This was the 12 months the place it all coming collectively for Tiffany Cromwell as she headed into the 2024 UCI Gravel World Championships – expertise, type, assist and terrain the place she’s already proved her profitable capability – however there was one factor not on her aspect. Luck.
The Australian, who gained the European Gravel Championships races in opposition to a packed discipline on an identical course final 12 months, had strong high ten ends in the final two editions of the rainbow race. With the terrain in her favour this time there was each purpose to hope that she may chase extra this 12 months, a podium maybe or – within the dream situation – even the rainbow jersey.
When the tv protection began a bunch of favourites was already up the street, although there was one notable exception, Cromwell, who was chasing a few minute behind.
“Sadly for me although with the time misplaced altering wheels and the robust discipline up entrance, regardless of placing in a giant chase with quite a lot of it by myself at first, it turned an unattainable activity to get again to the entrance of the race,” stated Cromwell. “I positively didn’t have the ‘tremendous human’ legs right now that might’ve been required to make it again. However I by no means gave up and pushed all the way in which to the end.”
That push left her crossing the road in Leuven after 134km in thirty sixth place, 11 minutes and 12 seconds after Marianne Vos (Netherlands) added one other rainbow jersey to her in depth assortment.
“I’m tremendous grateful … and possibly I owe her a number of coffees for getting a bit stranded after taking my wheel, however she finally made it again,” stated Cromwell.
