Jasper Stuyven knows who to mark for Gravel Worlds: "Van der Poel is the clear favourite for the world title"
Gravel
This weekend will see quality racing in the form of the Giro dell'Emilia and Paris-Tours on the road; but off-road we will also have the traditional Beringen race in cyclocross and... The Gravel World Championships which will include the likes of Mathieu van der Poel and Lotte Kopecky as headliners. Reigning European Champion Jasper Stuyven knows van der Poel is the most important figure in the men's race in the current form he's in.
The Lidl-Trek rider will be racing at home in Leuven and with the European Champion's jersey which he conquered last season. A strong seasoned pro and classics specialist, he found in gravel a discipline where he thrives, and is aiming to add that rainbow jersey to his palmarès. He will have the advantage of knowing the course perfectly.
"The approach to Leuven is the most difficult. In that zone, the climbing can cause fatigue that you carry with you to the local circuit. There are enough technical passages there where the difference can be made', Stuyven told Het Laatste Nieuws.
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However he will have a very strong field of competitors. Whilst not the kind of race where team tactics will be applied the most, he will team up with World Tour pros such as Tiesj Benoot, Florian and Gianni Vermeersch; whilst reigning World Champion Matej Mohoric will also look to defend his title. Mathieu van der Poel is likely the main favourite after putting in an impressive display of form over the past few weeks where he aimed for the road World Championships.
"Mathieu's presence is fantastic news for the organizers. But for me? That will have to be seen on Sunday. Van der Poel is the clear favourite for the world title," Stuyven argues. "No one can put their foot wrong. If you saw him last Sunday at the road World Championship in Zurich... He is in top form. Van der Poel also has the class and the technical baggage to easily put everyone under pressure and make the difference. Even though I do expect resistance from [Matej] Mohoric, Florian [Vermeersch] and Gianni Vermeersch, among others".
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Rúben SilvaEditor-in-Chief
A founding contributor to CyclingUpToDate since its launch in January 2022, Ruben Silva has played a central role in shaping the site’s editorial direction and long-term growth. Before joining the project, he built his experience through independent blogging at Echelons Hub and by producing race previews for Ciclismo Internacional, developing a strong analytical voice rooted in daily engagement with professional cycling.
Beyond editorial work, he has been closely involved in the expansion and coordination of CyclingUpToDate’s wider network, helping establish and support sister platforms across multiple languages. This includes ongoing collaboration with CiclismoAlDia (Spanish), CiclismoAtual (Portuguese), WielrennenUpToDate (Dutch), and RadsportAktuell (German), contributing to a shared editorial vision and consistent international coverage.
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Originally from the Porto metropolitan area in Portugal, he holds a bachelor’s degree in Geography. His path into cycling journalism was shaped not through formal media training, but through independent reporting, community engagement, and sustained on-the-ground involvement in the sport.
Over the course of his career, he has conducted approximately 100 interviews across road cycling and cyclocross, ranging from one-to-one conversations and online formats to press conferences and on-site pre- and post-race coverage. His interviews include leading riders, team managers, and prominent figures within cycling media: Tadej Pogacar, Jonas Vingegaard, Mathieu van der Poel, Primoz Roglic, Wout van Aert, Joao Almeida and Tom Pidcock; managers like Patrick Lefevere and Joxean Matxin; and YouTube personality Bryan Kennedy (BKXC)...
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- He was a child two years ago
Rafionain-Glas03-11-2026 - A great route aswell. Col d'Arpy is a toughie
Rafionain-Glas03-11-2026 - Let Torito have a shot at it
Rafionain-Glas03-11-2026 - A great route, much more exciting than the Tour de France. Monte Livata is an interesting one, because they experimented with it at the 2026 Baby Giro, and it was fantastic. 4 km at 10%, then 10 km at 6.5% made for a great spectacle. The stage 16 is horrible. Montaner is also used in the U23s, in Giro del Belvedere
Rafionain-Glas03-11-2026 - I remember when Mark went through that. He was really experiencing lows and thought about quiting many times. It took him a long time to recover. I, like many others were overjoyed when he came back. I hope Lafay has been tested. I wish him the best.Paggss03-11-2026
- That sucks for him. I've always wondered what guys like him do after retiring from cycling - go back to uni? He's still a very young manCrashjames03-11-2026
- Good Point, I wonder if he's been testedmhfrvz03-11-2026
- A busy boy!Lozza03-11-2026
- I hope 2027 is his year.mij03-11-2026
- why does he have to? many GT riders from Froome to Contador to Indurain didn't do them.mij03-11-2026
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