Everything You Need to Know About Gravel Racing

Gravel represents a movement that has intentionally positioned itself between road bikes and mountain bikes — and in some regions, has even surpassed both disciplines. It's a true success story rooted in controlled speed, boldness, battling the elements, and authentic exploration. The range of formats is vast. From self-supported stage races to high-speed rides along sandy farm roads — gravel races are highly varied both visually and tactically, thanks to their course design and the reduced impact of strong team tactics. From the Black Forest to the Rhine Valley and into the Alps, or across international classics — gravel riding and gravel racing are more than just riding on dirt instead of pavement. They're experiences. 

Gravel has long shed the label of a fleeting trend. The fastest-growing discipline in cycling has, over the past few years, become one of the biggest booms and a powerful force in the bike world. The sport started mainly in the Midwest United States, where a vast network of gravel roads extends beyond paved highways. Road cyclists in that region began covering long distances on these roads — initially out of practicality, and later out of genuine excitement for the blend of freedom, endurance sports, and adventure. From unstructured rides on initially fragile bikes, the first events appeared, and from those came the iconic races of the discipline. The earliest gravel bikes were more like expedition or touring bikes — not race machines. That origin is still evident today: gravel mixes exploration with athletic ambition and remains broad in its formats, routes, and personal goals. Many gravel races are not just a few hours racing on a circuit — they are competitions covering entire regions, countries, and continents, played out over days and weeks.

Gravel races are as diverse as the sport itself. Essentially, it's this: riding a bike with drop handlebars over mixed terrain — from fast gravel roads to forest trails, challenging dirt paths, and short stretches of pavement. Beyond that, there are few rules about the bike or the route. Tire width, drivetrain type, and suspension are unrestricted.* 

Races can be structured as circuits, point-to-point from start to finish, or in unsupported formats where riders navigate freely — similar to an orienteering rally or desert stage races. Perhaps the biggest challenge for both rider and equipment is the constantly changing surface. Road races almost exclusively occur on asphalt; MTB races on technical, narrow off-road trails. Gravel races tend to throw everything at you quickly — from smooth tarmac sections to segments that require dismounting, carrying, and pushing, along with endless straights to neck-breaking descents and steep climbs.

Also typical of gravel racing is the wide variety of formats. There are low-key amateur rides with no official standings, open-entry races covering 50 to 100 kilometers, challenging marathon events with thousands of feet of elevation gain, and ultra-distance formats that can last many hours or multiple days. Some events use time trial modes or well-structured race formats, while others lean toward rally or bikepacking adventure styles where self-sufficiency and navigation are key. Sometimes, the entire field starts together and races flat-out to the finish. 

That openness is exactly what makes gravel so accessible: whether you're a beginner or a seasoned racer, there's a distance, course, and challenge to suit everyone. And often, the lines are deliberately blurred. Between competition, group ride, and shared experience, gravel creates a format that doesn't fit into traditional categories — it redefines cycling altogether.

First things first — you need the right gravel bike. It combines the efficiency of a road bike with the control of a mountain bike. Wider tires up to 65 millimeters, with tread or even knobs, along with stable frame geometry and a slightly more relaxed position than a pure road bike, and wide gear ranges make it possible to cover long distances across varied surfaces. Also key to the rise of gravel: the UCI's approval of hydraulic disc brakes on cyclocross bikes in 2010 accelerated the development of braking technology and laid an important foundation for today's gravel models. Only a handful of riders out there are still using these efficient brake systems.

On longer gravel races especially, comfort plays a major role in determining success. An ergonomic riding position helps you pedal efficiently even after hours in the saddle. A high-quality gravel saddle from the Ergon lineup supports targeted pressure distribution and stability — particularly important over challenging distances with lots of miles and climbing. The constant vibrations and impacts also wear the body down, and a well-balanced saddle that provides both cushioning and support helps maintain performance throughout. The right bar tape plays an equally important role: it reduces fatigue in the hands and arms, improves control on rough gravel, and adds confidence to the riding experience. When your hands get wet, a smart surface like the one on Ergon's gravel bar tape prevents unnecessarily tight gripping. 

If you're riding clipless pedals, ensure your cleats are precisely adjusted. Small tweaks using the right tools — like the Ergon Cleat Tools — can greatly improve power transfer and comfort, especially on long gravel races. Proper foot positioning also supports joint health. Setting up your contact points correctly is crucial for maximizing performance and avoiding pain during demanding courses that can span hundreds or even thousands of kilometers. If you prefer not to invest in a professional bike fitting, you can easily make these adjustments at home — everything you need is included in the Ergon Fitting Box.

