In less than 60 days the 2025 UCI Gravel World Championships will take place in South Limburg, Netherlands on a rolling gravel course featuring a 50km loop that looks perfect for puncheurs eager to wear out the competition by powering up short steep climbs again, again and again.

On 11 and 12 October the loop will be ridden multiple times, with the W50+/M65+ categories doing one and a half laps, Elite Women/W19-49/M50-64 doing two and a half laps and the Elite Men/M19-49 doing three and a half laps, totaling approximately 81km, 131km and 180km respectively. 

The course starts in Beek on asphalt, with riders likely taking off like a rocket to quickly thin the field by the top of the Adsteeg climb, 5% for 0.7km, at the 6km mark.

With most groups starting only 1-3 minutes apart, by the time riders reach the loop the race will already be over for many, leaving stragglers and back markers to mix in with various age groupers for the remainder of the day (which the rules allow).

The 50km gravel loop includes undulating dirt farm roads, gravel paths, many short punchy climbs, water and impenetrable thickets one dare not venture into.

After completing the required number of loops riders will descend into Valkenburg for the final run to the finish. But they must face one last brutal climb sure to shed the weak. The 1km Bronsdalweg at an average gradient of 7.2% is where the non-sprinters are likely to make a move with just 14km of flat gravel road remaining.

Organizers have released a course map and GPX file for use on recon rides (highly recommended) prior to race day.

Riders not yet qualified but interested in racing at the 2025 UCI Gravel World Championships may qualify at any of the seven remaining UCI Gravel World Series events in Italy, Great Britain, United States, France, Belgium, Nambia and Spain. Details and dates available HERE.

Photo Credit: Golazo Sports

© 2019-2025 All Rights Reserved Gran Fondo Daily