World Gravel Championship 2024: schedules and route

With the arrival of autumn comes one of the most spectacular events on the calendar, which is gradually becoming a classic. We are talking about the Gravel World Championship, which in 2024 leaves the Italian lands of Veneto where its first two editions were held to move to Flanders, specifically to the beautiful city of Leuven where on October 5 and 6 we will find out who will succeed Matej Mohoric and the champion of the women's Tour de France, Kasia Niewiadoma.

Flanders hosts the 2024 Gravel World Championship

Although gravel cycling continues throughout the year, except for specific events like Unbound, it has not yet fully established itself as a competitive discipline, but the World Championship has managed to attract attention in the past two seasons, both for its television coverage and the presence of many professional cyclists who take advantage of this event to end the season in a more relaxed manner.

Schedule of the 2024 Flanders Gravel World Championship

Aside from the elite races that attract public attention, various master categories recognized by the UCI will also compete on Saturday, October 5 and Sunday, October 6. This allows fans of the sport who have qualified in one of the UCI Gravel World Series events held throughout the year to participate.

Here is the schedule of the different races taking place over the weekend:

Saturday, October 5

• 12:00 - Elite Women (135 km)
• 12:15 - Men 50 to 54 years old (135 km)
• 12:17 - Men 55 to 59 years old (135 km)
• 12:19 - Men 60 to 64 years old (135 km)
• 12:20 - Women 19 to 34 years old (135 km)
• 12:21 - Women 35 to 39 years old (135 km)
• 12:22 - Women 40 to 44 years old (135 km)
• 12:23 - Women 45 to 49 years old (135 km)
• 12:24 - Men over 65 years old (88 km)
• 12:25 - Women over 50 years old (88 km)
• 15:00 - Podium ceremony for men over 65 and women over 50
• 15:30 - Arrival of Elite Women
• 16:00 - Podium ceremony for the rest of the categories

Sunday, October 6

• 12:00 - Elite Men (182 km)
• 12:05 - Men 19 to 34 years old (182 km)
• 12:07 - Men 35 to 39 years old (182 km)
• 12:09 - Men 40 to 44 years old (182 km)
• 12:11 - Men 45 to 49 years old (182 km)
• 16:30 - Arrival of Elite Men
• 17:00 - Podium ceremony for the rest of the categories

Route of the 2024 Flanders Gravel World Championship

The route for the upcoming 2024 Gravel World Championship in the Belgian region of Flemish Brabant is already outlined. The elite women's race covers 133 kilometers, connecting the towns of Halle, south of Brussels, with Leuven, one of the most charming cities in Flanders located in the heart of the region, just east of the capital. The men's race will add one or more extra loops around Leuven to total 179 kilometers.

The region is characterized by dense forests and terrain with small hills that, while not truly mountainous, provide a challenging course with hardly any flat sections. The route will consist of 61% unpaved terrain, including not only dirt roads but also the characteristic cobblestone sections associated with Flanders. The organization describes it as "a true paradise for gravel lovers with forests and endless climbs that blend into the landscape."

The race takes place in the heart of the Sonian Forest National Park, and to minimize the impact on the natural environment, several accessible areas will be set up for the public to easily follow the race.

In addition, two large fan zones will be set up in Halle and Leuven, similar to those seen in the Flemish classics, with numerous activities and giant screens to follow the competitions.