Wout van Aert is set to participate in the upcoming Houffa Gravel race, which is the third round of the Yuzzu Gravel Series and the sole qualifying event in Belgium for the UCI Gravel World Series.
Following his engagement in the World Cycling Championships, the Houffa Gravel race marks Wout van Aert’s subsequent competitive event. Noteworthy riders such as Niki Terpstra and Jan Bakelants will also be among the participants.
Spanning a distance of 110 km through the picturesque Ardennes region, van Aert acknowledged, “I have recently taken a period of rest, which has slightly affected my peak condition,” as conveyed in a statement.
“However, this race provides an excellent opportunity to assess the performance of my equipment under these conditions. I look forward to gleaning insights from fellow specialists at the start. It’s an invaluable experience to grasp the mechanics of it all,” van Aert expressed, his anticipation palpable ahead of the event. His enthusiasm to compete at the World Championships in Veneto, Italy on October 8 is palpable.
Moreover, van Aert emphasized the benefits of having prior experience in gravel races. He sees the Houffa Gravel race as a chance to connect with his supporters and the public while indulging his fondness for gravel racing. This sentiment is substantiated by his prior gravel rides and personal tests, which are observable on his Strava profile.
Significantly, the Houffa Gravel race holds inclusion in the prestigious UCI Gravel World Series. This entails that contenders not only vie for victory within the race but also contend for a ticket to the forthcoming World Gravel Championships in Italy. Impressively, a quarter of the fastest gravel racers in the Houffalize event will secure qualification for the global gravel championships in Italy.
