Tiffany Cromwell finishes sixth at inaugural UCI Gravel World Championships

Tiffany Cromwell has finished with a top 10 placing at the first ever UCI Gravel World Championships in Italy.

The women’s gravel world championships started in Vicenza, was 140km in length and featured more than 40 starters.

Pauline Ferrand Prevot landed the inaugural title in a sprint finish.

It would be the French womans fourth world championships title in 2022 after claiming the cross-country, short track cross-country and marathon cross-country MTB rainbows.

Tracing the rivers Bacchiglione and Brenta along bike paths for much of the parcours, a large group of 20 riders broke away early. It wasn't until an hour's of racing had passed, however, that a race-defining lead group of five riders splintered from the original breakaway.

Cromwell said it was a fun event to be a part of as she gave every chance.

"A very different gravel race compared to others that I’ve done so far. You needed the complete package here, to be strong, skilful and tactically smart.

"I raced better than expected, as I’m missing a bit of race speed right now. But unfortunately wasn’t quite able to make that race winning move when it went.

"I ended up in a chase group of three for the last 30km and we were closing in on the lead 4 and could see them just up the road. But couldn’t quite get there before the finish to contest for the rainbows.

"Excited and motivated to see how the UCI gravel scene develops and put a bigger focus on the gravel worlds next year."

Darcie Richards was the next best placed Australian in 30th.

You can find the elite women results here.

It was also a stacked men's field with riders from a variety of disciplines.

It would be Belgium's Gianni Vermeersch who would claim the men's title.

Two Australian's would feature in the top 20.

Nathan Hass would record a 16th place finish with Lachlan Morton two spots further back after 194km in the saddle.

You can find all the elite men results here.