Refresh
2025-10-12T12:16:37.891Z
Christen and Magnus Bak Klaris have been caught by the peloton, which is now less than a minute behind the leaders.
2025-10-12T12:13:10.577Z
The attritional nature of this route continues to take its toll. The peloton is down to about 50 riders.
2025-10-12T12:07:00.785Z
Bak Klaris and Christen are making some inroads, but still have over a minute to make up to make it to the leaders. Meanwhile the pace is up in the peloton, which is still less than 20 seconds behind the chasing duo.
2025-10-12T12:02:29.504Z
(Image credit: Getty Images)
2025-10-12T11:55:58.068Z
Fabio Christen and Magnus Bak Klaris have jumped out of the peloton and have set off in pursuit of the leaders
2025-10-12T11:53:56.644Z
The quartet’s lead continues to grow, now up to 1:50.
100KM TO GO
2025-10-12T11:50:06.744Z
It seems Floris Van Tricht wasn’t dropped after all – here he is with the other three leaders in the front group.
(Image credit: Getty Images)
2025-10-12T11:44:51.010Z
(Image credit: Getty Images)
2025-10-12T11:42:36.518Z
The three leaders are in a strong position, their advantage over the peloton having grown to almost a minute and a half.
2025-10-12T11:41:32.811Z
The four leaders at the front, before Van Tricht was dropped.
(Image credit: Getty Images)
2025-10-12T11:37:58.195Z
Vermeersch is with them, but Van Tricht has been distanced.
2025-10-12T11:36:30.634Z
Politt and Biesterbos have attacked the two Belgians and managed to go clear.
2025-10-12T11:31:40.710Z
A throwback to the past – Greg Van Avermaet riding in the peloton.
(Image credit: Getty Images)
2025-10-12T11:27:03.175Z
Meanwhile Rick Ottema of the Netherlands is trying to bridge up to the four leaders, but still has over 20 seconds to make up.
2025-10-12T11:26:18.987Z
Politt has managed to join Vermeersch, Van Tricht and Biesterbos, and they have a 40 second lead over the peloton.
2025-10-12T11:17:55.860Z
The leading trio are about 10 seconds ahead of Politt, and 40 seconds ahead of the peloton.
2025-10-12T11:15:52.720Z
Nils Politt is also out of the peloton and in pursuit of the leading trio.
2025-10-12T11:13:05.257Z
Another group of three has formed off the front of the race, this time consisting of Florian Vermeersch, Floris Van Tricht and Frits Biesterbos.
2025-10-12T11:08:22.011Z
(Image credit: Getty Images)
2025-10-12T11:04:26.448Z
The peloton has been significantly reduced, down to about 60 riders. The course is taking its toll.
2025-10-12T11:02:37.929Z
Hermans, Swift and Reinderink, before they were brought back.
(Image credit: Getty Images)
2025-10-12T10:59:22.661Z
The trio has been caught and the peloton is together again.
2025-10-12T10:56:14.095Z
Here’s an idea of the kind of road surfaces the riders are tackling on the course.
(Image credit: Getty Images)
2025-10-12T10:53:35.979Z
A group of three has managed to slip clear of the peloton – Quinten Hermans, Connor Swift and Pepijn Reinderink.
2025-10-12T10:49:36.836Z
One of the riders dropped from the peloton is Romain Bardet. Despite impressing on the gravel circuit since his retirement from the road earlier this year, including a few wins, the Frenchman won’t be competing for a high finish at his Worlds debut.
2025-10-12T10:43:33.521Z
The Belgian contingent towards the front, with Tim Wellens among them.
(Image credit: Getty Images)
2025-10-12T10:38:06.603Z
The punchy course is claiming its victims, with the peloton reduced to about 100 riders already, with 150km still to ride.
150KM TO GO
2025-10-12T10:31:58.286Z
The peloton is still together, and the favourites up towards the front.
2025-10-12T10:29:16.651Z
(Image credit: Getty Images)
2025-10-12T10:26:52.775Z
Here is Politt, pulling at the front of the peloton.
(Image credit: Getty Images)
2025-10-12T10:23:19.482Z
As well as Belgium, Germany are also getting involved, with Roger Kluge riding at the front. They have Nils Politt in their roster today.
2025-10-12T10:21:25.603Z
The startlist today is notable for a number of retired veterans of road cycling – including Greg van Avermaet, one of the top classics specialists of the 2010s, who has been on the gravel scene these past two years.
(Image credit: Getty Images)
2025-10-12T10:17:42.821Z
The Belgians are utilising their strength in numbers and riding at the front of the race.
2025-10-12T10:11:20.377Z
A first glimpse of the riders out on the course today.
(Image credit: Getty Images)
2025-10-12T10:04:18.901Z
One of the most anticipated names today, Tim Melier, has pulled out of the race before it began. But the Belgian line-up is still stacked with talent, with the likes of Tim Wellens, Florian Vermeersch and Gianni Vermeersch all riding.
2025-10-12T10:01:17.823Z
Here was Laurens Sweeck, a gravel specialist riding for Belgium, at the start today.
(Image credit: Future)
2025-10-12T09:56:35.730Z
The skies are blue and the temperature pleasant in Limburg today.
2025-10-12T09:52:40.944Z
Pidcock might be the headline name starting today, but he’s also coming into this race as a novice of the format – as he admitted before the start.
2025-10-12T09:49:03.928Z
Here was Mads Würtz Schmidt before the start, one of the gravel specialists hoping to be in the mix today.
(Image credit: Future)
2025-10-12T09:46:37.653Z
And they’re off!
OFFICIAL START
2025-10-12T09:40:16.726Z
The race is set to get underway in just five minutes.
2025-10-12T09:37:08.728Z
Here’s the bike Pidcock will be riding today – one he’s only used a few times.
(Image credit: Future)
2025-10-12T09:34:23.576Z
Tom Pidcock is perhaps the biggest name competing today. In theory he has everything it takes to excel here, but is coming into these championships with little experience of riding gravel races.
2025-10-12T09:27:24.890Z
Here are the details of the course the riders will be taking on today.
2025-10-12T09:15:18.350Z
Lots of big names will be on the start line this morning, including some WorldTour stars, but the startlist is also missing some key figures in gravel, like Keegan Swenson and Lachlan Morton.
2025-10-12T09:03:28.082Z
The men’s race starts in Beek in just under 45 minutes.
2025-10-12T08:59:43.059Z
The women’s race wasn’t without its drama, of course. Will we see more of that today?
(Image credit: Getty Images)
2025-10-12T08:54:37.881Z
The World Champs already kicked off yesterday with the women’s race. You can catch up here.
2025-10-08T20:58:29.538Z
Good morning and welcome to Cyclingnews’ live coverage of the men’s race at the UCI Gravel World Championships 2025!