The latest European Championship cycling jersey is likely to show off firmly on the gravel road in the new year, and Lorena Wiebes confirms that her foray into discipline is more than the passing stage.

"I left room on the race calendar to compete in these gravel races. It was a great experience from the beginning," Wiebes said at a media conference ahead of Saturday's women's elite race at the uci Gravel World Championships, which was taking place just a week after Sd Worx road sprinter won the European title in Belgium. "I trained a lot on this bike and I really like it."

In fact, the SD Worx Sprinter's gravel racing venture began before the European Championship race and went out to the 3rides Gravel World Series race in Germany in May and headed straight to the podium in third place. The Australian rider was not eligible to win the title, although he was second in the European Championship race after the experienced crossover rider Tiffany Cromwell.

"The race was almost entirely done as planned," Wiebes said in a question and answer session posted to Instagram by the SD Worx team. "There was a lot of pressure loss on the front tire because I punctured somewhere in the last loop. Otherwise, I would have been trying to take part in Tiffany Cromwell's attack. But it was a great experience all round."

The rider, who is also at home in the Cyclocross race, said she enjoyed the combination Gravel Racing presented as "the diversity of gravel racing appeals to me" and said she remains looking for more as she also sees it as a good training for the road. Experience.

"It was already a great year to wear the jersey of the European champion on the street. And now I look forward to racing some gravel races in it next year," Wiebes said. "Certainly I train more now on gravel bikes to wear jerseys. The jersey always gives a little extra motivation to go out and train."Yet, before attention turns to next season, there is another key jersey for grabs in Italy and Wiebes will certainly not go unnoticed in Saturday's 140km Rainbow Jersey race, 1660m above sea level, as it is the finish line of the Pieve di Soligo from Lagol Bandie start. To work its way to the internet.

"On Wednesday alone, with the team on Friday, we already did 2 reconnaissance," Wiebes said. "The last 30km is a tough steep climb. It will be a very tough race and we expect the strongest riders to be left behind.”