Swiss rider Joel Roth (BIXS Race Team) was the fastest rider at The Majestics 105 km UCI Gravel World Series qualifier on Sunday, finishing in 03:35:28. Riding in the amateur 19-34 age-group, Roth outpaced the Elite Men’s field despite starting 15 minutes them.
Roth’s outright fastest time came as no surprise, the 27 year-old is a former U23 cross-country mountain bike world champion who narrowly missed out on competing at the 2024 Paris Olympics.
Britain’s Toby Perry (Reverb Cycling|3T) racing in the Elite Men’s category finished second, 26 seconds back. Perry came through the EF Education-NIPPO road development pipeline before making a breakthrough gravel debut last year, soloing to victory at the inaugural edition of The Hills in Italy’s Prosecco region. Belgium’s Floris De Tier (Swatt Club) completed the men’s podium, 34 seconds behind Roth.
In the women’s race, Switzerland’s Elena Hartmann, 35, took victory in 04:15:22. Hartmann only turned professional three years ago, arriving from triathlon, but has since collected nine UCI road victories, three Swiss time trial titles and an Olympic appearance. When her WorldTour road contract ended, she launched The Diesel Project, an independent gravel programme that she funds and races without a traditional team structure while continuing to work part-time as a police officer in Zurich.
Olivia Hottinger (Scott Offroad Racing), also of Switzerland, finished second in 04:21:13, followed by Germany’s Clara Koppenburg (Tudor Pro Cycling Team) at 04:21:58. Koppenburg continued her return to form following 11 seasons as a WorldTour road climber. She signed with Tudor as the team’s first female gravel rider in February, saying she had lost her joy in road racing and rediscovered it after a single gravel race last September.
In the 70km Ridge medio fondo, Switzerland’s Jutta Steinen (Velo 67 Racing) claimed the women’s overall victory in 03:32:53, finishing more than 34 minutes ahead of compatriot Maja Bollhalder (ST Cycling), with France’s Sophie Petithory (AC Bischwiller) completing the podium. Switzerland’s Vincent Wisard was the fastest man on the shorter course, stopping the clock in 02:58:31.
The route started from the UCI World Cycling Centre velodrome in Aigle, before passing through Noville and Essert, then climbed to Gryon and over the Col de la Croix and Col de Bretaye. As at every UCI Gravel World Series round, riders finishing in the top 25 percent of their age and gender category qualified for the UCI Gravel World Championships, which will take place on 10-11 October in Nannup, Australia.
The Majestics Gravel results HERE
Photo Credit: Arne Janssens
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