Frain and Schmdit Dominate at UCI Houffa Gravel in Stunning Solo Victories

Danish gravel star Mads Wurtz Schmdit and Australian powerhouse Nicole Frain (Ridley Racing Team) each claimed commanding solo victories on the challenging 141 km course winding through the beautiful Ardennes region

Mads Schmdit (PAS Racing) showcased exceptional strength and strategy, breaking away to finish with an impressive time of 4:21:45, over four minutes ahead of his nearest competitor. Loman Mathijs of the Netherlands secured second place in 4:24:57, followed closely by Belgian mountain biker Kevin Panhuyzen in third with a time of 4:26:04.

In the women’s race, Australian Nicole Frain (Ridley Racing Team) triumphed with a commanding finish of 5 hours 7 minutes and 28 seconds. Dutch riders Esmée Peperkamp and Wendy Oosterwoud rounded out the podium in second and third place respectively.

The event also featured the 94km Medio Fondo race where Germany’s Victor Bruck took the men’s title in 3:25:17, while Germany's Katrin Schwing won the women’s race with a time of 4:03:41.

Looking ahead to 2026, the picturesque town of Houffalize is preparing to host the prestigious European Gravel Championships. The course is set for a major redesign, promising an even more exhilarating challenge for riders. The new route will debut during this year’s Houffa Gravel on August 30th, giving participants a first glimpse of what’s to come.

“This race highlights the incredible talent and spirit of gravel racing,” said Race Director Jean-Luc Dupont, “With the European Championships on the horizon, we’re excited to elevate this event and showcase Houffalize as a premier gravel destination.”

Adding extra prestige, competitors finishing in the top 25% of their UCI age and gender categories at Houffa Gravel have earned automatic qualification for the 2025 UCI Gravel World Championships in the Netherlands this October.

Link to 2025 UCI Houffa Gravel Results: https://www.acn-timing.com/?lng=FR#/events/2156533144161338/ctx/20250830_gravel/cms/CAP