2017 Gravel Worlds
A Turning Point, a New Queen, and a Final Loop
2017 Results and Photos
Independent Links and Videos
In 2017, Gravel Worlds entered a new chapter. It was the last year the course would be a true “loop” around Lincoln, tracing counterclockwise through Valparaiso, Malcolm, Denton, Roca, and Bennet, before returning to Fallbrook. It was also the year the event added a shorter “Privateer 75” ride—an option for those not quite ready for the full 150-mile test.
That year would also mark the start of a three-peat for Alison Tetrick, who claimed her first Gravel Worlds crown in dramatic fashion.
Morning Light, Long Roads, and a Bold Move
The day began with a beautiful Nebraska sunrise. Riders rolled out before full daylight, cue sheets in hand, ready to take on another brutal but beloved route. (the “Beautiful Sunrise” blog) The morning was cool and quiet, the air fresh, but nobody expected the calm would last.
The course was about 154 miles, with ~9,000 feet of climbing. On paper, that’s a heavy day—but in Nebraska gravel, the climbs, crosswinds, loose surfaces and mental fatigue all stack up fast. As one participant quipped, the gravel isn’t tire-shredding like Kansas, but it has a way of “lulling you into trouble” if you get complacent.
Early on, riders jostled for position. Around the mid-race zones, several attacks cracked the lead group. According to the Velo (Outside) coverage, Colin Strickland broke away and held it, stopping the clock in 7:18:26—two minutes ahead of Kevin Girkins.
In the women’s side, the contest came down to a two-up sprint between Alison Tetrick and defending champion Kae Takeshita. After a game of attacks and counterattacks, Tetrick edged Takeshita at the line in 8:13:51, capturing her first Gravel Worlds title.
In her own words: "After several mutual searing attacks … we rode to the finish together. With whatever little bit of energy I had left, I barely sprinted past her to victory."
Strickland, meanwhile, later recalled his winning move: about 20 miles from the finish, he launched a final attack, sensed he was going well, and just held the hammer down.
The Privateers, the Mid-Pack, and the Quiet Battles
Not everyone was in for glory. The newly introduced Privateer 75 gave riders who weren’t ready for the full 150 a shot at a taste of the Gravel Worlds experience. The route mirrored parts of the 150, but starting later and finishing earlier. Riders described rolling hills, quiet roads, sunlit fields, and the struggle through the final miles. One wrote how the last 8 miles felt brutal, hills seemed to keep growing—even when they were just rolling. But finishing, even shorter, still brought that emotional payoff: “I teared up a little” crossing the finish.
For many in the main field, the race was a survival game. The sun rose, fatigue set in, gravel shimmered with dust, and wind would occasionally bite. The DirtTan Bike Club called the mental ebb and flow “prayers and thoughts,” especially through later miles when motivation fights with exhaustion.
More Than a Win: A Grounding Moment in Gravel History
Winners:
Male: Colin Strickland 7:18:26
Female: Alison Tetrick 8:13:51
Gravel Worlds 2017 stands out for several reasons:
The last full loop course. After this year, the race format would move away from a pure loop.
A breakthrough champion. Alison Tetrick’s victory would herald dominance—she’d go on to win in 2018 and 2019 as well, making her the only rider to three-peat in GW history.
Elevating the event. With strong finishes, tight competition, and a memorable finish duel, 2017 helped cement Gravel Worlds’ reputation beyond just “another grinder” in Nebraska — it became a marquee title.
