Rosa Kloser and Lukas Malezsewski take victory at 2025 UCI Alentejo Gravel 

Belgium’s Lukas Malezsewski and Germany’s Rosa Kloser took top honors at the Alentejo Gravel UCI Gravel World Series event on Sunday, conquering a punishing shark-tooth course in the rolling plains of southern Portugal and securing spots for the 2026 UCI Gravel World Championships in Nannup, Australia.

More than 700 riders tackled the region’s steep profiles and sparse flats, with top-25% finishers in each UCI age and gender category earning automatic qualification for next year’s world championships.

On the marquee 120km route with 3,182 meters of climbing, 24-year-old Lukas Malezsewski claimed his first UCI Gravel World Series victory in 3:20:29. He edged countryman Daan Grosemans (Classified X Rose Fueled by Foodmaker), who finished in 3:29:31, while Portugal’s Andrew Henriques (CDASJ / Cyclin´Team / Município De Albufeira) rounded out the podium in 3:31:29. Malezsewski’s aggressive riding on the climbs and steady pacing across rough sectors allowed him to build a decisive margin as the field fragmented under the relentless gradients.

In the women’s 120km race, 29-year-old Rosa Kloser (Canyon Factory Racing) rode a controlled and powerful race to take the win in 3:45:25. Dutch star Tessa Neefjes (Liv Racing Collective) crossed the line in 3:57:27 and Spain’s Marta Mila (Movistar Gravel Squad) completed the podium in 4:10:25. Kloser’s performance further cements her status as one of the leading gravel racers in Europe, combining technical skill on loose surfaces with the endurance to dominate long, climbing-heavy events.

Shorter course action produced intense national showdowns. The 85km men’s podium was swept by Portuguese riders: Bruno Silvestre (CACB) won in 2:42:55, followed by Miguel Ramos (2:46:03) and Ruben Calado (2:46:13). The women’s 85km race saw Ireland’s Jenny McCauley of Bray Wheelers take the victory in 3:11:03, with France’s Juliette Landon (3:12:07) and Portugal’s Patricia Rosa (3:12:09) close behind in a tight finish.

“We came here to test ourselves on one of the toughest courses in the series and to secure a ticket to Nannup,” said Lukas Malezsewski, “The climbs never stopped and the technical sections made it a real gravel classic. I’m proud of the team and excited to represent at the world championships next year.”

Qualification stakes were high: riders who finished inside the top 25% of their UCI age and gender category earned automatic entry to the 2026 UCI Gravel World Championships scheduled for next October in Nannup, Australia. Organizers noted strong international participation and praised the Alentejo region for staging a demanding but fair challenge that revealed the depth and versatility of the global gravel scene.

Link to 2025 UCI Alentejo Gravel: https://results.stopandgo.pro/1807