Gravel Racing Victories: Nicole Frain and Mads Wuertz Schmidt Secure Solo Triumphs at Houffa Competition (UCI Gravel World Series)
In the picturesque Ardennes region of Belgium, the fourth round of the UCI Gravel World Series took place, with the Houffa Gravel course preparing for the 2026 European Gravel Championship. The 700m of elevation per 47km lap, completed three times, presented a challenging yet exhilarating route for the competitors.
In the men's elite category, a group of six, including Mads Wuertz Schmidt and Loman Mathijs, made an early selection. The race was intense, with Lars Forster securing the fourth place, while Aaron van der Beken finished fifth with a time of 4:28:31. However, it was Mads Wuertz Schmidt who ultimately triumphed, winning the Traka 200 and securing his first victory in the series.
Mads Wuertz Schmidt (PAS Racing) took a solo lead after a technical section, creating a gap of 50-70 meters. He crossed the finish line with a winning time of 4:21:45, three minutes ahead of Loman Mathijs who finished in second place. Kevin Panhuyzen completed the podium in third place, 1:07 behind Mathijs.
Meanwhile, in the women's elite category, Nicole Frain (Ridley) continued her impressive form, winning the event for the second time in a row. Her winning time remained unchanged at 5:07:28. EsmeĢe Peperkamp (Picnic-PostNL) finished second with a time of 5:17:40, while Wendy Oosterwoud (PAS Racing) rounded off the podium in third place.
Nicole Frain's victory marked her first win in the series, and she had previously placed second in two successive events. EsmeĢe Peperkamp's second-place finish was a commendable effort, especially considering that 70% of the route was off-road.
Mads Wuertz Schmidt shared his joy of racing in The Ardennes, expressing his appreciation for the challenging yet beautiful course. As the UCI Gravel World Series continues, the competition promises to get even more intense, with riders vying for top positions in the remaining races.
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