"I hope I can give something back to Shirin someday" - Lorena Wiebes having mixed feelings about Gravel World title
Cycling
The Gravel World Championships delivered on the action and the tension today, but also some very unusual tactics. Lorena Wiebes took the world title and her first rainbow jersey in the discipline, but she did not the happiest of wins as she saw her compatriot Shirin van Anrooij get stripped away of what looked to be a certain victory by the teammate of both.
"This world title is fantastic. Riding in this jersey will give me extra motivation. It went well. I was able to follow Marianne [Vos] on those climbs and knew that the last climb at Berg en Terblijt was difficult. I had to pace myself well and not overexert myself," the Dutchwoman said to Wielerflits.
Wiebes had the legs on the day and proved to be one of the very strongest, not just from a sprinter perspective, however the triumph was also very much due to the work of other riders in the group.
One was Julia Kopecky, rider for the Czech Republic - but on the road SD Worx teammate. "I have to thank Julia Kopecky. It's amazing how she rode here and how strong she was. At one point, she asked if I could win the sprint, and I said yes, and then she went all out."
"Ultimately, it's our own team, SD Worx-Protime, that's putting a lot of effort into providing us with the equipment for this championship. That's also what the national coach said, that ultimately, it's every man for himself here. You're not going to give away a world title like that, of course."
However in the final kilometers it was the work of Yara Kastelijn that looked rather incomprehensible. The Fenix-Deceuninck rider, not a teammate of anyone in the group on the road but a teammate of Shirin van Anrooij, Marianne Vos and Lorena Wiebes, put her face to the wind and brought back van Anrooij with around only 300 meters to go. There was a great sense of shock as to why.
Wiebes ultimately benefited from this more than anyone else, but had van Anrooij in mind after the race after the unusual finale: "I hope I can give something back to Shirin someday at a world or European road championship," she concluded.
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- wtf dudemij07-11-2026
- big rival … ridiculous.Ketterechts07-11-2026
- It would be great if the World Champion's jersey could be rotated among McNulty, Simmons, and Jorgenson. They threaded the needle perfectly. If each hadn't done exactly what he did, exactly when he did it, the race would have gone to one of the more heralded superstars. That said, how nice that this humble and hardworking guy gets his moment in the sun.
MarkFour07-11-2026 - This is a really interesting idea, which, if well prepared could even be very successful. Very little money needs to be involved for a first season and any success could lead to rapid interest from sponsors.Jumpyjohn07-11-2026
- Hmmm, you seem to have a very convenient black and white view of things. Perhaps you haven’t been around much to discover how complex problems can become over time with people who know how to control, manipulate (or worse) others so gradually or subtly that you arrive at an irresolvable situation before you realise. This is how many inconveniences get introduced to the young, naïve, passionate or “desperate”, knowing they are not armed, protected or strong enough to defend themselves once it’s too late. Why do you think omerta culture is so widespread, why do you think so many people continue to go through so many awful things in life that others can’t understand anyone getting into? Life may be far more jolly for you but you would do well to understand (or reflect more on) the real world to refrain from being so quick to criticise those in a hard spot that may have genuine reason for speaking out.Jumpyjohn07-11-2026
- Seriously do you think when somebody gets into a serious accident, the ambulance is called by the hurt person?🤦 there is always a buddy system in place for a risky job. police , firefighters etc so that if someone gets hurt, the other call that in.abstractengineer07-11-2026
- I get the point totally. We live in the snowflake society where some riders forget they are getting paid to ride and get results. When they have a few issues they try to look outside of the real issue instead of themselves. It odd so many of the team are making no complaints and getting on with their job. If you do not like what you do find another job simples. Tough love as my mum would say.paultryan200207-11-2026
- many people advise him to grow slowly and rather do giro and/or vuelta instead of tdf. but i can totally understand that he is not satisfied with taking over once pogi declines, but instead beat him in his prime. so if he goes for tdf again, i‘m all for it. let‘s hope that pogi recovers soon!Ketterechts07-11-2026
- So gracious to offer something no-one would be prepared to pay for. The Giro is not the Tour and doesn’t command the same interest or attract the same “elite” (those willing to pay to be a part of something they consider has ego boosting potential). Roadside viewing will always largely remain free for everyone outside circuits. Introduction of a symbolic entrance to mountain climbs is worthy of exploration. Asking 1-2€ isn’t going to repulse real fans (most will spend 50-100€ on their outing that day all things included) but will prevent a portion of the total knobhead thrillseekers who will join in any large gathering as long as it’s free, just because they’re attracted to crowds, without which it it difficult for them to work up their anti-social behaviour.Jumpyjohn07-11-2026
- How is radio going to help when someone went over a cliff or bridge or off the roadside into a forest unnoticed and is laying there unconscious?Jumpyjohn07-11-2026
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Kastelijn tirando contra su compañera de selección, Van Anrooij, cuando tenía el oro en su mano. Lorena Wiebes frustrando el doblete de Marianne Vos en #ZuidLimburg2025. Final rocambolesco por antonomasia en el Mundial de gravel. Lo viviste en @StreamMaxES.
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