As it happened: Sensational finish to elite women’s race sees home favourite crowned at UCI Gravel World Championships

Or is she?

2025-10-11T12:58:32.665Z

Kopecky is definitely dropped now. Van Anrooij is being closed down.

2025-10-11T12:58:03.097Z

Van Anrooij is in their sights. Who can attack across?

10 seconds is the gap. Julia Kopecky is back on the front.

2025-10-11T12:57:01.039Z

Kastelijn attacks and Kopecky is immediately dropped. It appears she was working for Wiebes. 12 seconds the gap with 1500 metres left.

It’s still Kopecky on the front. Is she working for SD Worx-ProTime team-mmate Wiebes?

2025-10-11T12:55:28.994Z

Van Anrooij has been on the comeback trail this year after iliac artery surgery at the end of 2024. She only returned to racing in May. Her form has been improving all season, and this would ben an incredible way to celebrate her return to health.

2025-10-11T12:52:51.681Z

This is not a done deal here. Kopecky is doing an incredible job all by herself. The gap is still 15 seconds with 4km to go. One big attack could bring Van Anrooij back.

15 seconds is the advantage Van Anrooij.

2025-10-11T12:48:53.403Z

Van Anrooij heads through another gravel section through a forest in the outskirts of Maastricht.

2025-10-11T12:47:58.072Z

Kopecky is chipping away at Van Anrooij’s lead now. It’s down to 17 seconds. You do feel that the others are taking advantage of the young Czech rider as she plods on alone on the front of the chase group.

2025-10-11T12:46:39.001Z

It’s all flat from here. A mix of paved road, bike paths and gravel. 8km to go.

2025-10-11T12:44:49.880Z

It’s been a mightily impressive ride so far from Julia Kopecky of Czechia. Can she secure a medal?

(Image credit: Getty Images)

18 seconds for Van Anrooij.

2025-10-11T12:42:49.613Z

It’s very stop-start behind. Vos attacks, then stops. Kopecky is the rider doing the most work.

2025-10-11T12:41:48.470Z

Julia Kopecky is on the front, but she’s not going hard. Van Anrooij on the other hand is giving it everything. Her lead goes up to 20 seconds.

2025-10-11T12:40:42.691Z

Van Anrooij has 10 seconds

2025-10-11T12:40:19.783Z

Vos is on the front, but she doesn’t want to do the work.

2025-10-11T12:39:52.173Z

Van Anrooij goes. And she has a gap. The group doesn’t seem to want to chase her down.

2025-10-11T12:38:16.462Z

Julia Kopecky also makes contact with the front on this descent.

2025-10-11T12:37:56.020Z

Van Anrooij makes it up to the front to make it a leading quintet.

2025-10-11T12:37:34.224Z

Just one climb left and then it’s around 10km into Maastricht and the finish line.

2025-10-11T12:37:01.649Z

As they crest the climb, Persico bridges over to the lead. Van Anrooij is not far behind.

2025-10-11T12:36:12.953Z

It’s now a front group of three mid-way up this climb: Vos, Wiebes and Kastelijn.

2025-10-11T12:35:43.340Z

Vos attacks, but Kastelijn neutralises her.

2025-10-11T12:35:15.838Z

Kastelijn is hoping to use her climbing ability on this climb as she sets the pace

2025-10-11T12:34:47.698Z

They are on the Bronsdalweg climb now. This could be decisive.

2025-10-11T12:34:29.043Z

Here’s your leading group who will contest the finale of this elite women’s World Championship:
Marianne Vos
Lorena Wiebes
Silvia Persico
Femke De Vries
Femke Markus
Julia Kopecky
Yara Kastelijn
Larissa Hartog
Shirin Van Anrooij

2025-10-11T12:32:11.694Z

And Persico has dragged the rest over too. It’s now a front group of eight as they approach the Bronsdalweg.

2025-10-11T12:31:21.329Z

In just one kilometre, she has cross the 20 second gap and joins Vos and Wiebes.

2025-10-11T12:30:46.209Z

What a move from Silvia Persico.

2025-10-11T12:30:25.249Z

There are just two climbs left and the next one is the toughest on the entire course, the Bronsdalweg. It’s mostly gravel and averages 8%.

2025-10-11T12:29:11.591Z

Persico has launched a massive attack and has a few metres over the rest now.

Persico and Kastelijn are on the front of the chase group on this climb. The gap remains at 20 seconds.

2025-10-11T12:27:30.546Z

Wiebes is turning herself inside out on the wheel of the reigning champion.

2025-10-11T12:26:58.907Z

Onto another steep climb. Vos accelerates hard once again.

2025-10-11T12:25:08.827Z

Vos and Wiebes have 20 seconds over the chasing group of 10.

