The Gravel Earth Sequence introduced 25 occasions throughout 15 nations can be a part of a 3rd version for the gathering of competitions, with eight occasions in North America. A brand new scoring system will decide general winners to share in a prize purse boosted to €37,500 in prizes for 3 impartial rankings – elite male, elite feminine and non-binary.
The opening and shutting occasions return to Spain, with La Santa Vall on February 15-16, revised to a two-day stage race, and the finale at Ranxo Gravel which is tentatively set for September 28, however the date continues to be to be confirmed.
The collection added six races in North America together with the Festivus of Gravel and The Vary in western Canada and 4 within the US: the Misplaced & Discovered Bike Trip in California, CORE4 in Iowa, Gravel Worlds in Nebraska and Final Grizzly Gravel in Utah.
Gravel Worlds, which has been round for 16 years and trademarked the identify in 2021, was looking forward to the announcement on Thursday. Jason Strohbehn, lead promoter of Gravel Worlds informed Cyclingnews, “We have truly been speaking to them since their first 12 months. We have not actually carried out any race collection or something like that previously, so we have been a bit of hesitant on doing something.
“We have actually seen the good work that they’ve carried out all over the world, and it was a superb match to affix World Earth Sequence. We all know that they are making an attempt to do one thing completely different that brings lots of people collectively from all over the world.”
The Traka, Migration Gravel Race, The Rift, Ranxo Gravel and a cease on the Nordic Gravel Sequence are again, being 5 of the unique seven races from the 2023 launch. Off the schedule from the North America calendar this 12 months is Ukiah-Mendo Gravel in northern California, a part of the Grasshopper Journey Sequence on April 27.
The gathering of impartial races grew to twenty occasions in 13 nations in 2024, Simen Nordahl Svendsen of Norway edged USA’s Griffin Easter for the boys’s title, whereas Polish rider Karolina Migoń accomplished a stable marketing campaign forward of US riders Sarah Sturm and Morgan Aguirre, who tied for second. Mattia De Marchi and Annabel Fisher have been topped champions within the first 12 months of the collection.
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Factors offered for scores within the Gravel Earth Sequence are distributed from an ‘exponential scoring system’, scaled on the diploma of problem and stage of prominence. First-place finishers can rating 1,000 on the base occasions, and more difficult occasions then supply a rise in both 10% or 20% for factors on supply.
Rankings will probably be decided for elite ladies, elite males and non-binary classes based mostly on a sum of 4 of the best scores of accomplished races on the calendar, with Ranxo Gravel a required race for closing standings. A complete purse of €37,500 will probably be distributed among the many high 10 finishers in every of the three impartial classes, every winner receiving €2,500.
Gravel Earth Sequence organisers stress that the circuit offers occasions with journey choices for not simply the elite athletes, however amateurs as properly, and supply alternatives to discover nice out of doors areas across the globe.
“Every occasion within the circuit will probably be a novel house for gathering and connection for your complete neighborhood. Scenic worth is the first criterion for inclusion within the circuit, with a transparent emphasis on environmental respect and the promotion of sustainable, accountable gravel. This constitution of values has guided the Gravel Earth Sequence from day one and can proceed to be the muse for a 2025 crammed with journey,” a press release learn in a Klassmark press launch.
US enlargement
Strohbehn mentioned a significant factor to just accept a spot within the collection was a dedication by organisers, Klassmark, to protect ‘real’ gravel occasions and promote environmental sustainability. It could additionally elevate Gravel Worlds on the worldwide gravel scene.
“A giant motivator for us, we actually wish to exhibit Nebraska’s magnificence. It actually is gorgeous right here. We’re a really difficult race with over 10,000 toes of climbing in 150 miles. We’re right here to have a good time the quick folks, however undoubtedly there to have a good time the those who are available in final place too,” added Strohbehm.
“We love donating cash and serving to out Nebraska nonprofits. So with our $100,000 that we have dedicated in donations subsequent 12 months, a part of that will probably be offsetting our carbon footprint by donations to Arbor Day Basis.” He famous that Nationwide Arbor Day was based in Nebraska and is a civic vacation in that state.
