 3:47:44.

Five times mountain bike world champion Annika Langvad, 39, of Denmark won the women’s race, completing the mixed surface event in 4:14:41. Karolina Mignon and Rosa Maria Kloser were next at 4:14:55 and 4:16:02 respectively.

Frenchman Alain Prost, former Formula One World Champion, raced in the shorter 65 kilometer medio gravel event, finishing P8 in the men’s 65-69 category – just shy of qualifying for the world championships. Giorgio Chiarini took the overall medio race win, finishing in 2:16:31.  

Over 400 riders participated in La Monsterrato Gravel, racing past beautiful vineyard hills, truffle grounds, castles and medieval villages southeast of Turin.

The UCI Gravel World Championships take place 8-9 October in Veneto, Italy.

Photo Credit: Facebook/Petr Vakoc

© 2019-2023 All Rights Reserved Gran Fondo Daily News