UCI Gravel World Series: Swiss riders Joel Roth and Elena Hartmann climb to victories at The Majestics Gravel

“I’m really happy that it finally all came together after coming so close to victory a few times,” Roth said after the race to his team, having ridden to three recent top 10s, including fifth at Ranxo Gravel.

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“This win gives me a lot of confidence for the second half of the season and is a huge confirmation that all the hard work over the past months has paid off.”

Unlike a week ago when her legs cramped and she finished off the podium at Hegau Gravel, Hartmann powered away from Olivia Hottinger (SCOTT Offroad Racing) to win in 4:15:22, nearly six minutes to her compatriot. Clara Koppenburg (Tudor Pro Cycling) of Germany was another 45 seconds back for the final spot on the women’s podium.

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Hartmann, a three-time Swiss time trial national champion, put the power down in time trial form on the final climb, moving away from Hottinger, who came in with a recent victory at Octopus Gravel. It was her first victory of a full season on gravel, having finished with four top 5s across UCI Gravel World Series and Gravel Earth Series events, including fifth at The Traka 200.

It was a third season for Majestics Gravel (formerly Gravel Suisse), which used a 106km route for elite riders, called the Summit, from Aigle to Villars-sur-Ollon, Switzerland. The first half crossed the Rhône Valley with 60 fast and flat kilometres. The second half added most of the 2,500 metres of elevation gain with long gravel ascents and cresting the highest point at 1,800 metres. This region in the Vaudois Alps is slated to host the 2029 UCI Gravel World Championships.

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