In a thrilling display of grit and endurance, Petr Vakoc and Nele Johanna Laing emerged victorious in the elite categories at the UCI Hegau Gravel Festival on July 5. The demanding 104‑kilometre course in the hills above Singen, Germany, featured over 2,100 metres of climbing and offered a stern test for gravel specialists.

Vakoc, riding for Factor Racing, clinched the men's title in 3 hours, 9 minutes and 29 seconds—edging out Simon Pellaud of Li Ning Star by a mere two seconds. Jordy Bouts completed the podium, trailing the winner by nearly two minutes. Vakoc's win underscores his remarkable comeback from a career-threatening collision and his evolution into a force in gravel racing.

In the women's race, Nele Johanna Laing of Canyon x DT Swiss All‑Terrain Racing rode solo to victory in 3 hours, 37 minutes and 1 second. Her teammate Larissa Hartog finished just four seconds behind, delivering a one‑two result for Canyon. Malou Eisen, representing VolkerWessels Women’s Pro Cycling Team, completed the podium, over three and a half minutes back.

Both champions secured one of the precious qualifying spots for the 2026 UCI Gravel World Championships in Nannup, Australia—as the top 25 percent of finishers in each age group earned entry to that pinnacle event.

Vakoc’s win is particularly significant. A former road specialist with victories in races like Brabantse Pijl and a stage of the Tour de Pologne, he transitioned to gravel and mountain biking after surviving a near‑fatal crash. His progression—third in Hegau in 2024 and now champion in 2026—highlights the depth of his resilience and adaptation to off‑road racing.