In Unpaved Chronicles, we delve into the world of gravel racing. This rapidly growing discipline combines the adventure of off-road riding with the intensity of racing. It's not about smooth asphalt and a peloton, but about gravel roads, steep climbs, and unpredictable terrain. The blend of endurance, technique, and tactics makes it a unique sport that attracts a growing number of riders. In every race, everyone gives their all for a good result, and in UCI races, that's even more the battle for a starting spot in the World Gravel Championships.
We follow the riders of Airoman.cc Up close, during clay-court competitions at home and abroad. From preparation to finish, from gathering dust to medal—this is clay-court racing through their eyes.
Houffalize. A name that rings a bell for many gravel racers, and where a UCI gravel series took place for the third year in a row. While the course in previous years consisted of one full lap and didn't feature much elevation gain, this year was different: three laps of 47 kilometers, with a total of over 2,500 meters of elevation gain. The recipe for a true war of attrition. Liesl Meeus—hailing from Belgium and therefore riding a bit of a home race—started in the Age Group 19-34 and takes us through her race.
Explosive start on the Côte de Saint Roche
The race in Houffalize is inextricably linked to the infamous Côte de Saint Roche – famous for the Ardennes classic Liège-Bastogne-Liège. It features some 900 meters of climbing at an average gradient of 11.2%, with peaks of up to 16.5%. Liesl: "I'm not a natural climber. That meant I came to Houffalize Gravel with very low expectations, and I didn't really set a goal for myself. I just wanted to get the best out of myself." Despite these low expectations, Liesl started strongly and joined a group of five leading riders at the top of the Saint Roche. As the first gravel section came into view, she was already back in the mix, where she immediately pushed through and turned onto the unpaved path first. "Because the first part of the race was the toughest in terms of elevation gain, my tactic was to apply pressure on the descents and maintain a fast pace uphill so I hoped not too many girls would pass me." This tactic proved effective, as Liesl managed to occasionally pull ahead of the opposition on the downhill sections. "My plan worked well, but the downside was that I was doing a lot of head work and often had my nose in the wind."
After the first lap of 47 kilometers, Liesl crossed the finish line in a group of seven women. Just like in the previous lap, the first part of lap two was a real struggle. "I was still able to ride well, but I couldn't prevent women who had been riding with a group of men from joining me at one point. Not always fair, but it's part of the sport." Using the same tactic as in the first lap—downhill as fast as possible—Liesl broke away again, and with one lap to go, she found herself in a group with two competitors. "That was the moment a podium finish suddenly became very realistic. I just had to survive the Saint Roche one more time." She succeeded with flying colors, and Liesl reached the top with one direct competitor and a teammate from an older age group. "Then it was a matter of riding as fast as possible and not doing anything stupid on the descents."
Exciting corner decides the race
The final minutes leading up to the finish are incredibly technical, with plenty of corners, braking, and steering. "There was a very sharp corner a kilometer before the finish, and to have the best chance of winning, you had to be the first to enter it." With that in mind, Liesl heads towards the corner, but unexpectedly, her direct competitor overtakes her and enters the corner first. Liesl: "I tried to take the inside, but it was in vain." Several more sharp corners follow, but there's nowhere enough space to make a final move. "At Eislek Gravel in Vianden this year, I crashed in a similar situation, so I took fewer risks this time." Ultimately, Liesl crosses the finish line in a narrow second place. Initially, disappointment prevails. "I had put in so much work at the front, and then the difference is so small..." Yet, after a while, satisfaction prevails. "I would have signed for this result immediately beforehand. The fact that I can compete for the win on such a tough course gives me a lot of confidence for the next races and the World Championship.
Material from Airoman.cc as a weapon
In a race where gear and comfort make all the difference, Liesl greatly benefited from the Airoman.cc gear. "The Aero short cycling gloves were especially valuable this time. I rode without them during the reconnaissance and had blisters on my hands. I'd thought about them before the race, and my hands didn't bother me at all. Knowing they were also aerodynamic also made a difference!" Earlier, at the Gravel One Fifty, Liesl also rode with the Aero Hydro Baselayer and accompanying water bladder for the first time. "I wore the baselayer again, but this time without the water bladder to save weight on the climbs. Because we rode three laps, I could carry plenty of water bottles."
"But," she emphasizes, "I did wear the Airo socks from Airoman.cc, of course. They've been part of my regular kit all season and were indispensable again this time!"
Airoman on the hunt for World Cup qualification
Airoman.cc co-founder Robbin Zwaan already qualified for the World Championships at the Gravel One Fifty in July. In Houffa, it was his partner Hidde Merton's turn. With excellent training preparation and a good knowledge of the course, he was at the start in Houffalize. From the first steep meters, he was in for a treat. The pace was high, and after just over five hours of racing, Hidde crossed the finish line. Unfortunately, without qualifying. Hidde: "I was actually quite satisfied, because we had ridden really hard, but in this field of participants, it's simply very difficult to qualify." So, the goal wasn't achieved, but there was no reason to be sad, as his sights are already set on the future: "My main goal now is simply the National Gravel Championships. A good result there among the elite would be a great confirmation of the past few weeks of training."
Want to keep up with Liesl (and other Airoman.cc riders)? Follow us on Instagram. @airomaniacyclingclub or read more soon on Airoman.cc !