Romain Bardet delivered one of the weekend’s most anticipated results on Sunday 19 April, winning the second edition of the Monaco Gravel Race UCI in a time of 3:47:38 — his third elite gravel victory of 2026 after earlier triumphs in Spain and Australia.
Racing under the Factor Racing RCC banner across a punishing 120km and 2,400m of climbing through the Mercantour National Park above Monaco, the former Tour de France podium finisher made the race’s signature climbs — including the Col de Braus and Col des Banquettes — look eminently manageable.
Paul Voss (Autsaid x Rose Bikes) finished second at 3:50:52, with Sascha Weber third at 3:51:10 in a closely-bunched chase group. Perry Benjamin and Nils Brun rounded out the men’s top five.
In the Elite Women’s 120km, Sophie Wright (Ribble Outliers) took a commanding victory in 4:27:35, opening a substantial gap over Australia’s Nicole Frain (Factor Racing RCC) in second at 4:35:30. Jade Wiel (FDJ United Suez) claimed third at 4:47:25, with Carlotta Borello fourth and Cassia Boglio fifth.
The stakes extended well beyond the podium. Under UCI Gravel World Series rules, the top 25% of finishers in each age/gender category earn direct qualification for the 2026 UCI Gravel World Championships in Nannup, Western Australia on 10-11 October — the first edition of the event to be held outside Europe. The Monaco race, with its demanding course and international field, helped numerous age-groupers punch their ticket to Australia.
The race, based out of the medieval village of Peille perched above Monaco at 650 metres, is one of more than 40 qualifying rounds on the 2026 UCI Gravel World Series calendar.
Complete results 2026 Monaco Gravel Race UCI HERE
Photo Credit: Factor Racing RCC
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