Former champion reflects on Gravel World Championships: “I think Mathieu was by far the strongest today”
Gravel
Gianni Vermeersch, 32, from
Belgium, and the reigning Belgian National Gravel Champion, finished 5th in the
Gravel World Championships held in Leuven, Belgium, on Sunday. The former 2022
World Champion was unable to defend his title as his Alpecin–Deceuninck
teammate Mathieu van der Poel proved unstoppable, storming to another rainbow
jersey.
Vermeersch, speaking to Wielerflits,
admitted he was caught off guard by the decisive move. "I was a bit
surprised by the winning attack. I had just done a little acceleration, but I
think I would have had the legs to go along otherwise."
Reflecting on the race,
Vermeersch mentioned his slow start but noted his improvement as the race
progressed. "I didn't have a great feeling at the beginning of the race,
but I had to get into it a bit. Towards the end I felt good."
The moment that shaped the race
came when both Florian Vermeersch and Mathieu van der Poel launched their
attack, catching Gianni Vermeersch by surprise. “I had just accelerated a bit
when Florian and Mathieu attacked from behind, so I was a bit surprised.
Because I had just accelerated, I couldn’t react right away, but I think I
would have had the legs to go along, initially of course. I think Mathieu was
by far the strongest today,” he said.
Racing on home soil in front of a
passionate Belgian crowd, Vermeersch tried to make the most of the occasion
despite the physical demands of the race. “I tried to enjoy it as much as
possible to a limited extent, because it was mainly suffering. But absolutely,
there was a lot of public. Certainly here at the finish on the Ladeuzeplein,
with a mass of people. It was beautiful.”
Vermeersch's 5th place finish
adds to his strong season, but his focus remains on building towards future
success after a tough, yet memorable, home World Championships.
Fin MajorCycling Journalist
Fin Major is a UK-based writer at CyclingUpToDate and has been part of the team since 2024. He is the site’s main writer for FAQs and evergreen explainers and has written around 2,000 pieces for the platform. Alongside this work, he focuses on in-depth analysis and covers the biggest races on the calendar, including the Tour de France, the Giro d’Italia, and La Vuelta a España, providing clear context around performance trends, tactics, and key storylines.
In his reporting, Fin uses reputable data sources such as 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. Outside of writing, Fin is an active cyclist, which supports his practical understanding of the sport and its demands.
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