The Danish gravel star Mads Wurtz Schmdit (PAS RACING) was determined to win the Houffa Gravel world championship qualifier in Belgium on Saturday morning.

And he did.

On a 141 kilometer route the 31 year-old soloed to victory with a dominant ride, finishing in 4:21:45 with more than a 4 minute lead over the next rider. The remainder of a strung out field dribbled across the line many minutes later.

Loman Mathijs, 25, of the Netherlands finished second in 4:24:57, followed by the Belgian mountain biker Kevin Panhuyzen, 31, at 4:26:04. Floris Van Tricht, Aaron Van Der Beken, Greg Avermaet, Lawrence Naesen, Hans Becking, Arne Baers and Adne Kloster completed the Top 10.

Australian Nicole Frain (RIDLEY RACING TEAM) won the women’s race to earn her starting spot at the upcoming world championships. The 33 year-old former Australian Road National Champion finished in 5:07:28, also well ahead of the competition. Esmee Peperkamp, 28, and Wendy Oosterwould,29, both from the Netherlands, finished at 5:17:40 and 5:19:04 to complete the women’s podium.

Victor Bruck of Germany won the 94 kilometer medio length race in 3:25:17, solo with a 4 minute lead. Kan Weevers of the Netherlands was second at 3;29:23 and Mathieu Deriette third in 3:36:38. Katrin Schwing completed a German sweep by winning the women’s race in 4:03:41.

Competitors finishing within the top 25% of their UCI age/gender category automatically qualified for the 2025 UCI Gravel World Championships taking place in the Netherlands in October.

Complete Houffa Gravel results HERE

Photo Credit: PAS Racing

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