I’m restoring a recently rescued 1990 Trek 750, which has turned out to be a rather interesting in that it shares a frame with that years 520 touring bike. More interestingly, though, is that it has geo identical with your average modern gravel bike. It rides spectacularly well on the road with a triple, 35c tires and a flat bar.

A round about answer to the op; today’s gravel bike rides on the road like a 90’s touring bike or a hybrid if you swap bars.