Thousands of riders and spectators descended on the tiny town of Nannup in South West WA to enjoy the spectacle of the first UCI Gravel World Championships to be held outside Europe.
Cycling Eventures, the team behind the iconic SeVen Gravel Race spent years planning the event. The remote location presented them with many logistical challenges - but also provided some* of the best gravel roads in the world.
Wilderide believes Nannup has THE best gravel in the world 😉
Local racer and Wilderide Boss Vanessa Johnson lined up to compete in her 5th UCI Gravel World Championships. Everyone had been expecting slippery pea gravel, but the heavens opened and racers were treated to slippery mud instead! Those who know the Nannup pea gravel well (and Vanessa certainly does) knew what to expect. Vanessa was able to optimize her bike set-up for the conditions - the 54mm clearance on her new Guava Ace accommodated 50mm Maxxis Reavers which coped well with the conditions. A background in cyclocross helped with some of the muddier sections, and Vanessa came in faster than her time at the May qualifier, along with a clutch of PRs on the descents. She was stoked to finish 10th in age group against a quality field.
“It was surreal, racing on home roads surrounded by riders from so many different countries. The highlights were the Adina and Folly climbs which were lined by hundreds of spectators - having my name shouted by so many people was inspiring and humbling”
While most people were focused on the race, Wilderide was quietly working in the background to provide logistical support to visiting riders and local community projects. Services included providing local travel advice, bike hire, grocery delivery, training routes, and private guided rides. There was even time for a taper ride with the fantastic women of 4Five+ Athlete Collective on race eve.
One of the GWC week highlights was hosting the Cockatoo Cruise & Chat to raise funds for research into the South West’s endangered black cockatoos. Local field ecologist Clint Conner met riders in the bush to talk about his habitat research project. Clint spoke about the habitat and feeding needs of the rare Baudin’s cockatoo, how their reliance on understory and nectar differs from other cockatoo species, and the implications this has for landscape assessments and rehabilitation. Clint is a font of knowledge on native flora and flora and conversation wandered to include a range of topics including sightings of rare orchids and the importance of moths in the food chain. Many thanks to all who attended - the $375 raised will help Clint to continue his research. The talk left us inspired to explore more opportunities to combine gravel riding with citizen science, and how we might contribute to protecting the beautiful bush we ride in.
You can read more about Clint’s research project and how to donate HERE.
Pics: Vanessa with Catherine & Patrice from Canada; Clint Conner with a recording device used in his research project; Vanessa & Zoe relaxing on some local green trails; some of the fabulous 4Five+ AC bunch
The GWC course traverses pine forests and farmland, and is a climber’s paradise. Not all roads in Nannup are equal, and once racing was done it was time to return to the gently rolling hills that pass through the many National Parks and State Forests around Nannup. Experienced gravel rider Ali was fortunate to have Wilderide as a private guide for the Wildflower Wander and we adapted the course to suit his preparation for the Cape to Cape MTB epic. The ride had a bit of everything from big wide champagne gravel to some hillbillie tracks - the wildflowers are hitting peak season and the ride was bags of fun! You can see some video highlights on Wilderide’s YouTube Channel HERE
Nannup is back to its sleepy self. We hope the images that were beamed around the world have created some curiosity about Nannup Gravel. Wilderide would love to share the road less ridden with you.
