Distribution problems that have plagued the bicycle industry since the Coronavirus pandemic have also affected the number of participants in the first Serenissima Gravel, the first gravel race designed specifically for professional riders.

The race was designed as part of Filippo Pozzato's "Ride the Dreamland" series of events in Veneto this week, but not all teams participating in the Giro del Veneto and Sunday's Veneto Classic will race here. Of the WorldTour teams, only Astana, Cofidis, Intermarque Wanty-Gobert Materio, and Koubeka Next Hash will be on the start line at Jesolo on Friday morning.

"The racers are happy to race, but some teams don't have the material this time of year," Pozzato said Thursday morning as he scouted the final portion of the course. Pozzato was scouting the final portion of the course Thursday morning."

The availability of equipment was not the only problem in assembling the start list. One of the peloton's stars and his bike sponsor were eager to participate in the Serenissima Gravel, but his trade team, which would lose both its star rider and bike supplier in 2022, rejected the idea.

Meanwhile, for Androni Seidelmöck, the problem is finding enough riders to fill out the roster, especially with valuable UCI points up for grabs in Sunday's 1.1 Veneto Classic. Gianni Savio told Cyclingnews, "With eight riders injured, we can't take any risks before Sunday's race."

In any case, the Serenissima Classic is, by Pozzato's own admission, experimental, and given the narrowness and technical nature of the circuit, it is perhaps not surprising that the pioneering peloton consists of only 34 riders. In any case, this event will help gauge the likelihood of pros participating in such events in the future. The timing is also appropriate given the recent decision that the UCI-sanctioned gravel racing series and world championships will be held in 2022.

This development inevitably leads to a certain essential debate over the nature of gravel racing. Lengthy, unsupported, and inclusive pro-am events are the norm in this discipline, which appears to have developed as an antidote to road racing.

In contrast, the Serenissima Gravel is exclusively for professionals and is only 132 km long, with three laps of an 11 km finishing circuit.

Some consider such an event to go against the "spirit" of the still nascent discipline, where the journey is at least as important as the result. Nathan Haas, who will run from Cofidis on Friday, takes a more nuanced view.

"In the long run, I don't think the style of gravel will change. But right now, gravel is a space without rules, and it's evolving.

"Unbound is not affected by the UCI World Championships, and the UCI World Championships in gravel are not affected by this pro race. We are lucky to have more days to ride our bikes, race, and smile.

"The gravel community thinks it's against the spirit of gravel. But I see the sport in a completely different light. For example, the Bay Crit, held in January in Australia, is not designed like the Tour de France, but it is an important part of Australian cycling culture and cycling history.

Gravel racing is becoming increasingly popular among pro riders eager for a break from the rigors and pressures of the World Tour, but the willingness of riders to incorporate multiple gravel events in a typical season is probably limited. Marc Hirschi believes that gravel racing is best saved for special occasions.

Hirschi's UAE Team Emirates team did not race on Friday and expressed enthusiasm for the Serenissima Gravel as a standalone event, but was skeptical about adding gravel to existing road races. It is growing, and in recent years has already added dirt sections to Ghent-Wevelgem, Paris-Tour, and the Tour de France.

"I think it makes the race more interesting, but if it happens too often, it loses a little of its charm," Hirschi told Cycling News.

"I think a race like Strade Bianche or a Giro stage would be nice, but if it's done too often, it loses a little bit of what makes it special."

The Serenissima Gravel takes place over 132.1 km from Lido di Jesolo to Piazzolla sul Brenta, about 100 km of which is gravel and dirt; there are eight different sectors, the final sector is 11.1 km around the Palladian-style Villa Contarini circuit, which takes place three times.

Early in the race, the 34 Gruppo will race along the Venetian lagoon, before taking the Treviso Ostiria greenway and then the dirt roads of the Sile Regional Natural Park. Unlike the Strade Bianche, there are few climbs, but the gravel course is winding and rocky. The narrow track, especially on the finish circuit, can cause surprises. Says Pozzato: "This is more technical than Strade Bianche."

Meanwhile, the most familiar names in the peloton are the World Tour riders. Astana features Alexey Lutsenko, Fabio Ferrone, and Davide Martinelli. Cofidis will have Nathan Haas along with Fernando Barcelo. Giro stage winner Taco van der Hoorn will compete in the Intermarque Wanty with Boy van Poppel.

Italian mountain bike coach Mirko Celestino will manage the Italian selection, consisting of Luca Braidot and Jakob Dorigoni, who have cyclo-cross and mountain bike experience, while Bardiani-CSF will have Samuele Zoccarato is lined up.

It is anyone's guess who will pick the winners from the pioneers in such a novel event. Perhaps, in the spirit of gravel racing, the journey is more important than the result. Regardless of the outcome, this attempt will be noteworthy.

"I think it's great that people like Pozzato are putting on events, exploring the space of gravel, and trying to find what it means most to amateurs, professionals, and the cycling industry as a whole," Haas said. Gravel is a huge growing space, and without bike companies, there would be no professional cycling."

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