"I have been able to race far too little as world champion" - Gravel World Champion Gianni Vermeersch talks about the year in rainbow jersey
Cycling
Gianni Vermeersch will defend his title in Veneto on Sunday on Gravel World Championships. The Belgian rider won the rainbow jersey last year after a long breakawa ywith Daniel Oss, whom he beat in the final. Vermeersch was thus able to enjoy being world champion jersey for a year.
"I have actually been able to race far too little as world champion. Unfortunately, most of the gravel races of the Gravel World Series always coincided with road races. That's a shame," he said about the limited number of gravel races in his program in an interview for WielerFlits.
"If something was possible besides my road program, I took those opportunities. Normally I also had to ride a road race on the weekend of the European Championships/BK and the World Cup, but the team has ensured that I can still ride those gravel races. I find that pleasant," says Vermeersch.
Next Sunday, Vermeersch will end his limited gravel season at the World Championships. So he starts there as the outgoing world champion. Again with ambition? "Certainly. I really enjoy riding all gravel races. It is also something that suits me, so I certainly have the necessary ambition to do well at the World Championships again."
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Ondrej ZhasilCycling Journalist
Ondřej Zhasil is a cycling journalist at CyclingUpToDate and has been part of the team since 2023. He is based in Ostrava, the third-largest city in the Czech Republic, and covers professional cycling across the main UCI competitions, including the Tour de France, the Giro d’Italia, and La Vuelta a España. A key focus of his work is startlist analysis and pre-race coverage, where he examines team selections, rider line-ups, and tactical scenarios ahead of major events.
Alongside WorldTour coverage, Ondřej has developed specific expertise in junior cycling and in racing across East Asia, including competitions in China and Japan. He also maintains a broad working knowledge of other disciplines and levels, including cyclocross, while continuing to expand his understanding of mountain bike racing.
Ondřej holds a bachelor’s degree in Mathematics and Physics, which supports his analytical, data-driven approach to performance and race analysis. In his reporting, he regularly uses ProCyclingStats for results, statistics, and historical context. He places strong emphasis on careful sourcing, editorial accuracy, and updating articles promptly when new, verified information becomes available.
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