Former Tour de France King of the Mountain superstars Johnny Hoogerland, 40, and Samuel Sanchez, 45, each won UCI Gravel World Championship amateur age group titles on Sunday in Italy.
For Hoogerland, it was his third amateur UCI world championship title in as many years. The Dutchman retired at a young 33 years-old in 2016, but returned to race in amateur gran fondos a few years later, easily racking up numerous victories. In 2021 and 2023 he won UCI Gran Fondo World Championship road titles. On Sunday at the gravel world championships he once again earned a world championship rainbow jersey, besting 100 riders ages 40-44. He finished the 163km route in 5:14:06, eight minutes in front of the next fastest rider.
For former Spanish pro and 2008 Olympic gold medalist Samuel Sanchez, who retired in 2017 after failing an anti-doping test, winning a gravel world title was not as easy. He had to partner and content with a strong Italian amateur, Guido Dracone. In the 163km race, the duo attacked the Men’s 45-49 field early, working together to build a two minute lead. In the end though, Sanchez bested the Italian in the final run to the finish, winning his first world championship rainbow jersey with a 28-second margin.
Photo Credit: A.S.O.
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