Laurens ten Dam, a pioneer who made the switch to gravel racing early in his career after a career on the World Tour Road, is looking to represent the Netherlands in his second UCI Gravel World Championships. This time, however, it will be a new milestone for him as both rider and coach, as he was appointed national coach of the Dutch gravel program in the spring.

Known as the “godfather” of his gravel racing peers, the 43-year-old continues to compete at a high level. He has competed in the Unbound Gravel 200 four times, finishing fourth or better three times, and set a new nonstop division record in Colombia's Transcordilleras earlier this spring.

Ten Dam receives many questions as a coach, the top of which is, “Will Mathieu Van Der Pol compete in the gravel world championships this year?” Van der Poel, the road world champion, will defend his title this Sunday at the road world championships in Zurich, and while his entry to gravel is not yet confirmed, ten Dam is ready.

“There are 10 wild cards left and I saved one for him,” Ten Dam told Cycling News. 'At the European Championships he said he had a better chance of competing at the World Championships. It will be a last-minute decision for him. If he wants to compete, I don't think the UCI will say 'no.'”

Van der Pol could add the gravel rainbow jersey to his collection of six cyclo-cross wins and a second road world title in a few days. He won the one-day classic in Alpecin-Desseuninck this year, followed by back-to-back wins in the Tour de Flanders and Paris-Roubaix, and podiums in Ghent-Wevelgem and Liege-Bastogne-Liege.

However, ten Dam added that the women's team was the winner of the Leuven Gravel World Championships, in a squad of nearly 37 elite riders and 20 wild cards.

“Puk Peterse has won the mountain bike world championships, and if she wins this one, she can go for the off-road triple,” he won the women's elite title in cross-country mountain biking this year and the U23 crown in the cyclocross world championships in 2022 He spoke about the 22-year-old. She is also a stage winner at the Tour de France in Liège, demonstrating Phoenix Deceuninck's multiple talents.

“And Marianne Vos (2022 Dutch gravel champion), who finished second in the Olympics (road race). And Lorena Wiebes (2023 UEC gravel champion). So basically, they are half of the Olympic team. It's amazing.”

Ten Dam said that arranging for a national team of nearly 60 elite members is a tough job. He is planning a team house for the national team with access to mechanics, soigneurs, and supplies, and has confirmed that the federation will also provide a team doctor. He is familiar with Excel to manage team wear and rider information.

“It's very different from road teams and other disciplines within the UCI. Basically, a lot of the riders can qualify themselves because they are in the first 25% of UCI qualifiers, or national champions, or like me at the European Championships. I have 20 wild cards from the federation.

“The only wildcards are for World Tour pros, pros on professional teams, both men's and women's, who have road teams and big programs. And good cyclocross riders. I only pick the wildcards, and the only requirement is that they be a pro.

“For the women, we had a lot of wild card requests. For the men, it's a bit more difficult because we still have races in France, Spain, and China.

He expects an all-star cast to compete, including Pieterse, Vos, and Wiebes, plus Femme van Empel, Lucinda Brand, Talita de Jong, Liejeanne Marx, and Yara Kastelijn.

On the men's side, “The Guy” will be Yasper Ockerlohn, who finished 13th in the Dutch elite men's last year. Ten Dam has two more contenders in newcomer Adne Koster and cyclo-cross specialist Joris Nieuwenhuijs.

Ten Dam, who also runs the Live Slow Ride Fast, did not have a “regular” event schedule this year as he did the past three years, concentrating instead on completing Tour Divide's 4200 km trek through the western United States after the Unbound Gravel But he fell short of the record by two days.

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