Florian Vermeersch was crowned the new gravel world champion on Sunday. The Belgian from UAE Emirates XRG was very emotional afterwards. "This feels like the end of a long comeback," he said in his flash interview.
He had already finished second twice at the gravel world championships, but from today he can finally call himself world champion. Vermeersch rates the world championship in this relatively young discipline highly, but explains why his victory means even more.
"It's incredible. I still can't believe it. The emotions aren't just because of this race, but it feels like the end of a long comeback. It's amazing to finally win again after two tough years. To finish the season like this is fantastic."
'Saw little of the peloton'
Vermeersch attacked with fellow Belgian Floris Van Tricht and teammate Nils Politt around 125 kilometers from the finish. The trio was also joined by Dutch rider Frits Biesterbos. A long attack, but even in the opening phase the newly crowned world champion had to spend a lot of energy.
Vermeersch with Biesterbos - photo: fotopersburo Cor Vos
"It was a hectic start, and I got a flat tire already after 10 kilometers. Fortunately, I managed to get back into the peloton twenty kilometers later. After that, I saw a good moment to attack, and I took it. Today I saw little of the peloton and was almost only chasing or riding in the breakaway. When we got away, I knew there was only one way to the finish."
Because Vermeersch and his fellow attackers rode far ahead for so long, they had little information about the race situation behind them. "To be honest, I had little information. Sometimes people standing next to the course would relay time gaps, but I never knew who was behind us.
I only knew if I occasionally looked back and saw someone riding. But it was mainly important to focus on myself, and that’s what I did," Vermeersch concludes.
UCI Gravel World Championship | Rank | Rider | Time |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | 04:39:12 | |
| 2 | + 40 | |
| 3 | + 01:23 | |
| 4 | + 01:40 | |
| 5 | + 01:41 | |
| 6 | " | |
| 7 | + 01:46 | |
| 8 | + 02:46 | |
| 9 | " | |
| 10 | + 03:59 |
