Former mountain bike World Champion set to line up at UCI Gravel Worlds in Nannup, while USPro U23 ITT champion DQ’d at FoCo Fondo – Gravel Bits

Two-time mountain bike world champion Henrique da Silva Avancini was confirmed for the elite men’s start list at the 2026 UCI Gravel World Championships in Nannup, Australia. He won the inaugural Brazilian Gravel Championships two weeks ago and qualified for Worlds by winning the UCI Gravel World Series race Gravel Brazil in March.

The 36-year-old won his first marathon mountain bike world title in 2018 and a second five years later, then retiring from MTB competitions. He has moved into gravel and road racing, finding success this year in both disciplines, winning the GC at the Tour of the Gila in the spring and then two medals at his home road nationals, including the gold medal in the time trial.

Australians Tiffany Cromwell and Nicole Frain are among the early confirmations to battle for the elite women’s rainbow stripes alongside Tessa Neefjes of the Netherlands and Haley Smith of Canada.

Elite women will race 125km on Saturday, October 10, with elite men taking on 143km on Sunday, October 11. Age group categories will also use the medium or short courses with the same start/finish, departing 20 minutes after the elites each day.

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On the spectator side, camping registrations are now open, which will be the closest overnight accommodations to the courses. The Nannup Recreation Centre Precinct is less than one kilometre from the start/finish line, with direct access to the training course via the Munda Biddi Trail.

Tent/Car or Caravan/Car options are available for three-night, four-night and five-night stays, with the campground opening Wednesday, October 5 for first arrivals.

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For those new to Western Australia, the Busselton Margaret River Airport is the closest airport for domestic flights, located 35 minutes from Nannup. International flights are based at the Perth Airport, which is a three-and-a-half-hour drive by car or bus.

Lauren Stephens wins third consecutive FoCo Fondo while breakaway men’s winner disqualified

Lauren Stephens (Aegis x LOE) won a third consecutive FoCo Fondo gravel race on Sunday, using a late attack to pull away and ride solo across the line in Fort Collins, Colorado.

The elite men’s race was not so straightforward, with Caleb Bottcher (ENVE/Shimano/Neversecond) sprinting just ahead of Matthew Saldana (Cyclesport.com) for second and third places. However, they moved up one step each after breakaway rider Kade Kreikemeier (Meridian Racing), who crossed the finish nearly a minute ahead, was disqualified.

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The 21-year-old Colorado racer won the USPro U23 men’s time trial last month in West Virginia, and used those time trial skills to make up a three-minute gap to early leaders Michael Garrison (SpeedStudio p/b Basso) and Connor Pulvidente. He then rode solo for more than 75 miles at the front that carried him across the line with no one in sight.

However, during Kreikemeier’s march, he encountered problems securing water bottles as the temperature soared to 95°F (35°C). A livestream race moto operator following Kreikemeier, with the camera rolling, offered the rider a bottle, which was accepted. Organisers acknowledged this was a rules violation for a rider to accept outside aid, so when Kreikemeier completed the ride, he was told he was DQ’d.

Bottcher’s time of 5:26:46 landed him in first place, with Saldana runner-up by one second and Benjamin Perry (Guava x Castelli S.O.G.) third a minute later, and 7:40 ahead of former WorldTour pro Gavin Mannion.

Caleb Bottcher outsprints Matthew Saldana for FoCo Fondo victory in 2026 (Image credit: Emily Sierra)

Stephens made it into the lead group of five riders as they made a separation 20 miles into the 118-mile race. The US gravel champion opened a gap on the first big climb over Alexis Skarda (Scott Bicycles/Q36.5/Shimano), Courtney Sherwell (Santa Cruz SRAM Kenda Tires), Cecile Lejeune (Trek Driftless), Charlotte Clarke (Ventum, NZL) and Hannah Shell (Goodlife Brands, Pirelli). Then Skarda clawed her way back, and the two rode together until Stephens gave it a big kick with under 15 miles to go.

Stephens crossed the line first in 6:11:43, with Lejeune going second five minutes later and Shell in third. Skarda finished fourth, and Sherwell rounded out the top five.

Defending nin-binary/gender expansive champion Robin Cummings (Nine Lives Cycling Collective) finished in 6:30:35 for another victory.

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