At Blaavands Huk, it was a weekend the place the highway riders dominated with Tim Merlier (Soudal-QuickStep) sprinting to victory within the males’s elite race on the spherical of the UCI Gravel World Series in Denmark, whereas within the girls’s elite race it was a solo win for Emma Norsgaard (Movistar).
Just every week out from ending the Giro d’Italia with three phases victories, Merlier beat Danish rider Jonas Lindberg (Willing Able) within the dash whereas his Soudal-QuickStep teammate Bert van Lerberghe got here third. The prime spots have been determined from a gaggle that was whittled all the way down to 4 by the ultimate phases and in addition included Julian Siemons, who tailed off because the dash unfolded.
“For us this was the right scenario,” stated a mud coated Merlier in a publish race interview, including that he additionally deliberate to race the UCI Gravel World Championships in Belgium. “I’m actually comfortable – the primary gravel race I’ve received.”
Norsgaard did not should unfurl her dash energy, as a substitute taking off solo early. Tessa Neefjes (Liv) – who received the occasion final 12 months – had a chase on her palms after getting caught in a crash about 8km in. The Dutch rider chased again by the sector to take second, 4 minutes and 51 seconds behind Norsgaard. Klara Sofie Skovgaard Hansen (PAS Racing) got here third.
The race, which was over 160km lengthy, began and completed in Blavandshuk on the Danish east coast. It included 85% gravel roads with a small part on the seashore with the flat course heading north earlier than looping again. The elite riders took on three circuits of the course.
Blaavands Huk, which was live streamed, is the one Danish qualifying spherical for the 2024 UCI Gravel World Championships. The subsequent group of qualifying races are the Blue Mountains Gravel Fondo in Canada and The Safari Gravel Event in Kenya on June 15 then the Wish One Millau Grands Causses in France on June 16.
Women’s outcomes
Results powered by FirstCycling
Men’s outcomes
Results powered by FirstCycling
