Gravel bike racing has grown in popularity with the enormous rise in gravel biking. There’s a full calendar of rides, with enough prize money and sponsorship available for an elite cadre of pro gravel racers to have developed.
But gravel bike races also focus on inclusivity, so although many will attract a top class field of riders, many of whom are former or current WorldTour pros, you don’t have to be an all-out racer to take part. The most famous races are often oversubscribed and so will allocate places based on a lottery, as is the case with the most prestigious gravel race of all, Unbound Gravel, where starters are limited to 4,000.
Often there’ll be a mass start and one race for all-comers with faster riders gridded further forward and the rest finding their own place. If you’re not after a winning time and want to avoid the mass start there may be a start time window. Cyclists ride as individuals rather than in teams, although riders will often form groups riding at the same pace and taking pulls at the front.
Many gravel races aren’t just about the race, but include ride-outs on the day before and after the race itself and other attractions like expos and pre- and post-ride parties. There’s often the chance to rub shoulders with the star riders.
Gravel race formats
Many races follow a standard cycle race format, with a mass start and riders competing to be the first home, although the number of competitors may be a lot larger than with a road race. Race distances are typically longer than road races, although events usually include shorter courses as well as the main event. There’s usually minimal support out on course, although there will be feed stations at several locations along the route.
Enduro-style gravel races, of which Grinduro (opens in new tab) is the best known, apply the MTB enduro race format to gravel. That means that there are short timed segments over a longer course that is ridden without timing, so you can take as long as you like to reach them. The timed segments usually take in a mix of terrain and uphill and downhill sections, so that there’s a variety of challenges. There’s no compulsion to race the timed segments; you can just take them at normal pace if you want.
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