Alain Prost, Laurent Jalabert, Thomas Bonnet at the start of the 3rd edition of the Wish One gravel Race Millau Grands Causses

Près de 900 coureurs, samedi à 8 h 00, seront alignés pour la 3e édition de la Wish One gravel Race Millau Grands Causses. Loris Von Siebentha

The French round of the Trek UCI Gravel World Series will take place on the weekend of June 15 and 16 in Millau.

Building on the growing success of recent years, the Wish One gravel Race returns this weekend to the Millavois lands for a third edition which promises some great battles between convicts no longer bitumen but trails in the territory.

The French leg of the Trek UCI Gravel World Series launched in 2022 by the Union Cycliste Internationale, the Wish One, named after the brand whose workshops are located on the Cazalous site, will welcome 900 participants in Millau, representing around twenty nationalities.

Among them are a few favourites according to organiser François-Xavier Blanc, who once again sees Toby Perry (winner of the 2023 edition) winning the 145km elite race and its “leg-breaking” course composed like last year of 40% forest paths, 40% gravel roads between fields and 20% paved roads.

“Second in the 2022 edition, Piotr Havik also arrives in good shape, continues the organizer. As for the French chances, I want to talk about our team and Tao Quéméré who will be there to play for the win or Hugo Dréchou who will also have a good card to play."

While among the women, Carolin Schiff, victorious in the Unbound 2023 and the Wish One Gravel Race 2023, and Rosa Kloser, victorious in the Unbound 2024, 15 days ago, are shaping up to be both favorites.

A peloton lined up for the different races of the weekend. The "Elite" Sunday of 145 km and 110 km for the over 50s for women and the over 60s for their male counterparts. And the "Open", "Juniors" and "Cadets" for those who the Sunday courses "might still intimidate" validates the organization.

In short, a nice weekend for the gravel family which will count on the presence of quadruple Formula 1 world champion Alain Prost, back to retain his title won in 2023. And on the more discreet presence of the&amp ;nbsp;totem of French cycling Laurent Jalabert who will debut the Millavine round with friends.

The program

Friday June 14 from 7 to 10 p.m.: Welcome Party open to all! At the foot of the Millau Viaduct, to celebrate the opening of the race and unite the people of Millau, we are organizing a DJ and Drinks evening. Meet at the race village, at Les Cazalous, Av. de Saint-Affrique. Saturday June 15 at 8 a.m.: Start of the 80 km and 40 km races from Domaine de Saint-Estève Sunday June 16: 8 a.m.: Departures of the UCI races 145 km and 101 km from the Domaine de Saint-Estève; 12 p.m. ;nbsp;00-16:00: Race arrivals 8:00 a.m. to Cazalous 4:00 p.m.: UCI prize giving to Cazalous