Gabrielle Fox, the Irish gravel champion, tackles the red mud in Australia during the elite women’s race at the UCI Gravel World Championships (Photo: James Raison-SWpix.com)
Nicolas Roche may have been unable to repeat his gold medal ride of 12 months ago but the former World Tour rider was still part of the winning move at the UCI Gravel World Championships in Australia, taking a bronze medal.
He was only one of eight Irish riders in action Down Under at the weekend, with veteran Des Woods (Inspired Cycling) just missing out on a medal when he took 4th place in his masters event.
While there were no Irish riders in the elite men’s race, two Irish women made their way to Nannup, Western Australia, for the elite women’s race at these World.
Gabrielle Fox finished in 29th and Nicole Shafter was in 34th.
In the 50-rider race, Irish gravel champion Fox finished in 36:13 down on new world champion Marianne Vos (Netherlands), with Shafer at 39:04.
In the Men’s 40-44 race, Roche was among a three-man group that broke clear and fought it out for the medals.
However, he threw his efforts into trying to get clear of his rivals, and when he was closed down had to settle for 3rd, behind winner Johnny Hoogerlan (Netherlands) and runner-up Ivan Seledkov (Russia).
The main results for the Irish are as follows:
Elite Women | Gabrielle Fox 29th, Nicole Shafer 34th
Men 19-34 | Alexis Roche 21st
Men 40-44 | Nicholas Roche 3rd
Women 40-44 | Maria Ludden 9th
Men 55-59 | Richard McCauley 7th
Men 60-64| Des Woods 4th, Michael Jordan 14th
In the Men’s 60-64 race, Woods missed out on a medal in an event where the home riders clearly had an advantage; Australians Tim Jamieson and Richard Walsh claiming gold and silver in a two-man move.
Switzerland’s Michael Buser was 3rd at 2:32, with Woods in 4th at 5:16, and just holding off Norway’s Jan Olav Beitmyren after the duo finished together.