Van Aert reappears after Roubaix with a great victory in gravel

Wout van Aert returned to competition this Sunday for the first time since his victory in Paris-Roubaix, and he did so with a devastating performance in the Marly Grav, one of the most important gravel races in the Netherlands. The Belgian launched a long-range attack with just over 20 kilometers to go and ended up winning solo after an acceleration that was impossible for the other favorites to follow.

Van Aert makes his gravel debut this season with an uncontested victory in Valkenburg

The race, part of the UCI Gravel World Series, returned to the gravel roads and forests of Valkenburg, some of which were used last year in the Gravel World Championship. There, the reigning world champions of the discipline, Florian Vermeersch and Lorena Wiebes, were also present, both wearing the rainbow jersey on the same roads where they won the world title.

Van Aert had lowered expectations before the start and assured that he was mainly there to enjoy and accumulate kilometers off-road. But in the race, he once again showed himself to be one of the most explosive and complete riders in the peloton. The final selection began to take place about 60 kilometers from the finish when a front group formed with seven riders, including Vermeersch, Pascal Eenkhoorn, Niels Vandeputte, and Rick Ottema.

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The Visma leader already warned with an initial change of pace that opened a gap for several kilometers. Even so, he decided to ease off slightly and allowed his pursuers to come back. The definitive offensive came later, in one of the toughest and steepest sections of the forest route. There, Van Aert once again launched violently, and this time he left all his rivals behind.

Vermeersch was the only one who initially tried to respond, but the world champion ended up giving in to the Belgian's pace. In just a few minutes, Van Aert opened a sufficient gap to seal the race and manage the lead until the finish line in Valkenburg.

Behind, the chasing group ended up contesting the podium. Niels Vandeputte finished second after winning the final sprint, while the Dutchman Rick Ottema completed the podium after a very solid race. Vermeersch had to settle for fourth place.

The victory also allows Van Aert to secure qualifying spots for the European Championship and the Gravel World Championship. Although his presence at the World Championship in Australia seems unlikely due to scheduling and travel, the European Championship in Houffalize fits much better into his plans for late summer.

Top 10 Marly Grav 2026 Men

1. Wout van Aert – 4:08:24
2. Niels Vandeputte – at 44 s
3. Rick Ottema – at 45 s
4. Florian Vermeersch – at 45 s
5. Jonathan Vervenne – at 50 s
6. Pascal Eenkhoorn – at 4:41
7. Kevin Kuhn – at 6:17
8. Victor Broex – at 6:35
9. Jente Michels – at 6:36
10. Tobias König – at 7:00

Wiebes also wins with authority

In the women's race, Lorena Wiebes confirmed her status as the favorite. The world champion reached the decisive stretch alongside Larissa Hartog, Ilse Pluimers, Amandine Muller, and Nele Laing, but the sprint finish made it clear who the fastest rider in the group was.

Wiebes won decisively to add another important victory in gravel, while Larissa Hartog finished second and Ilse Pluimers rounded out the podium.

Top 10 Marly Grav 2026 Women

1. Lorena Wiebes – 4:22:33
2. Larissa Hartog – at 0 s
3. Ilse Pluimers – at 0 s
4. Amandine Muller – at 2 s
5. Nele Laing – at 3 s
6. Caroline Schiff – at 26 s
7. Malou Eisen – at 38 s
8. Julia Grégoire – at 1:31
9. Wendy Oosterwoud – at 1:32
10. Hanne Van Loock – at 1:37