On Saturday, the Falling Leaves Lahti gravel race offered the last opportunity for Finnish riders to qualify for the UCI Gravel World Championships on home soil, sending riders through the forests and lakeside gravel roads of the Salpausselkä UNESCO Global Geopark.
In the 175km elite men’s race, Denmark’s PAS Racing duo took the top two spots. Tobias Mørch Kongstad won in 04:32:26, with teammate Rasmus Bøgh Wallin second, 18 seconds back, in 04:32:44. Third place went to Estonia’s Riko Tammepuu in 04:32:52, with the Netherlands’ Rick Ottema and Denmark’s Magnus Bak Klaris right behind in fourth and fifth place.
In the 175km elite women’s race, Germany’s Romy Kasper (PAS Racing) won in 05:14:17. Tiffany Cromwell of Canyon//SRAM Racing was second, just 4 seconds back, in 05:14:21. Finland’s Elisa Serne claimed third in 05:14:57, and the Netherlands’ Maaike Colje was fourth in the same time.
In the 95km event for older age groups, Kari Myyrylainen held off Mikko Aalto by a single second, winning for the men in 02:52:16 to Aalto’s 02:52:17. Jouko Pussinen completed the podium a minute further back.
Katariina Laakkonen won the women’s 95km race in 03:35:58, 49 seconds ahead of Paivi Harkonen.
Belgian 1996 world road champion Johan Museeuw, now a 60-year-old gravel racer, finished fifth in the men’s 95km race in 03:05:45.
Competitors finishing in the top 25% of their age group qualify for the 2026 UCI Gravel World Championships in Nannup, Australia, on 10–11 October.
View Falling Leaves Lahti results HERE
Photo Credit: Falling Leaves Lahti
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