Epic Battle in the Mud: Top 15 for Daan and Aaron in The Hills

Last Saturday, the Italian gravel classic The Hills took place in Veneto, delivering an unforgettable and mud-soaked edition. Riders were barely recognizable under layers of dirt as they battled the elements. Daan finished in a fantastic 7th place, with Aaron following in an impressive 15th. Unfortunately, Nicole and Violette had a tougher day on the course.

This marked the first Italian round of the Gravel Earth Series, an event spearheaded by accomplished gravel rider Mattia de Marchi. Set against the breathtaking backdrop of the Prosecco Hills—an area recognized as a UNESCO World Heritage site—the race became a true test of endurance in brutal conditions.

Photo: GravelEarth – The Hills

After Turnhout Gravel last week, Daan had hoped for a race with less raw speed and more technical challenges. His wish was granted, and the Belgian rider thrived in Veneto. For much of the race, he was in contention for a podium spot, but in the final stretch, he couldn’t maintain the pace and had to settle for 7th place.

Not far behind, Aaron fought his way to his best result of the season. Riding among elite names like Thomas De Gendt and Ramon Sinkeldam, he powered through to secure 15th place. Only in the last two kilometers did he have to concede his position to the group.

Bad luck for our women

Sadly, Nicole ran into bad luck. A crash early on forced her to straighten her handlebars, and the thick mud soon made shifting gears a challenge. When she was later taken down by a lapped age-group rider, she was forced to abandon the race due to back pain. Violette also faced setbacks—sand in her eyes caused her to veer off the course, ultimately leading to her withdrawal. Despite this, she remained positive: “The moment I was riding, I enjoyed every second,” she said.

Next week, the action continues in Austria with the Wörthersee Gravel, a round of the UCI Gravel World Series.