I can barely see! The smoke is covering the 2.5-meter-wide gravel trail we’re riding. The music is relentless — it feels like we’re in a rave, but no, we’re in a race. Not just any race, but the Gravel World Championship in Limburg, Netherlands.
It’s my fourth consecutive Gravel World Championship in the Men’s Elite category. The level keeps getting higher, and as always when the race is held in the Benelux, it draws a massive field — 4,000 riders in total, with 250 in the Men’s Elite, the highest level of them all.
From the gun it’s full gas. We’re led out on a 6 km stretch of tarmac before turning onto gravel. The fight for position is fierce, and several crashes unfold in front of me. I stay cautious, but that costs me a few places — and as expected, the splits open up fast. Soon, I find myself in a group behind.
Even though we’re outside the top 100, the speed doesn’t drop. We’re still pushing an average of 36 km/h on narrow, twisting roads lined with orange farm fields. My focus is locked on the wheel in front of me, dodging rocks and potholes — but I’m also soaking in the atmosphere. Thousands of spectators line the course, cheering wildly. You won’t find this kind of crowd at any other gravel race during the season.
As the race settles, reality kicks in — it’s going to be tough to bridge across to the front groups. The race covers 180 km: three laps around Beek before heading toward Maastricht. Still on the first lap, I know my best bet is to conserve energy, stay tucked in the group, and maybe catch dropped riders later. If the legs are good, I’ll try something in the last 30 km.
DO YOU REMEMBER: Gravel World Championship Veneto
Unlike most gravel races, which are pure endurance tests where you ride at a steady threshold, this course is dry, hard-packed, and relatively flat. Drafting is key. I let the engines in our group keep the pace while I save energy.
Even with the draft, it’s still hard work — constant accelerations out of corners, power spikes above 400 W, dips under 220 W, and barely any time spent cruising around 300–320 W, where I usually sit in most gravel races.
“If you’ve got the legs, let’s go on the long climb with 20 k to go,” I tell Håvard Gjeldnes. He’s in my group, and we agree to empty the tank — last part of the race, last race of the season.
Except for the opening chaos, I haven’t been on my limit. With Maastricht in sight, it feels right to give it a go. The group’s been solid, we’ve caught quite a few riders, but now the pace is fading.
As we hit the climb, I step on the gas. Håvard follows, and we open a small gap over the top. He moves to the front, pushing a fierce tempo. A Dutch rider bridges across, but we’re pulling away from the rest. We’re not fighting for any top result, but the racing instinct kicks in — this still feels good.
Then comes the wall — a 500 m climb with a brutally steep start. Håvard is smashing big numbers; I dig deep to stay with him. He surges again, and I dig deep to hang on his wheel over the top. He’s not trying to drop me, but there’s no saving energy now. Håvard locks into TT mode and delivers one of the most impressive efforts I’ve seen all year.
We catch two more Dutch riders who manage to hang on to our wheels. The final kilometers fly by. After a short detour around a castle, we hit the finishing straight. My sprint hasn’t been sharp this season — when Håvard does his final pull, I can only hold his wheel as the two Dutch riders slip past. I cross the line in 126th.
126th might not make the resumé, but looking at the names above me, there’s no shame in that. These are some of the world’s best — Florian Vermeersch (the winner), Matej Mohorič, Tom Pidcock, Greg Van Avermaet, and many more — full-time professionals at the top of their game.
The Gravel World Championship was a perfect way to close the season — a season I’m proud of. Now it’s time for a short break before diving into the 101percent training for 2026.
WANT COACHING?: Trailblazer – 101percent Training
Thank you to all my sponsors and everyone who helped make Gravel Worlds possible. It was great to line up with the Norwegian National Team and share the weekend with a strong crew — riders, support team, and feeders. And a special thanks to Lawrie and Babette for the hospitality in Brussels.
Gear that delivered: Felt Bikes, DT Swiss, Challenge Tires — flawless performance all day — and 226ers for keeping the energy levels high.