Gravel Worlds has opened registrations for 2025, as have Festivus of Gravel, Misplaced & Discovered, Rebecca’s Personal Idaho and Oregon Path Gravel Grinder from among the many North American lineup. CORE4 registration opens November 12 and The Final Grizzly registration opens November 15.
The Final Grizzly is a brand new gravel occasion, organised by the identical group which places on Oregon Path. Peter Stetina, who was third general in final 12 months’s Gravel Earth Sequence, mentioned he thought the addition of races in North America was good for the expansion of the self-discipline.
“The Gravel Earth Sequence staff is making a giant push into some American races. They’re nearly like a media firm the place they’ll convey storytelling and curiosity. Their races are gravel-bike centered,” Stetina informed Cyclingnews.
“One of many ones I am actually excited for known as The Final Grizzly. It should be a three-day stage race in northern Utah, which will probably be tremendous cool. So it is campsite, point-to-point racing, a protracted weekend which is extra accessible for fairly just a few folks in late September.”
Michigan’s Barry Roubaix, happening April 12, was anticipated to be included for an inaugural look within the Gravel Earth Sequence, however organisers mentioned there simply wasn’t sufficient time to regulate plans for inclusion.
“We is not going to be part of the GES for the approaching season. We have been invited only a few weeks in the past however our registration opens this Saturday and sells out rapidly,” race Co-Director Matt Acker informed Cyclingnews.” We did not suppose there was sufficient time to get all the things as a way to impression our occasion, and did not need points with riders wishing to take part however lacking the registration if that is sensible. Maybe subsequent 12 months!”
Gravel Earth Sequence calendar 2025
Base occasions
- March 1 Giro Pio (Costa Rica) – 100 miles ‘giant’ MTB route
- June 7 Festivus of Gravel (Thorsby, Alberta, Canada) – 183 ‘the Horrible’
- June 14 Highway to Desolation (Graaff-Reinet, South Africa) – 111 miles
- June 26-29 Brutal Gravel (Terrojo Sachica, Colombia) – 54 miles
- July 19-20 The Vary (Claresholm, Alberta, Canada) – 70 miles
- July 26 Monegros Desert Pageant (Fraga, Spain) – tbd
+10% rating occasions
- February 15-16 Santa Vall (Girona, Spain) – stage race, 127 miles over two days
- March 29 The Hills (Treviso, Italy) – 103 miles
- April 11-13 Ibereólic Gravel Tierra de Campos 360 (Castile and León, Spain) – stage race, 165 miles over three days
- Could 3 The Traka 200 (Girona, Spain) – 124.2 miles
- June 14 Misplaced & Discovered Gravel Pageant (Portola, California) – “Full Bull” 100 miles
- July 6 Gravel Mexico (El Mastranto, Actual de Catorce, Mexico) – 150 miles
- July 12-13 Alpin Gravel Problem (Switzerland) – tbd
- July 19 The Rift (Hvolsvöllur, Iceland) – 124 miles
- August 2 Megre Gravel (Zarasai, Lithuania) – 93 miles
- August 8-10 Gravel Weekend (Tukums, Latvia) – 90 miles
- August 16 CORE4 (Iowa Metropolis, Iowa) – 100 miles
- August 29 Rebecca’s Personal Idaho (Solar Valley, Idaho) – stage race, 200 miles over 4 days
- September 6 Falling Leaves Lahti (Lahti, Finland) – 112 miles
- September 13 Saga Gravel (Paredones, Chile) – 93 miles
- September 20-22 Final Grizzly Gravel (Ogden, Utah) – 270 miles over three days
+20% rating occasions
- Could 2 The Traka 360k (Girona, Spain) – 223.7 miles
- June 17-20 Migration Gravel Race (Kenya) – stage race, 404 miles over 4 days
- June 25-29 Oregon Path Gravel Grinder (Bend, Oregon) – stage race, 350 miles over 5 days
- August 23 Lauf Gravel Worlds (Lincoln, Nebraska) – 150 miles
- September 28 (tbc) Ranxo Gravel (Ponts, Spain) – Gravel Earth Remaining – 100 miles