The demands on equipment become especially clear at the highest levels of gravel racing. Professional teams intentionally choose components that offer both performance and comfort. A current example is the CANYON × DT SWISS All-Terrain Racing team, which showcases modern gravel and off-road racing with a cross-disciplinary approach — combining different formats, from traditional gravel races to ultra-distance events, with gear specifically matched to each. Ergon is part of this development, supporting the team with ergonomic products designed for long distances, changing terrain, and high loads, thanks to their durability. In an environment where races last many hours or even days and factors like saddle comfort, grip feel, and efficient power transfer are crucial, it becomes evident how much of a difference well-designed contact points can make. For dedicated hobby and amateur riders, this means something slightly different than the gram-counting world of road racing: what works in a pro setup also offers real advantages in everyday gravel riding and your first races.

Gravel is open — and that's exactly what makes it easy to access and exciting to progress through. Very often, pros and amateurs don't just share the same course — they start together in the same field, with riders naturally grouping by ability level.

Germany offers a huge variety of regions for gravel riding. Whether it's the Harz Mountains near Wernigerode, the Eifel, along the Rhine Valley, or in the Allgäu, the mix of gravel roads, forest sections, and different levels of climbing makes each gravel race in Germany unique. Series formats for amateurs like the German Gravel League show how much the scene is growing and how well sporting challenge, camaraderie, and shared experiences go together.

The international scene showcases the full range of the sport — in terms of courses, formats, and landscapes: from classic race setups to extreme unsupported challenges. Events like Unbound or Badlands represent the pure gravel ethos — stripped down to rider, route, and the ability to manage your gear and energy. 

As an amateur, you can qualify for the Gravel World Championships by finishing near the top at one of the series events — specifically, placing either in the top three or within the top 25 percent of your age group.

These three overviews alone show just how diverse gravel racing has become. Anyone who dives into this calendar will quickly find events that fit — whether it's a first race outing, an ambitious challenge, or a major personal adventure.

Watching a gravel race in person differs greatly from standing behind barriers at a traditional road race. The atmosphere feels closer, more open, and much more real. Major events like the 3Rides Festival in Winterberg and Aachen demonstrate how much the scene has evolved: thousands of participants, a large event space, and spectators who can move freely between the expo, the start, and the finish to experience the action up close. You can get much closer to stars like Mathieu van der Poel or Florian Vermeersch — both Gravel World Champions — than you ever could at, say, a Tour de France stage start. 

What makes gravel special is the mix of competition and celebration. Races like Unbound Gravel turn entire towns into gathering spots for the community. A small city like Emporia, Kansas, becomes the focal point of the sport for a weekend, as thousands of riders, fans, and teams from around the world come together and share the same passion. The atmosphere reflects that: laid-back, enthusiastic, global. It's not just about finishing positions — it's about the shared experience. 

Along the course itself, a very distinct dynamic unfolds. Spectators position themselves at key spots — climbs, technical sections, feed zones — and cheer on riders right alongside the gravel roads. In major races, participants consistently mention the incredibly supportive community that boosts every rider, no matter their pace or distance.

At finish areas, that energy heightens: music, commentary, emotion, and exhausted, happy faces. In gravel, finishing means even more than it does in road racing. 

Unlike many traditional road races, gravel isn't just a spectacle for professionals or hobbyists. The transitions feel more seamless. Spectators stand beside ambitious bikers, bikepacking explorers, and beginners finishing their first long-distance ride. That's the true appeal: you're not just an outsider — you're right in the middle of it. Being on the same start line as a World Champion is a rare experience in cycling. 

Anyone who has experienced a major gravel event firsthand quickly sees why this sport is expanding. It's the mix of nature, challenge, community, and camaraderie. Often, that's exactly what inspires someone to hop on a gravel bike and join the sport.

Gravel racing combines what is usually kept separate: performance and experience, nature and competition, adventure and structure. It's not just about the kilometers or the finish position — it's about the entire experience: the course, the scenery, the atmosphere. 

Whether you're debuting in your first gravel races in Germany, tackling the Black Forest, cruising along the Rhine Valley, or aiming for international classics — gravel is whatever you make it. 

If you want to explore further, you'll find additional inspiration in an overview of particularly rewarding routes and regions in our article on the best gravel routes in Germany. It highlights how diverse Germany's landscape truly is and provides concrete ideas for your next gravel ride through gravel roads, mountain panoramas, and remote forest tracks.