It was solely two years in the past that the SEVEN race in Nannup jumped into the brand new UCI Gravel World Collection and put their palms as much as host a World Championship within the self-discipline as properly. Then the street forward was an unknown, with as many potential routes as there are course choices within the gravel street wealthy wilderness surrounding Nannup, though the staff behind the Western Australian occasion had an inkling of the potential huge progress forward.
Now, the occasion is heading into its third version as a part of the collection, however seventh 12 months all up, and the sector retains ballooning because it heads towards 2026 when it can host the primary UCI Gravel World Championships outdoors Europe on a course that, given the race historical past, is probably going be nearly as shut as you will get to 100% gravel.
It’s certain to be a UCI Gravel World Championships in contrast to any seen earlier than, and the ranks of these from interstate and abroad coming over to get an early perception into what they’re in for is rising. The race itself, similar to the collection and World Championships itself has hit an upward trajectory, one that will simply grow to be as steep as among the climbs out on the course.
“The choose up has been huge, particularly with lots of people getting in early,” race director Stephen Gallagher informed Cyclingnews within the days earlier than the occasion. “The most important success for us is the quantity of abroad riders, we’ve nearly tripled the quantity of worldwide visitation and still have over double the quantity of interstate riders.”
Which means near 1,500 riders might be making the trek to Nannup – which implies stopping place in Noongar language – greater than your complete inhabitants of the city itself. A big inflow however only a style of what’s to come back, with planning properly underway to accommodate the World Championships, the place Nannup is the hub however with spokes out to plenty of different locations within the area replete with the amenities to help the occasion – which is probably going going to be considerably bigger than was envisaged when the bid was first submitted.
Importantly, nonetheless, what the hub location of Nannup does have an abundance of is gravel roads, there are loads to choose and select from. Planning is underway for a spectator pleasant World Championships course in 2026, with a UCI delegation out to see how the method is progressing, however that does not imply organisers have overlooked the close to time period both, with the addition of a brand new part to the 2024 Gravel World Collection course as properly that can ship some spectacular white gravel.
The 2024 SEVEN race, named after the seven sectors it traverses, will nonetheless cowl 125km and ship 3,200m of vertical ascent over largely the identical course as in recent times – winding its manner out and again from Nannup on almost 100% gravel by pine plantations, state forests and farmland – however two of the 12 key climbs might be completely different. Delta and Meacham are out and the brand new white gravel part which takes the course additional to the west resulting in the introduction of Mader and Shale Hill. Each climbs are underneath a kilometre, however Gallagher warns that riders should not assume they are going to be simple.
“Do not let how brief they’re deceive you about how arduous they’re as a result of, particularly Shale Hill, may be very steep,” mentioned Gallagher.
Key riders to look at
The 2023 males’s winner Tasman Nankervis (BMC-Shimano) might be again in 2024. The rider who final 12 months headed over to the USA to compete within the Life Time Grand Prix collection is protecting his focus in Australia this 12 months. He’s trying as formidable as ever, having claimed the win within the stacked discipline of RADL GRVL in South Australia in January, forward of standard rival Brendan ‘Trekky’ Johnston (Large), and combating his technique to fourth on the first version of Sutton Grange Vineyard Uncorked Gravel in February, although he was restricted to 1 gear a lot of the race after a rock hit his derailleur. The 28 12 months outdated from Bendigo then went on to take his sixth win on the Nice Otway Gravel Grind.
Nonetheless Johnston is lining up with sturdy type to try to dethrone Nankervis. The skilled hand has come again from the USA after racing the opening spherical, Fuego XL, and coming fifth. First on the agenda whereas again residence was final weekend’s AusCycling Marathon Mountain Bike Nationwide Championships the place the 32-year-old claimed his sixth title.
Nankervis may also should be looking out for 2022 winner, Adam Blazevic, who has continually been up close to the highest of the outcomes desk in the important thing Australian summer time gravel occasions and the privateer can also be now more likely to be hitting a brand new vein of type as he builds towards his key worldwide targets. Then there’s additionally Nicolas Roche, with the previous skilled on the street having just lately taken third at one other UCI Gravel World Collection occasion, the Highlands Gravel Basic, final month and he was additionally third in Nannup final 12 months.
Different riders to look at for within the elite males’s class embody 2023’s second positioned Mark Chong and fourth positioned Matthew Fowl. Roche, additionally will not be the one former WorldTour skilled on the race, with Fumiyuki Beppu, the primary Japanese rider to make biking’s high tier, additionally making the journey to Western Australia this 12 months.
The ladies’s race will see a brand new victor this 12 months, with 2023 winner Tiffany Cromwell (Canyon-SRAM) not returning, nonetheless, there might be no scarcity of competitors. Australian champion Justine Barrow has been out trying out the course on the lead in. Barrow has already gained a UCI Gravel World Collection spherical, taking out Gravelista in Beechworth in 2022, however missed out on SEVEN in Nannup final 12 months as she was racing gravel in the USA. This 12 months, nonetheless, she is utilizing the Western Australian race as a lead in to her worldwide ambitions.
The rider, who has some severe climbing capability, could not have had one of the best tail finish to her season final 12 months, with a crash resulting in AC joint stabilisation surgical procedure and an advanced restoration. Nonetheless, Barrow, who was bitten by the Unbound bug in 2023, has now constructed again and is clearly snug on the bike once more, having determined on the Beechworth Granite Basic final month that the 115km distance alone wasn’t sufficient, and turning proper again round as soon as she had completed to trip the 90km course as properly.
Cassia Boglio (Liv Brazilian Butterfly Racing p/b Prepared & Twin Peaks) might be hoping to lean on residence floor benefit, plus the 23-year-old rider who got here second on the race final 12 months has gained some useful expertise and outcomes since which bode properly for her probabilities of mounting a severe problem this 12 months. They embody one other Gravel World Collection podium, with third at Gravelista on the finish of 2023, and a primary place at Life Time Sea Otter Basic, which got here close to the top of block of gravel racing in the USA the place she additionally netted two high ten finishes in Belgian Waffle Experience California and Utah.
Then there’s Peta Mullens (Liv Brazilian Butterfly), who hasn’t had the strongest of patches together with her well being not enjoying alongside, however the rider who can also be racing the LIfe Time Grand Prix collection this 12 months is one that ought to by no means be dismissed and her twelve Australian titles throughout numerous biking disciplines are all the reason required.