2025-10-11T12:24:40.805Z

Behind the original chase group have linked up with the trio who were dropped by that acceleration by Vos.

2025-10-11T12:23:55.595Z

Vos and Wiebes have pulled out a big gap now on a steep paved climb. Wiebes looks tired, but she’s still there.

2025-10-11T12:23:00.817Z

Vos attacks again. This time Wiebes is on the wheel again but no one else can follow.

2025-10-11T12:22:18.561Z

It’s Julia Kopecky now driving it on the front of the pursuers. with 11 seconds to bridge.

2025-10-11T12:19:52.124Z

The gap is drifting down again on this long gravel section. It’s now around 15 seconds as they descend through a forest.

2025-10-11T12:17:42.387Z

Not only have the riders got to deal with these rutted off-road sections, they are now also having weave passed riders who have been dropped off the back of races in other age categories.

2025-10-11T12:16:13.618Z

Van Anrooij attacks again with De Vries and Persico.

2025-10-11T12:14:49.468Z

Persico is on one her best days all season. She is clearly motivated to get back up to the front, but needs more help from the rest.

2025-10-11T12:13:53.751Z

The leaders turn right onto another rough off road section. Their lead is staying steady at 20 seconds.

2025-10-11T12:12:20.107Z

Reigning champion Marianne Vos is riding an aggressive race as she looks to defend her title

(Image credit: Alex Whitehead/SWpix.com)

2025-10-11T12:10:07.911Z

The gap is now 20 seconds to the the second group and 40 back to the third group, which has around 15 riders in it.

2025-10-11T12:09:26.319Z

The chase group is stalling now. Lots of looking around and Persico is gesturing to her companions.

It’s business time now. Only four significant climbs left on the course.

2025-10-11T12:07:11.257Z

18 seconds is now the gap between the first two groups. Van Anrooij, Markus and Persico are sharing the workload behind. That’s in contrast to the leaders, who are sharing the pace-setting evenly between them.

2025-10-11T12:05:35.886Z

Vos is closed down by Wiebes and the others also latch back on.

2025-10-11T12:05:05.910Z

Attack by Marianne Vos.

2025-10-11T12:04:13.512Z

The front group are still working well together. They have edged a little further away from the chase group.

2025-10-11T12:02:12.121Z

There is around 15 seconds still to close. Behind the chasers is another, larger group, who are around 30 seconds behind the front of the race. It could all come back together.

2025-10-11T12:01:18.917Z

Big acceleration from Van Anrooij on a farm track closes the gap a bit more.

2025-10-11T12:00:33.295Z

The chasers have the leaders in their sights, but they’re not able to close just yet and the front five are not slowing down.

2025-10-11T11:59:35.525Z

Marianne Vos on the attack

(Image credit: Getty Images)

2025-10-11T11:58:29.694Z

The gap is down to about ten seconds now. It looks like this will come back together.

2025-10-11T11:57:19.341Z

Of the 12 riders in the first two groups, 9 are Dutch. It doesn’t seem to matter though observing the tactics at play today, they are chasing each other down at the moment.

2025-10-11T11:56:12.888Z

Van Anrooij is also part of that chase group. She is driving on the front now with Persico and Bredewold just behind.

2025-10-11T11:55:16.159Z

It’s a group of seven now just 20 seconds off the Vos and Wiebes group. As well as De Vries and Persico, Mischa Bredewold is there as well as Julia Kopecky and Larissa Hartog.

2025-10-11T11:54:00.674Z

Femke De Vries pulls through after Persico has finished her turn. It appears that the Dutch riders are happy to work against one another.

2025-10-11T11:53:01.076Z

Persico has shredded the chase group. She has pulled back 15 seconds all by herself. Only a few riders can stay with her.

2025-10-11T11:51:42.041Z

That’s another gravel section ticked off. They are back on the road again for a short moment before hitting another steep gravel section.

2025-10-11T11:50:42.482Z

An attack now from Persico in the chase group

The effort that Klöser is putting in on this climb is visible, but the gap isn’t moving to the front. Still 40 seconds.

2025-10-11T11:48:34.203Z

Rosa Klöser and Silvia Persico are doing most of the work behind, as seven Dutch riders sit pretty in the group with no responsibility to work.

2025-10-11T11:47:40.216Z

Now they go onto a single-track section. Kasper may be outnumbered, but she is helping with the pace-setting. A top-5 would be a good result for the German.

2025-10-11T11:46:42.589Z

The leaders have just descended off a gravel climb and are now on a sinuous portion of paved road.

2025-10-11T11:45:26.909Z

Understandably, the front group of five is working well together with there being four Dutch riders in there. Their lead is only going one way at the moment. It’s now 40 seconds.

2025-10-11T11:44:11.544Z

A chase group of 15 has now emerged 35 seconds behind the leaders. It includes Silvia Persico, Mischa Bredewold, Paula Blasi and Rosa Klöser.

