Lotte Kopecký's first race as world champion in 2024 will not be for the rainbow jersey, but for another one at the UCI Gravel World Championships in Belgium on Saturday.

Under-23 road world champion Pak Peterse will also be chasing another jersey after winning mountain bike and cyclocross this year.

The entry list includes Femme van Empel, Lorena Wiebes, and former cyclo-cross world champions Sanne Canto and Lucinda Brand, as well as Marianne Vos, Ashley Moolman-Pasio, Tiffany Cromwell, and 2023 Paris-Roubaix winners Allison Jackson are also included.

Kopecky ran early Sunday morning before returning to Belgium. She is a gravel novice, but after winning Paris-Roubaix Femme and Strade Bianche this year, she is sure to win the rainbow jersey again on the flat 133km Flanders Brabant forest course.

“I've never raced a gravel race in my life, but it will be fun,” Kopecky admitted in Zurich.

“I'm excited to do a different kind of race. I've heard there's a lot of asphalt as well as gravel, and I'll do some scouting when I get back to Belgium.”

“It would be nice to win the rainbow jersey again. It's a goal, but I've never raced on gravel, so I don't know what I can do. I just want to enjoy the race. Of course I will try to win the race.”

Kopecky is also expected to be in contention for another world title at the track in Denmark at the end of October.

Pieterse will attempt his fourth cycling event of the season.

“I will be at the start of the Gravel World Championships in Belgium next weekend. It should be a fun race to watch.” Pieterse said with humor after the Dutch made a tactical blunder in the women's road race on Saturday.

“I want to keep surfing in a positive atmosphere for a while, like the last few weeks. It's been very busy, but so far everything is going well.”