With all of the drama and mud kicked up by the Dutch nationwide workforce on the 2025 UCI Gravel World Championships every week in the past, it was simple to overlook a major end by US rider Heidi Franz with thirteenth total. She was solely one in every of two riders within the high 15 who weren’t a part of WorldTour or ladies’s ProTeams.
The 30-year-old was the most effective in a 12-rider group who had chased a dozen others, together with 9 representing the orange-clad Netherlands squad, 4 of these Dutch riders within the high 5 in Maastricht, led by Lorena Wiebes, incomes the world title for gravel.
For Franz, it was not simply necessary to symbolize Group USA effectively, however to showcase her abilities as she confronted a rougher street forward within the low season to proceed incomes a dwelling as knowledgeable athlete, on the seek for a sixth workforce in 5 years, as she did not have feeling about Cynisca Biking persevering with subsequent yr.
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“I used to be fairly thrilled with how the day went. These kinds of programs really go well with me fairly effectively on paper – punchy, a positioning battle – simply the technical nature of the pace and the cornering and being centered and simply locked in for 4 hours,” Franz instructed Cyclingnews after a day of reflection about her third journey to UCI Gravel Worlds.
“Saturday was lastly a mirrored image of what I’ve recognized I’ve had that in me for a very long time. That is what I do know I am able to, you realize?
“Going into the race, I did form of really feel like I used to be fairly forgotten as a rider, as an American rider that’s based mostly in Europe and has been preventing like hell to remain related and keep within the sport.
“A number of days earlier than, I used to be like, man, nobody actually is aware of or cares that I am right here. And I I actually wish to put myself on the market and be sure that folks know I am right here. And I am simply actually, actually relieved and blissful that I had the journey that I did, being solely one in every of 4 folks in entrance of me that was not sporting an orange jersey.”
That is her ninth yr as knowledgeable bike owner, having success as an all-rounder on hilly terrain however spreading her time throughout six completely different groups. After 4 years at Rally Biking, she had a tumultuous trio of seasons, 2022-2024, as three of her 4 groups folded.
She landed as a co-leader for Cynisca Biking this yr, however simply three months after signing the three-year-old Continental programme introduced it had began crowdfunding. She predicted it was the top of one other workforce and the beginning of one other job search.
“Having gone by means of numerous completely different journeys to a workforce collapsing, which could be so completely different, I used to be like, ‘I haven’t got feeling about this’,” Franz admitted.
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5 days after Franz accomplished her season at UCI Gravel Worlds, administration for Cynisca Biking introduced that the workforce wouldn’t proceed for 2026, and “take a strategic hiatus” for subsequent yr as they search to relaunch as a ProTeam.
Franz rode this season as a co-leader for Cynisca Biking alongside dash veteran Alexis Magner, who has signed with EF Schooling-Oatly for subsequent yr.
“I’ve received one lead that’s simply taking extra time than anticipated,” Franz stated.
Franz had high 10s this yr on gravel at Santa Vall and Gravel Weekend in Latvia, in addition to going thirteenth at Sea Otter Europe Girona in late September. In 2023, she had her first victory on gravel within the UCI Gravel World Collection Spanish spherical at Hutchison Ranxo, qualifying for Worlds.
Over her profession, she’s gained the GC at Redlands Bicycle Traditional, two GC podiums at Joe Martin Stage Race, in addition to high 10s at Ceratizit Competition Elsy Jacobs and Tour de Gatineau. And she or he’s represented the US at three Street Worlds.
“My favorite competitors is the street for certain, and I feel that is why I proceed to simply form of combat to press on with that. For me, what I really like about racing is the chess sport side of it, and having to be sensible and anticipate what is going on to occur subsequent, and doing that with a workforce.
“Lots of people will say [UCI Gravel Worlds] was only a street race. However I feel, sure, it is a little bit completely different to being a World Championship occasion when individuals are racing for his or her nations. In principle, that was a bit complicated for a couple of folks within the ladies’s race. I simply actually take pleasure in extra of a tactical race, and one which requires extra pondering, and never essentially simply full wattage bombs.
“Being sensible and figuring out tips on how to use your vitality properly, I actually take pleasure in that kind of racing. I am going to discover that extra on the street than in gravel, however that is for enjoyable. Undoubtedly choosing up the gravel bike, it is simply that it is enjoyable. I similar to getting off into the filth.”
Franz now strikes on to make use of her abilities with being sensible to land a contract with a brand new workforce, and proceed racing on the street and on gravel.
Get limitless entry to all of our protection of the 2025 UCI Gravel World Championships and the ultimate rounds of the Life Time Grand Prix – together with breaking information, interviews and evaluation reported by our journalists on the bottom in Limburg and Arkansas because the motion unfolds. Discover out extra.
