1500 road and gravel mountain climbing specialists took to the steep and stunning cols in the Suisse Vaud Alps this past weekend to try and qualify for the 2025 UCI Gravel World Championships or Gran Fondo World Championships.

Riders climbing to a finish within the top 25% of their age/gender category automatically qualified for the world championships in the Netherlands (gravel) and Australia (road) next October.

On a 150km gran fondo route from Villars-sur-Ollon, with almost 4000 meters of climbing over six cols (La Croix, Pillon, Mittelberg, Mosses, La Forclaz and La Croix from the other side), 25 year-old Italian Alex Raimondi (PIGARELLA MULTISPORT) soared up and down the mountains for four-and-a-half hours to win solo in 4:36:44. Sebastian Druszkiewicz (WALBET TEAM) of Poland was next at 4:42:12, followed closely by Alessanro Barra (GARDA MATERGIA) at 4:42:47.

34 year-old former pro Vanessa Santeliz Bautista (FACTOR HICARI STEMAX) of Venezuala claimed the women’s title in 5:21:53, with the Pole Alina Mylka (THOMUS / WINDOWMASTER BY WYSS TRAINING) the second rider at 5:46:24 and Alexia Schmid (CYCLOPHILE LAUSANNOIS) of Switzerland third 5:47:55.

Starting from the UCI World Headquarters, 2021 UCI MTB World Champion Andreas Seewald (SINGER KTM RACING) won the 100km gravel race to earn his starting bib for this year’s world championships. The 34 year-old German reached the finish atop the famous Col de la Croix in 3:37:47. Mathijs Loman (SWATT CLUB) of the Netherlands and fellow German Pierre Keup (TEAM STANDERT) took the lower podium steps six minutes later in that order.

For the women it was 26 year-old British graveleur star Sophie Wright (RIBBLE OUTLIERS) standing tall on the podium after 4:25:00 and a 7 minute winning margin. Axelle Dubau-Prevot (NUMERO 21 x CAFE DU CYCLISTE) of France was next at 4:32:15 and American Sophie Vitzthum Von Eckstaedt (COLNAGO CLUB OF ACES) trailed at 4:34:16.

Complete UCI Gravel and Gran Fondo results HERE

Photo Credit: UCI Gravel Suisse

© 2019-2025 All Rights Reserved Gran Fondo Daily