UCI Gravel World Series racing rolled into the Alentejo region of Portugal on Sunday 9 November, with over 700 graveleurs lining up at Alentejo Gravel to try and qualify for the 2026 world championships.

Competing on shark-tooth profile routes of 120km/+3182m or 85km/+2515m for older age groups, the course was a grueling grind with flat sections far and few between.

24 year-old Belgian Lukas Malezsewski (BRUSSELS CYCLING CLUB) 3:20:29 earned his first UCI Gravel World Series win and a starting spot for the world championships. He beat fellow countryman Daan Grosemans 3:29:31 and Andrew Henriques 3:31:29 of Portugal to claim first place in the 120km race.

29 year-old German National Gravel Champion Rosa Kloser (CANYON FACTORY RACING) handily won the women’s competition in 3:45:25. The Dutch gravel star Tessa Neefjes 3:57:27 and Marta Mila 4:10:25 of Spain completed the podium.

Standing tall on an all Portugues podium in the 85km race was Bruno Silvestre (CACB) 2:42:55, with Miguel Ramos 2:46:03 and Ruben Calado 2:46:13 on the lower steps.

Jenny McCauley (BRAY WHEELERS) of Ireland took first prize for the 85km women with a time of 3:11:03. Juliette Landon 3:12:07 of France and Patricia Rosa 3:12:09 of Portugal were next to cross the stripe.

Riders finishing in the top 25% of their UCI age/gender category automatically qualified for the 2026 UCI Gravel World Championships taking place in Nannup, Australia next October.

Complete Alentejo Gravel results HERE

Photo Credit: Facebook/ucialentejogravel – Nelson Almeida

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