The sixth stage of the season (the third in this calendar year) of the UCI Gravel World Series, a circuit that last weekend in South America hosted the Gravel Brazil, bore the signature of Ana Luisa Panini and Henrique Avancini.

Both crossed the finish line in Camboriú solo with a wide margin, proving to be the protagonists of two absolutely remarkable elite performances, driven by their home crowd.

Among the women, the thirty-seven-year-old ACPH Komprao rider forcefully claimed first place by attacking after 58 of the 115 kilometers scheduled, an action that allowed her to complete the race in 4 hours 25 minutes and 10 seconds with a gap of 3'16" over her compatriot Ana Paula Finco and 6'38" over British rider Madeleine Nutt.

The script among the men was not much different, with Avancini, who joined Localiza Meoo-Swift this year after defending the cause of Slovenian Factor Racing in 2025, demolishing the competition by breaking away after just 20 kilometers and triumphing (in 3 hours 27 minutes and 21 seconds) with a monstrous advantage of 12'12" over Argentine Joaquin Plomer Vilotta and 17'53" over Vitor Eduardo dos Santos Prado Correa Pompeu.

In doing so, Avancini, recently engaged on the road at the Tour du Rwanda where he achieved three top-ten finishes and took 8th place overall at 4'33" from winner Kretschy, secured victory with the largest margin in the history of the UCI Gravel World Series, snatching the record directly from the hands of Wout van Aert, who three years ago won the Houffa Gravel with 9 minutes over second place.

"I was surprised by the time I recorded, but I'm happy to have won here in Camboriú and in my country" said the thirty-year-old Rio native after crossing the finish line.

"It was an extremely difficult race, made very challenging by the high temperatures. Last week I competed at the Tour du Rwanda, and I didn't know how my body would respond" explained Avancini, who clearly emerged with important confirmations about his excellent form.

"I will do one or two more UCI Gravel World Series races and then, having already secured my place at the World Championships in Australia in October, I'll be able to prepare more calmly for the upcoming events".

Photo credit: UCI Gravel World Series