Tiffany Cromwell started her 2023 gravel season in style, winning the Seven Gravel Race in Nannup, Australia. The CANYON//SRAM Racing overcame a rookie mistake at the start of the race to power after and overtake her rivals. It’s the first gravel race of Tiffany’s season that will continue through to October. 

“From the signposting to the volunteers to the fans on the side of the road, it was an enjoyable and well-organised event,” said Tiffany.

“The course itself was hard—3200m of climbing in 125km with 95-98% gravel roads. A lot of Aussie outback-style red gravel roads that I enjoyed riding. The longest climb was 3-4km long, and it was constantly up and down. That made the legs hurt at the end, but it was a good course.”

“I made it hard on myself by realising I’d forgotten my battery when I was on the start line. I had to start the race, go back to the car and get the battery and then start again. I was on a mission to make amends for my mistake and rode hard for a long time, eventually catching the front women.” 

“It was a race within a race when it’s a mass start. Climbing-wise, I was on a similar level with the top women. Some descents were technical, and I had an advantage there. I could trust my equipment and my skills and really go fast.”

“For once, I fuelled well for the race, something I’m not the best at for the gravel races. I wasn’t lacking any energy despite the continual climbs. After I had a gap on the other women, I spent the last 50km more or less by myself or with some others sporadically and kept trying to push the pedals.” 

“It was nice to come home and race on Australian soil and a good start to the gravel season. I hope for more success in the next weeks.”

Tiffany’s next gravel race will be The Gralloch in Scotland, also part of the UCI gravel world series, before going to Unbound Gravel in the US. 

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