How to watch Gravel World Championships Live Stream

The second UCI Gravel World Championships is happening in Italy this weekend, and Belgium’s Gianni Vermeersch is aiming to defend his men’s title against top cyclists from around the world from 7th to 8th October.

Previously, Ferrand-Prevot got her victory by outpacing her fellow mountain biker, Sina Frei from Switzerland, while Italian rider Chiara Teocchi claimed the bronze, finishing 11 seconds later. Here is everything you need to know to watch the Gravel World Championships Live Stream.

Where to Live Stream UCI Gravel World Championships

The UCI Gravel World Championships will be televised across the United Kingdom and Europe through GCN+ and Eurosport, accessible via Discovery+. For viewers in the USA, Canada, and Australia, GCN+ will also broadcast the event. Additionally, the UCI will provide a live stream of the race on its official website.

A Discovery+ subscription is priced at £6.99/$9.15 per month or £59.99/$78.51 for an annual pass. On the other hand, a GCN+ subscription costs £39.99/$45.35 for a yearly subscription and £6.99/$7.93 for a monthly subscription.

Schedule of Gravel World Championship

• Saturday 7th October: Elite Women, all women’s age groups and men’s 50+.
• Sunday 8th October: Elite Men and men’s under-49.

2023 UCI Gravel World Championships routes

The 2023 UCI Gravel World Championships will showcase the Elite Women’s and Men’s races, scheduled for Saturday, October 7, and Sunday, October 8, respectively. Both races will commence from Lago Le Bandie in Treviso and culminate 23km north at Pieve di Soligo, traversing the picturesque UNESCO World Heritage Site of the Prosecco Lands.

The Women’s race, spanning approximately 140km, will kick off with a roughly 30km unpaved lap around the lake, setting the pace for the subsequent challenges. It will then transition into a series of short but intense paved climbs, marking the first crossing of the finish line at the 46km mark. The race will progress into a more undulating second loop, primarily featuring climbs and predominantly paved sections. The total altitude gain will be 1,660m, maintaining an approximate 50/50 ratio of white road/gravel to paved road for both races.

On the other hand, the Men’s race will extend over 169km, encompassing 1,890m of elevation gain, offering a mix of paved climbs, flat gravel, and road segments. The additional 29km will primarily cover flat paved and gravel roads. Both routes will include four short yet steep climbs and a final flat stretch of 25km leading to the finish line at Piazza di Balbi Valier.

UCI Gravel World Championships Race Schedule

Date	Time	Event
Saturday, Oct 7, 2023	08:00 – 11:00	Registration and Accreditation Office Opening
	09:45	Warm-up and Presentation of Athletes
	10:30	Departure – Elite Women Category
	10:33	Departure – Men Age Group Category 50-54
	10:34	Departure – Men Age Group Category 55-59
	10:35	Departure – Men Age Group Category 60-64
	10:36	Departure – Women Age Group Category 19-34
	10:37	Departure – Women Age Group Category 35-39
	10:38	Departure – Women Age Group Category 40-44
	10:39	Departure – Women Age Group Category 45-49
	10:40	Departure – Men Age Groups Category +65
	10:41	Departure – Women Age Groups Category +50
	15:00	Arrival of Elite Women
Saturday, Oct 7, 2023	16:00	Press Conference
	09:45	Warm-up and Presentation of Athletes
	10:30	Departure – Elite Men Category
	10:33	Departure – Men Age Group Category 19-34
	10:35	Departure – Men Age Group Category 35-39
	10:37	Departure – Men Age Group Category 40-44
	10:39	Departure – Men Age Group Category 45-49
	15:30	Arrival of Elite Men
	16:30	Press Conference

Preview of the Men’s Race and Potential Contenders:

As we look ahead to the Elite races in this year’s World Championship, it remains uncertain which athletes will choose to participate. However, some of the top Spring Classics specialists will likely grace the start grid. Unfortunately, we won’t see the likes of Mathieu Van der Poel, the World Road Race Champion, and Tom Pidcock, the MTB XCO World Champion, due to their respective reasons.

We’re hopeful that Belgium’s Wout van Aert, a fierce rival, will compete in Veneto. Van Aert has recently demonstrated his gravel prowess by triumphing in a UCI World Series round in the hilly Ardennes region of Belgium, indicating his intention to vie for the World title.

