The Road to Worlds (Figuratively Speaking)

The Gravel World Championships still feel like a dot on the horizon — that ultimate goal out there. But the road toward it — the figurative one — might matter just as much. Not just the training miles, but everything that comes with it: gear choices, perseverance, and the inevitable bumps along the way.

From Steel to Carbon

Back in 2023, I qualified and raced the Gravel World Championships in Italy on my Rodeo Labs Flaanimal 5, a steel all-rounder built for adventure. But two years later, the game has changed. During the 2024 qualifier in Valkenburg, it hit me hard: my beloved steel Flaanimal just couldn’t hang with the pack anymore. Too heavy on the climbs, too sluggish out of corners. Perfect for bikepacking — not for a World Championship race.

I didn’t make the cut that year. That’s when I knew: if I wanted to take a real step forward, something had to change.

So I picked up the phone and called Stephen at Rodeo Labs.

“Can you help me out?” I asked.

His reply was short and sharp: “I’ve got a carbon frame for you.”

That frame was the TrailDonkey 4.2.

The Bumps Along the Way

When the frame finally arrived, the real journey began — a long puzzle filled with small frustrations. It showed up too late for the Austria qualifier, where I borrowed a cyclocross bike and still managed to finish 8th in my age group.

Then came the scavenger hunt for parts. The front derailleur hanger was missing. “No problem,” I thought — “they’ll send it later.”

They did, but DPD somehow lost it in transit.

Stephen sent another one, and thankfully, that one made it.

And that’s the thing about this journey: it’s never a straight road. It takes patience, improvisation, and a bit of blind faith that it’ll all come together in the end. The frame was standing in my living room by March ‘25 — but the bike wasn’t truly race-ready until September, just four weeks before the Gravel Worlds in Limburg.

The First Real Test

After all those months of wrenching, waiting, and cursing couriers, the moment of truth came at the Dutch Gravel Nationals. And wow — the Donkey 4.2 did not disappoint.

Sharp handling, smooth power transfer, and that sweet combo: Shimano Ultegra Di2 2×12 with ERE Tenaci carbon wheels. At just 8.8 kg, the bike flies.

After a hectic start, I found myself in the top 20. Things were looking good — until a short climb shattered the front group, and I got caught on the wrong side of the split. A few kilometers later, my bottle cage rattled loose and my handlebar slipped a few degrees after a nasty pothole. I took it as a sign: today wasn’t about results. It was about testing the setup and saving my sore knee.

I rolled to the finish full of confidence for Worlds.

A Tough Blow

Of course, it would’ve been too good to be true if everything went smoothly.

The Wednesday before Worlds, the official start list dropped. I checked for my name — nothing.

Shit. Panic.

I reached out to the KNWU and the UCI immediately. Their reply came fast: “Did you register?”

Wait, what?

The deadline… two days ago.

Damn.

It still blows my mind that finishing 8th in a qualifier doesn’t automatically get you on the list. But rules are rules, and the UCI was clear: “You can’t start.”

I tried to argue — I’m a master rider, not elite — but they didn’t care.

I won’t lie: that stung for a few days.

But maybe that’s just how it goes. Maybe it wasn’t meant to be that easy.

Because qualifying for a World Championship — and actually making it there — rarely comes without a few setbacks.

Now I’ll have to wait another year. Or two. Next year, the Gravel Worlds are all the way Down Under.

The Ride Lives On

What remains are the compliments and curious looks when I roll up on the Donkey.

People keep asking me how it rides — and honestly, this bike only wants to go one direction: forward.

It’s fast, fun, and full of personality.

Where the Flaanimal was made for adventure, the TrailDonkey is built to race.

Mark my words: I’ll be back.

Epilogue

This whole journey reminded me that the road to Worlds — the figurative one — is just as important as the race itself.

Because in the end, the bike isn’t just a bike.

It’s a symbol of perseverance, teamwork, and trust.

And maybe that’s the real kind of preparation it takes to reach a World Championship.

Photo: Robert Espigares

Photo: Katinka de Boer