Matthew Holmes (OGT-Orientation Marketing) and Gearike Schrules (SD Works-Pro Time) won the Grarock UCI Gravel World Series round on Saturday. Both riders started the race in dry and fast conditions, pulling away from their rivals and taking the win. Finishing in the town of Dumfries and Galloway, Fleet Gatehouse.
Holmes – a former road professional who won the sixth stage of the Tour Down Under in 2020 by defeating Richie Porte at the top of Willunga Hill – traveled 25km from the finish line of the 111km race and soloed in a minute. He achieved victory. – 1.5 meters ahead of the chasing group of 6 people. Nathan Haas (Colnago) won the minor-placed sprint, finishing second ahead of Petr Vakoc (Canyon CLLCTV Gravel).
The first round of the Gravel World Series in the UK is an 85% off-road route through the UNESCO biosphere of Galloway and South Ayrshire. The event, which doubled in size in its second year and attracted 2,000 riders from 35 countries, also featured a unique women’s race. Unusual on gravel, mass starts often cause the women’s field to quickly scatter into the men’s category.
Schrules, who was second at The Traka 360 earlier this month, pulled away from former Australian road champion Nicole Frayn (Hess Cycling) around 5km into the race to take the lead among the women.
“I was hoping for a hard race, but it’s much easier to be with a small group on gravel,” Schrule said. “I had no idea about the gap but I just put my head down for the 110km time trial. I’m proud of the overwhelming victory but I would like to thank Nicole for working with me. appreciate.”
SD Worx-Protime’s Gravel attacked Frein on the final descent and won by 29 seconds. Meanwhile, in the rear, the chase for the next position continued. In the end, Tiffany Cromwell (Canyon-SRAM) overtook Tessa Nephis (Liv Racing) and Amelia Mitchell (Ribble Collective) to take her third place.
