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. No smooth asphalt, but gravel roads, steep climbs, and unpredictable terrain. More and more riders are drawn to this mix of endurance, technique, and tactics. Every race features fierce competition for podium finishes and qualification for the World Gravel Championships.
We follow the riders of Airoman.cc Up close, during UCI races at home and abroad. From preparation to finish, from mud to medal—this is gravel through their eyes.
With the World Gravel Championships behind us, the 2025 season is over, but for a few enthusiasts, one final event awaited: Flanders Legacy Gravel in Leuven. This race also served as the first qualifying race for 2026, a fitting end to a long year of gravel and sweat. Three 48-kilometer circuits through the Flemish countryside, featuring cobblestones, singletrack, and short, challenging climbs. For Liesl Meeus and Yael Prenger, it was the perfect way to close out the season; without the pressure, but with a healthy dose of fighting spirit.
Without pressure, with drive
For both riders, this race was the icing on the cake of the season. Liesl: "I hadn't done any specific training after last week's World Championships. I had a really off day there due to illness, and I mainly wanted to have fun on the bike this week leading up to Legacy Gravel." The same applied to Yael, although she did add a few more focused training sessions to her preparation. "But most of the rides were mainly just pleasant coffee rides!" Despite the relaxed preparation, both riders were focused on a good result. Yael: "Last week at the World Championships Gravel, I noticed for the first time that things were going a bit better again, after all the struggles surrounding my hip injury. I especially wanted to hold on to that feeling, and a podium finish was definitely in the back of my mind."
Liesl was also eyeing a top finish, not least because it was a home race for her, with the start just ten kilometers from her front door. She knew the course like the back of her hand, especially after a few reconnaissance sessions. "At first, I wasn't a huge fan of the course; too many cobblestones and singletrack. But the more I explored it, the more I liked it." Yael was slightly less enthusiastic about the course. "Last year at the World Championships in Leuven, you mainly saw a lot of wide gravel roads, which I expected this time as well. So when half of the course was singletrack and cobblestones, I had to adjust." Had she ridden on cobblestones before? "No, never. After Saturday's reconnaissance, I also had cramps all over my forearms from holding my handlebars, so I was quite dreading riding the same course three times."
Full throttle start
Because the women's categories had few entries, all age groups started together. Liesl thought that was fine, and Yael found it a positive development: "It allowed the better women to ride together, creating some competition." From the moment the starting gun sounded, Liesl did what she says she always does: lead the pack. "Because of that, I couldn't respond to the acceleration on the first real climb of the day." Yael: "I mainly spent the first lap feeling it out. How am I feeling and how are the climbs? I wasn't disappointed; I recovered quickly when I got off the lead and rode up the climb fairly easily." That's why she threw a wrench in the works on the first long climb: "We were riding with the women behind a few men from the Age Group who were setting a decent pace. On the climb in question, I saw an opportunity to break away and, together with an Age Group rider, keep up the pace." For twenty minutes, Yael rode as hard as she could without looking back. 'When I checked afterwards who was still with us, it turned out there were only three ladies left, of which only Elisa (Serné) was my age.'
Meanwhile, Liesl was riding a short distance behind, alternating lead with one other woman. "I knew I was the fourth woman my age at that point, so I hoped we could catch number three." During this chase, she also managed to enjoy the race: "There were friends and family all around the course cheering me on, which made it really cool!" About twenty-five kilometers from the finish, Liesl spotted number three. "I asked the men in our group if they wanted to help close the gap, but they were unsuccessful. So I just started pulling ahead myself." Arriving at the group of number three, she took a short break before catching up and crossing the finish line in third place. "After last week's disappointing World Championship, I was really happy with this third place, especially with a race in my own region!"
Fight until the last climb
For Yael, taking it easy at the front of the race was anything but straightforward: "We didn't get a clear picture of our lead, so I didn't dare take it easy." The final and third lap was therefore a tough and especially uncomfortable ordeal: "I was completely done with those stupid cobblestones!" With only one other woman in her age group, it was a battle for the win. Yael: "I just rode full throttle up the last climb, and when we reached the top, I sprinted back down just as hard." As a result, only Kim (Knaeps, AG 35-40) was able to follow, and Yael finished in the winning position. "I was constantly afraid Elisa would come back, so I kept pushing until the finish. In the end, it wasn't necessary, because at the finish, the difference was two minutes..."
The effort in the final kilometers was enough for Yael at the finish: "I hadn't realized at all that I was also racing for the overall win with Kim, so when she attacked with 200 meters to go, it was quite unexpected." She adds: "And I doubt I would have been able to keep up otherwise, because my legs were really exhausted." No overall win, but a win in the AG 19-34. Yael: "That was my goal at the start of this season, but because of all the injuries, I no longer felt it was possible. To finish like that is really great. Especially the way I did it: attacking myself, creating a gap, and breaking away on a climb. The starting field may not have been large, but the top riders were certainly strong, so I'm just happy with that!"
A well-deserved break
And now? "Now it's time for the off-season!" say Yael and Liesl. However, this doesn't mean Liesl will be completely inactive: "I can't do that, so I'll often be on the padel court. I always love that sport, but during the season itself, there's too much risk of injury." She's also still struggling with the last few back pains from her crash in Vianden (Luxembourg). "That's what I'm going to focus on, so I can build up well for what I hope will be an equally successful season in 2026!" For Yael, the off-season will be dominated by her hip injury: "I had surgery for it this week and can't train with my legs for four weeks and have to wear compression shorts. Hopefully, after that, all the hassle will be gone and I can start a new build-up feeling refreshed." This will also be her first year of truly dedicating herself to cycling. "I'm really looking forward to it!"