2025-10-11T11:40:39.235Z

The gap has extended out to 33 seconds.

2025-10-11T11:37:01.746Z

The riders are now entering another flatter section. Will this be an opportunity for the leaders to extend their advantage?

2025-10-11T11:34:43.960Z

The likes of Maria Giulia Confaloniere (Italy) and Pauliena Rooijakkers (Netherlands) have been shelled out the back of the chasing group, which now numbers around 55.

2025-10-11T11:33:20.676Z

The quintet have a lead of about 20 seconds over the rest of the favourites. It’s a pretty good situation for the home nation.

2025-10-11T11:32:49.506Z

Now a group of five has moved clear, including four Dutch riders. They are:
Romy Kasper (Ger)
Femke Gerritse
Maud Rijnbeek
Lorena Wiebes
Marianne Vos (all Ned)

2025-10-11T11:31:19.397Z

Ton’s lead was short-lived. She has now been collected by the bunch again.

2025-10-11T11:28:34.659Z

Ton only has a lead of a few seconds. With so many team-mates behind, who is going to chase her?

(Image credit: Getty Images)

2025-10-11T11:27:06.004Z

Quinty Ton (Netherlands) has made a move off the front of the bunch and is now solo.

2025-10-11T11:26:02.924Z

Much of the route today cuts through the farmland of Zuid-Limburg.

(Image credit: Getty Images)

2025-10-11T11:24:14.672Z

After sitting back in the bunch up to now, Tiffany Cromwell (Australia) has now moved up towards the front, as has Paula Blasi (Spain).

The race is well over halfway complete now.

2025-10-11T11:20:02.292Z

More riders have been dropped. There are 70 left in contact with the front of the race. Nutt (GBr), Seal (Can) and Kamasheva (Ger) are in a small group just off the back trying to chase back on.

2025-10-11T11:18:16.690Z

It’s now Quinty Ton leading things at the front for the Netherlands.

2025-10-11T11:07:11.094Z

Two hours-in, the riders have been travelling at an average speed of 32.1km/h

2025-10-11T11:06:22.466Z

Defending champion Marianne Vos and her Dutch team appear to be well in control of things so far

(Image credit: Alex Whitehead/SWpix.com)

2025-10-11T11:04:17.987Z

A crash for one of the British riders off the back

(Image credit: Alex Whitehead/SWpix.com)

2025-10-11T11:00:21.330Z

Madeleine Nutt (GBr) and Nathalie Eklund (Swe) are among those distanced for the moment. The pace has ebbed and flowed so far today, so they and others may have a chance to get back on.

Wiebes is putting the pressure on and there are several splits in the bunch again.

2025-10-11T10:57:34.433Z

Wiebes has moved to the front of the group now, with Silvia Persico on her wheel.

2025-10-11T10:54:41.591Z

Our reporter on the ground in Maastricht, Jackie Tyson, has been speaking to veteran gravel racer Jasper Ockeloen who wants to see more top-level gravel racers take part in the UCI Worlds.

The riders are about to start the second lap.

2025-10-11T10:38:51.550Z

Schreurs has put in a real shift today so far. She’s still working on the front alongside Van Anrooij and Rijnbeek.

2025-10-11T10:36:15.952Z

Belgium’s Martha Truyen, who races for Fenix-Deceuninck on the road, is a decent bet for a top-10 placing today

(Image credit: Getty Images)

2025-10-11T10:32:53.450Z

Maud Rijnbeek and Shirin Van Anrooij have now taken up the pace-making at the front of the bunch for the Dutch team.

2025-10-11T10:31:57.765Z

That section of hills has stretched things out a bit and there are several small splits in the bunch.

2025-10-11T10:28:28.904Z

There are a couple of riders less than a minute off the back who could get back on if the pace continues as it is. They are Signe Andersen (Denmark) and Oliwia Majewska (Poland).

2025-10-11T10:26:44.947Z

That section of climbing is done. It’s now an undulating portion of the race. Expect the selection to be made later on.

2025-10-11T10:22:28.955Z

It’s tight for space on these narrow, winding gravel sections. Julia Kopecky, Marianne Vos and Rosa Klöser jostle for position on a right-hand bend.

(Image credit: Getty Images)

2025-10-11T10:20:07.572Z

The Dutch are still dominating the front of the bunch. 14 of their riders are in the first 20 positions currently, with Schreurs still tapping away in the wind.

The pace has slowed a bit and a few riders have latched back on to the bunch. There are now 90 riders in contact with the front of the race.

2025-10-11T10:12:52.690Z

The bunch are now taking on a section with four short, steep climbs in quick succession. They will return to this part of the course on the second lap with around 50km to go.

