Newly crowned USA Junior National Road and Time Trial Champion Ashlin Barry, 16, won Canada’s only UCI Gravel World Championship qualifying race, Blue Mountains Gravel Fondo, on Saturday. Although, he will not compete in the upcoming worlds since the UCI does not offer a junior world championship gravel race.

Nonetheless, Barry (EF Education – ONTO) showcased his amazing talent by defeating a field of top gravel riders. Starting in the Blue Mountains outside Ontario, Barry finished the 126km gravel race in 3:17:04, 10 seconds ahead of former Canadian pro Benjamin Perry, 30, and almost a minute up on American Brennan Wertz, 27, who won UCI Highlands Gravel Classic in April. Barry’s father, former WorldTour pro Michael Barry, 48, finished eleventh, 12 minutes after his son.

For the second year in a row Devon Clarke won the women’s race in 3:46:39, with Maghalie Rochette next at 3:54:50. Anna Hicks claimed the final podium step in 4:00:25.

Matthew Harris for the men and Elly Moore for the women were fastest in the shorter 84km medio gravel race, finishing in 2:38:14 and 2:48:03.

Riders finishing in the top 25% of their age/gender category automatically qualify for the 2024 UCI Gravel World Championships in Belgium later this year.

289 riders participated in the event, organized in part by multiple UCI Gran Fondo World Champion Bruce Bird.

Complete UCI Blue Mountains Gravel Fondo results HERE.

Photo Credit: Blue Mountains Gravel Fondo, Nicolas Mabyle

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