"It’s entertaining, but it shows a lack of respect" - Gravel in Grand Tours criticised by Danish cycling icon
Cycling
The discussion of whether or not stages such as the 'mini Strade Bianche' stage 9 at the 2025 Giro d'Italia should be included in Grand Tours, has long split opinion among experts, fans and even riders. According to Brian Holm though, an iconic figure in the Danish cycling, having gravel in the Grand Tours shows a marked lack of respect from race organisers.
On the aforementioned stage 9 of the 2025 Giro d'Italia, big-name riders such as Primoz Roglic and Tom Pidcock lost time as a result of a crash or a mechanical issue on the white roads of Tuscany. And it's this point - the fact that a three week race could be decided by something outside a rider's control - that Holm takes a real issue with in his analysis.
“For a sponsor investing millions, it shouldn’t be decided by a crash or a puncture on those damned white roads," fumes the 62-year-old Holm in the latest episode of the Cafe Eddy podcast. "I just don’t think it belongs. I know it’s entertaining, but I think it shows a lack of respect for the teams and the enormous amount of money they pour into this sport.”
Holm certainly isn't the only notable name to speak out against the inclusion of gravel in the Grand Tours either. “You are adding uncontrollable factors,” Johan Bruyneel analysed after stage 9. “Although I knew it was potentially better for us when everything went okay, I was still not a fan because you never know what’s going to happen.”
“Let’s put out a poll amongst the professional cyclists," Bruyneel proposed. "I can confidently say that 75% would be against it.”
What do you think? Are stages such as the 'mini Strade Bianche' seen at the 2025 Giro d'Italia an improvement to the Grand Tours, or should they be removed, allowing the races and the riders to focus on the road?
Kieran WoodDeputy Editor-in-Chief
Kieran Wood is a sports journalist based in Wales and has been active in journalism since 2022. He regularly contributes to DartsNews.com and CyclingUpToDate.com, where he covers professional cycling and darts. In cycling, his work includes liveblogs from major races, including the Tour de France, the Giro d’Italia, and La Vuelta a España, alongside race reports and analysis. He has also conducted interviews with professional riders.
His reporting spans the full racing calendar, from one-day classics to stage races, with a focus on accurate, real-time coverage and clear contextual analysis. For statistics, results, and historical context, he regularly uses resources such as ProCyclingStats. To support reporting on rider activity and training context where relevant, he also references Strava.
In his work, Kieran places strong emphasis on careful sourcing, editorial accuracy, and updating articles as new, verified information becomes available.
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