2025-10-11T10:10:19.825Z

Marianne Vos is sitting further back in the group currently, as is young road star Paula Blasi (Spain). It will be fascinating to see how the new under-23 European women’s road race champion gets on today.

2025-10-11T10:06:46.040Z

Lorena Wiebes has been 3rd and 5th in her previous Gravel Worlds appearances. Can she improve on that today?

2025-10-11T09:59:50.085Z

After almost an hour of racing, there are still 86 riders left in the bunch. Latvian rider Kitija Siltumena is chasing back on though.

31km down, 100km left.

2025-10-11T09:57:38.042Z

Australian contender Nicole Frain is currently on the front of the group alongside Julia Kopecky. The riders are now on the flat section of road before the next hilly part.

2025-10-11T09:55:19.341Z

It’s been a controlled start to the race. The average speed so far is around 32km per hour.

2025-10-11T09:52:12.562Z

It’s a Dutch shut-out at the front of the bunch, with just Czechia’s Julia Kopecky joining them at the head of affairs. You can also see some riders being distanced on this climb.

(Image credit: Getty Images)

2025-10-11T09:49:38.670Z

The riders have taken on a series of short hills in this opening 25km. Soon, they will descend into a flat portion before the next challenging section.

2025-10-11T09:46:13.787Z

Rosa Klöser and Nicole Frain lead the bunch with a flotilla of Dutch riders just behind.

(Image credit: Getty Images)

2025-10-11T09:43:01.214Z

The front group is down to 86 riders, with all the favourites still ensconced in the peloton

The Dutch are still at the front of the race, with the group led by Geertje Schreurs and Wendy Oosterwoud.

2025-10-11T09:40:26.634Z

This is the fourth edition of the UCI Gravel World Championships. The three previous winners of the women’s elite race were Pauline Ferrand-Prévot (2022), Kasia Niewiadoma-Phinney (2023) and Vos (2024) – the Dutchwoman is the only former champion at the race this year.

2025-10-11T09:34:22.235Z

The peloton is already stretched out on the opening, narrow sections

(Image credit: Getty Images)

2025-10-11T09:30:41.625Z

Another view of the start in Beek around 30 minutes ago.

2025-10-11T09:28:24.751Z

The riders have already taken on the opening paved climb of the Adsteeg (700m @ 5%). They only race this climb on this opening lap.

2025-10-11T09:26:22.716Z

The group is already thinning. The likes of Sofia Schugar (USA), Viktoria Dehler (Germany) and Violette Irakoze Neza (Rwanda) are dropped for now.

2025-10-11T09:25:04.496Z

Reigning champion Marianne Vos is sitting back in the group in around 15th place, with several team-mates for company.

With the first road section of the race nearly complete, Germany’s Rosa Klöser is now stretching things out at the front, with Wiebes and Silvia Persico on her wheel.

2025-10-11T09:22:23.503Z

If you’re a road fan and you’re trying to get your head around the course today, think of the Amstel Gold Race. The race is taking place in the same region of the Netherlands, Limburg, and features a similar series of leg-sapping short climbs.

2025-10-11T09:20:06.330Z

Björg Hákonardóttir of Iceland is one of the first riders to be tailed off the back of the group in the opening portion of the race

2025-10-11T09:17:17.650Z

The riders are currently on paved roads, the gravel doesn’t begin until the Adsteeg climb in a few kilometres.

2025-10-11T09:15:16.284Z

The bunch is all together in the opening kilometres, but the Dutch are already showing their strength, with Wiebes, Femke Markus and Geertjie Schreurs taking up the first three positions, as Klöser sits just behind.

2025-10-11T09:12:57.075Z

Early positioning is crucial on the gravel. Thanks to their placing in the UCI Gravel Series and other criteria, these riders had the fortune of start on the front row:

Marianne Vos (Netherlands)
Lorena Wiebes (Netherlands)
Nicole Frain (Australia)
Wendy Oosterwoud (Netherlands)
Jade Treffeisen (Germany)
Rosa Klöser (Germany)
Sophie Wright (Great Britain)

2025-10-11T09:10:11.289Z

Quite an orange looking front row at the start. Will the Dutch dominate the race today?

2025-10-11T09:05:06.937Z

And here’s a look at the finish straight on the Groene Loper in Maastricht

(Image credit: Jackie Tyson)

The riders are underway! The 2025 UCI Gravel World Championships elite women’s race has begun.

2025-10-11T08:56:40.759Z

Former Unbound 200 winner Rosa Klöser is all too aware of the threat posed by the Dutch squad today. Here’s her assessment of the race tactics.

“If you have like 30 Dutch people sitting back, and one Dutch person rides away, and it’s a person with potential to win, nobody will do anything. That’s basically what happened last year. So yeah, don’t let the Dutchie go! I guess that’s the story.”