Matteo Fontana clinched the inaugural Sahara Gravel stage race in Morocco, outperforming Petr Vakoč through key stages, particularly gaining a significant lead by stage 3. Payson McElveen secured a stage win and finished third overall, while Luise Valentin emerged victorious in the women's category after overtaking Maddy Nutt. Notably, former WorldTour cyclist Thomas De Gendt made his gravel debut, finishing fifth overall. The challenging 445km route featured dramatic landscapes, a variety of terrains, and daily logistics that enhanced the competitor experience.
"The four stages took us through breathtaking landscapes, across everything from champagne gravel and tarmac to deep sand and rocky roads," said winner Valentin in an Instagram post.
Matteo Fontana (Swatt Club) won the inaugural Sahara Gravel stage race, pulling away in stage 3 to secure the general classification victory.
Valentin, the women's GC winner, overtook Queen stage winner Maddy Nutt on stage 3 and held her lead through the finish.
Despite a crash on stage 4, Thomas De Gendt finished fifth overall in a strong debut in the gravel racing scene following his WorldTour career.
Collection
[
|
...
]