Marianne Vos claims second Gravel World Championship title after dramatic finale in Australia

The women’s elite race covered 125.6 kilometres through the challenging terrain of Western Australia, with 3,179 metres of climbing and approximately 84 percent of the route taking place on unpaved roads. A relentless succession of short, steep climbs made for a demanding course, while intermittent rain left sections of the gravel slippery and added to the technical difficulty.

Australian champion Tiffany Cromwell was among the first riders to make a significant move. Competing on home soil in the final race of her professional cycling career, the experienced Australian attacked with around 75 kilometres remaining and quickly built an advantage of more than a minute over the main contenders. It was an ambitious effort from Cromwell, who was determined to make her farewell appearance a memorable one.

Behind her, the pace increased as the race reached the demanding Ellis Creek climb. The front group began to split under the pressure, with Vos, Klöser, Hartog, Nele Laing and Erica Magnaldi emerging among the strongest riders. Argentina’s Sofia Gomez Villafañe, considered one of the contenders for the title, suffered a puncture and was forced to chase.

The race was also marked by a heavy crash involving Dutch rider Geerike Scheurs and South Africa’s Ashleigh Moolman Pasio. Scheurs, who had finished second at Unbound Gravel earlier this year, appeared to be in considerable pain following the incident.

Despite the difficult terrain, several riders managed to regain contact with the leaders over the following kilometres. With around 35 kilometres to go, a group of eight had formed at the front, leaving the outcome of the race far from decided.

Cromwell continued to animate the race, attacking again with approximately 25 kilometres remaining. Her move was eventually neutralised as the favourites increased the tempo on the final climbs.

It was Klöser who made the decisive acceleration on the Folly Climb, immediately stretching the field. Vos was the only rider capable of matching the German’s pace, and the pair quickly established themselves at the head of the race. Behind them, Hartog and Laing emerged as the main contenders for the final podium position.

Klöser continued to apply pressure on the remaining climbs, but Vos refused to give ground. The two entered the final ten kilometres with an advantage of around a minute, setting up a direct confrontation for the rainbow jersey.

With Vos renowned for her finishing speed, Klöser faced the difficult task of finding a way to distance her rival before the finish. Instead, it was the former world champion who made the decisive move.

Around 3.5 kilometres from the line, Vos accelerated near the top of the final climb and opened a small gap. Klöser initially appeared capable of closing the distance, but lost control on a corner during the descent and crashed, ending her challenge for victory.

Vos stayed clear over the remaining kilometres and crossed the finish line alone, nearly half a minute ahead of Klöser. Hartog completed the podium in third, giving the Netherlands two medals in the women’s elite race.

The victory sees Vos reclaim the gravel world title she first won in Leuven in 2024. It also represents another remarkable achievement for the multiple world champion, who arrived in Australia having not raced a UCI event since the Tour de France Femmes earlier in the season.