UWTSD Leader to Represent GB at Gravel Cycling World Championships
Gareth Evans, Head of the Construction Wales Innovation Centre (CWIC) at the University of Wales Trinity Saint David (UWTSD), will represent Team GB at the prestigious 2025 Bolero UCI Gravel World Championships in Zuid-Limburg, the Netherlands, next week.
Gareth, who lives in Carmarthen, will compete in the 35–39 age-group category at the flagship event for gravel cycling – a discipline that combines the speed and strategy of road racing with the technical skill of off-road riding. His selection to represent Great Britain recognises not only his sporting achievement but also reflects the growing profile of gravel cycling as one of the most demanding and dynamic areas of the sport.
Securing a place to represent GB is no small feat. Only the top 20% of riders in each age group at official UCI Gravel World Series races qualify. Across the season, 20–25 events are held worldwide, each attracting international fields of elite and amateur riders all chasing limited qualification places.
Gareth qualified at two separate events this season: The Gralloch in Scotland, regarded as one of the most competitive and prestigious World Series races, and Graean Cymru, the only UCI Gravel World Series race held in Wales, featuring the challenging climbs and technical sections around Llyn Brenig and Clocaenog Forest.
Reflecting on his achievement, Gareth said:
“To hit the qualification mark at both events shows real consistency, racing not just against local competition but also against top international riders.
“In 2024, the elite winners were Mathieu van der Poel (Men’s) and Marianne Vos (Women’s) – two of the greatest names in cycling. To line up in the same event as riders of that calibre is a huge privilege.”
Now in its fourth edition, the UCI Gravel World Championships have quickly established themselves as a major fixture in the global cycling calendar. The 2025 event will take place on 11 and 12 October on the rugged, punchy terrain of Zuid-Limburg, a region of the Netherlands known for its steep climbs and technical gravel sections. Riders will battle across a mix of tarmac, hard-packed gravel, forest tracks, and sharp ascents, with both elite and age-group races run side by side in a fiercely competitive format.
Gareth highlighted that his preparation combines long endurance rides, high-intensity interval sessions, and structured strength and conditioning. He credits his professional role at UWTSD with shaping his systematic approach to performance:
“In my role at CWIC, I lead on innovation, engagement, and skills development. I’ve been able to transfer the same principles: data-driven feedback, continuous improvement, and performance measurement – directly into my training. Every block of work becomes part of a bigger system of testing, learning, and refining.”
Gareth brings with him a strong background in international performance development. From 2015 to 2019 he was the WorldSkills UK Expert for Carpentry; coaching and mentoring Team UK competitors for global WorldSkills competitions.
“That experience taught me the value of precision, mindset, and preparation under pressure,” Gareth explains. “Those lessons I now carry directly into my own competition.”
Alongside his sport, Gareth balances a busy family and professional life.
“Much of my career has always centred on teaching and helping people and industries to adapt, improve, and perform under pressure. That crossover really shapes me as an athlete too. I apply the same approach of building systems, measuring progress, and driving innovation into my own preparation and performance.
“Just as importantly, I want to inspire others – whether students, colleagues, or fellow competitors to push towards excellence and realise their potential. Cycling gives me a platform, showing that with determination, creativity, and discipline, it is possible to balance work, life, and performance at a high level.”
Dr Mark Cocks, Dean of UWTSD’s Wales Institute of Science and Art, added: “We’re incredibly proud of Gareth’s achievement and thrilled to see him representing Team GB in the World Championships. His dedication and commitment to his profession and sporting pursuits are inspirational. We wish him all the best in the competition.”