Notable British contenders include Cameron Mason of Trinity Racing, known for his gravel expertise, and Connor Swift of the Ineos Grenadiers. Mason boasts significant gravel experience, while Swift made an impressive gravel debut earlier this year, clinching victory in the UK’s first UCI gravel race, the Gralloch. Swift also secured a notable second-place finish at Kings Cup, the UK National Gravel Championships. Additionally, Joe Blackmore, who outpaced Mason and Swift in the national championship, is expected to compete in Italy.

Regrettably, the Giro di Lombardia classic road race coincides with this event in Italy, potentially deterring prominent figures from attempting the gravel title. The scheduling clash also affects XCO mountain bikers, especially those striving for World Cup season success and Paris Olympics qualification. Adjusting the timing of the gravel title bout could have avoided this issue.

In the realm of unlikely contenders, there’s speculation about the retired road pro turned gravel expert Alejandro Valverde of Spain putting on a noteworthy performance. Former road professionals like Peter Sagan and Nicki Terpstra might also make an appearance.

For the endurance mountain bikers and gravel professionals, securing a top 10-15 position will be a formidable challenge, given the dominance of WorldTour pros in the previous year’s race. Despite this, American standout Keegan Swenson, known for his achievements in major US gravel and MTB classics, will strive for a significant result. Another promising contender is the young American all-rounder Luke Lamperti, provided he can navigate the demanding hilly sections of the race.

Potential Contenders in the Women’s Race:

In the Women’s title race, the reigning champion, Pauline Ferrand-Prevot of France, is a strong favorite, having clinched the XCO MTB World Championship title in Scotland earlier this year. However, it’s uncertain whether she will prioritize this event over the UCI MTB World Cup in Canada. If Ferrand-Prevot opts out, the women’s race becomes more wide open and unpredictable.

In 2022, Ferrand-Prevot secured victory over Sina Frei of Switzerland, another accomplished mountain biker whose participation in 2023 remains uncertain. Anne Terpstra of the Netherlands, a contender in the MTB World Cup, has already shown prowess in gravel races. Should top female mountain bikers choose to focus on the gravel title instead of the final MTB World Cup rounds, they could lead the charge in Italy.

Several Women’s World professionals are embracing gravel racing, including Annemiek Van Vleuten, Demi Vollering, and Tiffany Cromwell. However, Marianne Vos, a multiple cyclo-cross and road World Champion, won’t be participating due to an early season end after Iliac surgery.

In gravel racing, success isn’t guaranteed solely by road biking achievements at the world level. Emerging gravel pros like Maddy Nutt (UK), who performed well in the inaugural Gravel Earth Series, and notable riders like Annabel Fisher (UK) and Amity Rockwell (US) are worth watching in Italy and future gravel races.

Regardless of how events unfold, the 2023 UCI Gravel World Championships promise an exciting race, building on the successes of the previous year. 

Best VPNs to Watch UCI Gravel World Championships Live

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Frequently Asked Questions

How can I watch the Gravel World Championships Live Stream?

To watch the Gravel World Championships, tune in to GCN+ and Eurosport via Discovery+ in the United Kingdom and Europe. For viewers in the USA, Canada, and Australia, GCN+ will also broadcast the event. Additionally, the UCI will provide a live stream of the race on its official website.

When and where are the 2023 UCI Gravel World Championships taking place?

The 2023 UCI Gravel World Championships are scheduled to take place on the weekend of October 7-8 in the vicinity of Treviso, within the Veneto region of Northeastern Italy.

What are the routes for the Elite Women and Men’s races of Gravel World Championships?

The Elite Women’s race covers approximately 140km, starting from Lake Le Bandie in Treviso. The route includes a 30km unpaved lap around the lake and a challenging second loop with significant climbs. The Elite Men’s race extends over 169km, with a mix of paved climbs and flat gravel and road sectors, featuring four short but steep climbs.

What is the altitude gain and surface ratio for the Gravel World Championships races?

The Elite Women’s race has an overall altitude gain of 1,660m and an approximate 50/50 ratio of white road/gravel to paved road. The Elite Men’s race encompasses a total altitude gain of 1,890m and follows a similar surface ratio.

How much does a subscription to watch the Gravel World Championships cost?

A Discovery+ subscription is priced at £6.99/$9.15 per month or £59.99/$78.51 for an annual pass. For GCN+, a yearly subscription costs £39.99/$45.35, and a monthly subscription is £6.99/$7.93.