Gravel cycling championship brings global audience to tiny town

Thousands of cyclists and spectators have descended upon Nannup, a small town in southern Western Australia, for the 2026 UCI Gravel World Championships. Around 1,000 competitors rode through the Blackwood Valley over the weekend. Local leaders claim the event has put the picturesque town and its surroundings on the global stage, potentially reaching a viewing audience of 130 million people.

Nannup, located about 268 kilometers south of Perth, became the first location outside Europe to host an elite gravel cycling world championship. Shire of Nannup Deputy President Vicki Hansen noted that winning the event took years of effort. The town's hills and forests offer ideal terrain for mountain biking, according to Hansen.

Competitors navigated courses of up to 144 km through the Blackwood Valley. Dutch cyclist Marianne Vos won the elite women's title, followed by Germany's Rose Kloser and the Netherlands' Larisa Hartog. This marks the fifth UCI Gravel World Championships event, with previous competitions held in Italy and Belgium. Wendy Oosterwoud, who traveled from the Netherlands, described it as her first international competition outside Europe.

The event has brought international attention to Nannup, with many competitors unaware of the town's existence prior to the championships. Accommodation was fully booked, and local businesses, like cafe owner Hayley Rubery, experienced a significant boost in revenue.