Gravel Worlds 2025: One Last Dance for The Outliers
The calm before the chaos
After a season that’s taken The Outliers across the world’s toughest gravel races, it all comes down to this - the Gravel World Championships 2025.
Based in the heart of Limburg, the Netherlands, the team have spent the past few days fine-tuning every detail, from bike setup and tyre choice to reconning the key sectors that will define this year’s race.
The sun has been shining and there’s a quiet sense of determination and excitement running through the camp. For many, this is the culmination of a year spent chasing marginal gains, hard-fought results, and the shared pursuit of speed, grit, and glory.
This is the big one. The final race of the season. The last dance.
Meet The Outliers
- Sophie Wright – One of the most versatile riders in the women’s field, Sophie has been on flying form in 2025 with standout results across Dirty Reiver, UCI Suisse, and Gravel Earth Latvia. With European and National Champs podiums to back her up. Certainly one to watch over the weekend.*
- Jenson Young – British Gravel TT Champion and one of the brightest young talents on the circuit. Jenson’s 2025 season includes a statement win at UCI Graean (Wales) and Gravel Earth Latvia, plus top performances at Dirty Reiver and the Gravel Earth Prologue. He lines up this weekend ready to take on the world’s best.
- Metheven Bond – An accomplished UK-based gravel racer with an incredible endurance engine. Joint winner at Dirty Reiver 2025, Grinduro champion, and Dorset Divide fastest time holder, Metheven has made his mark as one of the most consistent and respected riders in the UK gravel scene.
- Ben Thomas – Four-time UK National Champion and a master tactician. Ben combines years of off-road racing experience with the ability to read a race and deliver when it counts. 4th at UCI Gralloch and Dorset Divide fastest time (2025), he’s the dependable backbone of the team and key to their race strategy.
- Harry Tanfield – A former WorldTour pro and Tour of Britain stage winner, Harry’s blend of road power and gravel precision makes him a serious contender on fast, technical courses. With top results including 4th at Gravel Earth Latvia and a podium at the GB National TT, he brings experience, speed, and control to every race.
- **Hayley Simmonds **– Known for her precision and power, Hayley’s background as a national time trial champion gives her an edge on fast, rolling terrain. A strong all-rounder capable of pushing deep into the red, she’s proven herself across multiple international gravel events this season.
The Course
Flat? Not quite. Fast? Definitely.
The Limburg course blends farm tracks, punchy climbs, open crosswind sections and A CASTLE, promising pure chaos from kilometre one.
Positioning will be everything. The narrow gravel lanes leave little room for error, while technical sections demand total focus and control. Every second saved on the straights could make or break a medal run.
Expect fast racing, tactical groups, and a brutal fight for position right from the start.
Women’s Race – Saturday
The women’s race kicks off the weekend on Saturday, with Sophie Wright and Hayley Simmonds representing The Outliers on the world stage.
130km of pure intensity lies ahead — tight technical sections, unpredictable weather, and the kind of relentless racing that defines a World Championship.
Men’s Race – Sunday
Sunday brings the men’s elite race, 180km, where Ben Thomas, Jenson Young, Harry Tanfield, and Metheven Bond will take on the world’s best.
Expect full-gas racing from the gun - a mix of tactical road-style racing and raw off-road power.
Season Finale
As the dust settles on the 2025 gravel season, Gravel Worlds marks both an ending and a beginning.
It’s the culmination of a year that’s seen the team race across continents, climb podiums, and face setbacks with resilience. Each rider has contributed to a standout season that’s put The Outliers and Ribble firmly on the world gravel map.
The road to here has been long but the stories, moments, and grit that got us here are what make it all worth it.
Here’s to the final race of 2025. One last push. One last dance.
Follow the journey
Keep up with live updates and behind-the-scenes from the weekend on and @ribbleoutliers social channels.
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