Strong Swedish Rides and a Podium Medal at the 2025 Gravel World Championships!

The 2025 UCI Gravel World Championships in the scenic region of southern Limburg delivered a thrilling mix of technical turns, fast roads, and powerful performances — and Team Sweden once again showed impressive consistency across the elite and age group categories.

🔹 Solid Swedish Performances in the Elite Races

On the women’s side, Emilia Fahlin and Hanna Nilsson led the charge for Sweden, finishing 24th and 38th respectively in a stacked field. The race saw a hugely popular home victory from Dutch superstar Lorena Wiebes, who claimed the world title after a dynamic race through the twisting gravel roads.

It was only Emilia’s second-ever gravel race, having made her debut at the Gravel Grit’n Grind in Halmstad earlier this season. Despite that, she rode with poise and strength, crossing the line with a smile.

“I was a bit nervous at the start, but I’m happy with how it went,” said Fahlin after the finish.

Nilsson, meanwhile, drew on her experience from a strong international season — racing alongside Nathalie Eklund, who came in 56th, and Clara Lundmark, who unfortunately suffered a puncture just 20 km from the finish while chasing a top-20 position.

“It felt amazing — I had good legs and was aiming for a top result. But a nail in the tire ended that dream,” said Lundmark.

Women’s Elite Top 3:
🥇 Lorena Wiebes (Netherlands) — 3:58:16
🥈 Marianne Vos (Netherlands) +0:00
🥉 Silvia Persico (Italy) +0:02
🇸🇪 34. Emilia Fahlin +7:20
🇸🇪 38. Hanna Nilsson +7:21
🇸🇪 56. Nathalie Eklund +9:17

🔹 Tough Battle in the Men’s Elite Race

For the men, Michael Tjulander represented Sweden solo in an elite field that included the likes of Thomas Pidcock and Matej Mohoric. After a grueling and highly tactical race, Tjulander finished 56th, just under 11 minutes behind winner Florian Vermeersch of Belgium, who finally claimed gold after two previous silver medals.

“I aimed for a top 20–30, but the course was tougher than expected — full of sharp turns. A small mistake cost me the lead pack, but I’m happy with my effort and the fact I avoided cramps!”
— Michael Tjulander, via Instagram

Men’s Elite Top 3:
🥇 Florian Vermeersch (Belgium) — 4:39:12
🥈 Frits Biesterbos (Netherlands) +0:40
🥉 Matej Mohoric (Slovenia) +1:23
🇸🇪 56. Michael Tjulander +10:58

🔹 Age Group Glory: Mats Carlsson Takes Bronze 🥉

Sweden’s success extended into the age group categories, where Mats Carlsson from Jönköpings CK claimed a bronze medal in the Men’s 65–69 category — finishing just one second behind gold after a dramatic sprint finish.

“It was a tough race with lots of fighting for position, but in the final kilometers I managed to stay in the front and sprint for the bronze. It feels amazing!” said Carlsson.

Meanwhile, Henrik Hegender narrowly missed the podium in the Men’s 60–64 category, finishing 4th, only 35 seconds off the winner.

🔹 Strong Efforts Across All Categories

From the 35+ to 70+ age groups, several Swedish riders put in commendable performances, many finishing within minutes of the winners — proving the depth of Sweden’s gravel racing scene.
Notably, Jessica Clarén, last year’s silver medalist, finished 7th in the Women’s 45–49 group after being pushed off course early in the race.

Despite setbacks, the Swedish squad displayed determination and depth, reflecting the country’s growing reputation in gravel racing — both among the pros and the passionate age groupers.

🇸🇪 A Weekend of Heart, Grit, and Gravel

From Emilia’s steady ride and Hanna’s consistency to Mats Carlsson’s sprint finish heroics, Sweden’s riders once again showcased their resilience and class on the world stage.

With the 2025 Gravel World Championships now complete, Sweden can look back proudly — not just at podium finishes, but at a strong collective showing across all levels of competition.

#TeamSweden #GravelWorlds2025 #NeverStopRiding #CyclingLife