Giant Riders Dominate at 2025 Devil’s Cardigan UCI Gravel World Series 

The 2025 Devil’s Cardigan rolled through Tasmania’s wild northeast last weekend, bringing grit, gradient, and gravel to the latest UCI Gravel World Series event. With just 13% paved surfaces and a brutal 2,300m of climbing across 106km—including the legendary “un-named climb of hell” with gradients as steep as 15%, this was a course built for the brave. 

Giant and Cadex rider Brendan Johnston was in a class of his own, conquering the terrain in 3:24:40. The multi-discipline powerhouse, fresh off wins at Gravelista and the national title, gapped 2022 champ Tasman Nankervis by over three minutes. Not far behind, fellow Giant x Shimano rider Scott Bowden secured a well-deserved third place! Coming in just off the podium was team Trappist rider Mark O’Brien finishing fourth on his Giant Revolt. The amazing performance by these three riders added serious weight to Giant’s presence at the sharp end of the field, with three riders in the top four. 

In the women’s race, it was Talia Appleton (Praties) who outlasted the competition, winning in 4:03:00. Tiffany Cromwell (Canyon-SRAM), despite a mid-race flat, powered into second just over four minutes behind Appleton, while the 2022 national gravel, and 6 x Australian champ Holly Harris claimed third.