Whether you love riding on the road or on gravel, we’ve selected the best events to challenge yourself, share the experience with friends and enjoy unforgettable days in places rich in discoveries, from landscapes and gastronomy to culture, without forgetting events designed especially for women who ride.
Real West Gravel p/b USWE - USA
Designed as an early-season gravel experience, Real West Gravel takes place on March 15 in Pendleton, Oregon. Easily reached from Boise, Portland and Spokane, it sends riders into Eastern Oregon on wide, fast gravel and big-sky terrain, backed by a welcoming local community. New for 2026, the start moves to the Pendleton Round-Up grounds, one of America’s most iconic rodeos, adding a strong regional identity from the first mile. The course crosses remote, lightly trafficked roads with sweeping, unspoiled views throughout. Multiple loop options let riders tailor distance to their fitness, while the surface stays largely well-packed and rideable. Expect long, flowing sections and a moderate elevation profile, averaging around 15 metres of climbing per kilometre. The result is a balance between challenge and accessibility, preserving the event’s exploratory feel while opening the Oregon Triple Crown Series in style. Riders roll back into town for a laid-back finish, good food and a chance to share stories from the plains.
Sign up here: https://www.mudslingerevents.com/real-west-gravel
UCI Cyprus Gran Fondo – Cyprus
Sign up here: https://ucigranfondoworldseries.com/en/cyprus-gran-fondo/
Mallorca 312 OK Mobility – Spain
Mallorca 312 OK Mobility returns on Saturday, 25 April, with start and finish in Playa de Muro, offering three distance options on the island’s most famous roads: 160 km, 225 km, or the full 312 km. It is one of Europe’s most in-demand sportives, regularly attracting ex-pro riders and thousands of participants. While general entries sell out in minutes, guaranteed entries for 2026 are still available via Sportive Breaks, the event’s official tour operator, with packages built around 4- and 5-star hotels close to the beach and within easy riding distance of the start line.
Stays are half-board, covering breakfast and evening meals, with single, twin, double and family rooms offered. Packages include three or more nights’ accommodation, guided warm-up rides, dedicated on-site staff and mechanical support, plus optional airport transfers and bike rental for arrival and return. It’s a straightforward way to secure a place, simplify logistics and focus on the ride — from coastal flats to mountain climbs.
Sign up here: https://sportivebreaks.com/sportives/mallorca-312/
NOVA Eroica Istria – Croatia
NOVA Eroica Istria is a festival dedicated to gravel cycling that celebrates the connection between sport, nature, and local delicacies, such as truffles. The event takes place on May 1st and 2nd in the charming north-western Istria region, with its base in Novigrad-Cittanova, overlooking the Adriatic Sea. It brings together a competitive spirit and the pleasure of riding, alternating timed sections with non-competitive stretches.
The event allows participants to discover the area along routes that cross white gravel roads, vineyards, and olive groves, also following sections of the historic Parenzana railway. The setting combines cycling culture, local traditions, and gastronomic excellence, offering a complete experience that blends sport and territory.
Three routes are available: the long route of 150 km with 2,000 metres of elevation gain, through hills and historic villages; the intermediate route of 100 km with 1,300 metres of elevation gain, ideal for those seeking a balance between sporting challenge and exploration; and the short route of 60 km with 760 metres of elevation gain, designed to enjoy the landscape at a more relaxed pace.
Sign up here: https://www.eroica.cc/en/events/nova-eroica-istria/
The Gralloch - Scotland
Conceived as a multi-day gravel festival, The Gralloch runs from May 15 to 17 in Gatehouse of Fleet, in Dumfries & Galloway in southern Scotland. Set on the remote roads and trails of the Galloway Forest Park, it mixes high-level racing, adventure and a strong event-village culture. As part of the UCI Gravel World Series, The Gralloch draws an international elite field that can include pro gravel specialists, former WorldTour riders and national champions — yet racing is only one layer of the weekend. The programme also features a new 330 km Ultra and a non-competitive Sportive. Across the weekend the village hosts talks, a curated expo, bike demos, organised shakeout rides, live music, street food, local produce and craft beer. Family-friendly activities and children’s races broaden the atmosphere, making The Gralloch as much about community and celebration as it is about speed. Riders and spectators get a front-row view of wild, unspoilt scenery, with lochs, forests and moorland framing every effort all weekend.
Sign up here: https://www.grallochgravel.com/
Nature is Bike – France
From May 30 to 31, Angers hosts a gravel festival featuring eight routes designed for every level of experience. At the heart of the event is the Event Village at Lac de Maine, offering expo areas, cycling shows, forums, test zones, entertainment and evening parties.
Among the most demanding options is the Bikepacking 300, which combines Saturday’s Défi200 and Sunday’s GRAVEL100 routes (200+100 km) for a total elevation gain of 2,318 metres. The course crosses long forest trails, sandy paths and the vineyards of Saumur, followed by a second day with a smoother profile along the Loire River.
The Bikepacking 170 links Saturday evening’s Festive 70 with Sunday’s Gravel 100, creating a route with fast-rolling tracks, sweeping views over the Loire and quiet woodland paths, totalling 170 km and 1,168 metres of elevation.
Easy/lifestyle rides are also available for accompanying riders and non-competitive cyclists. Beyond the festival weekend, the Angers area offers 10 permanent gravel routes, covering 1,000 km.
Sign up here: www.natureisbike.com
LA REINE - Switzerland – Germany - Spain
LA REINE is a series of road cycling events exclusively for women, built around a distinctive format that blends performance, community, great food and the pleasure of riding. With more than 500 participants per event in Switzerland and Germany, LA REINE is recognised as one of the largest women-only cycling events worldwide. The 2026 calendar features several highlights. LA REINE Gstaad (Switzerland), from June 18 to 20, will run for the first time as a three-day event, including a Mountain Time Trial and a social ride. LA REINE Freiburg – Baden Wine Route (Germany) follows on 25–26 September, set among the vineyards of southern Germany. Routes include Granfondo and Mediofondo options, with classifications limited to timed sections, while the rest of the experience remains non-competitive and community-led. A key new addition is The Women’s Cycling Retreat in Mojácar, Andalusia, from 18 to 25 April: a week dedicated to cycling, shared connection and well-being, inspired by the same DNA as LA REINE events.
Sign up here: https://www.lareine.cc/home25e.html
Dalby Grit - United Kingdom
Dalby Grit takes place from June 19th to 21st in Dalby Forest, inside the North York Moors National Park, and centres on a 110 km gravel race built for high-level competition. After a standout debut in 2025, it returns for a full weekend, establishing itself as England’s only race of this distance on the UK calendar.
Rider feedback praised everything from course design to the brand-supported village, and Dalby Forest proved a perfect venue: true ‘champagne gravel’, multiple racing lines and rolling terrain that keeps the action close. A loop of more than 45 km delivers a proper test without losing flow. Working closely with Forestry England, the 2026 edition expands the experience with clearer categories, podiums, improved rider services and a more structured event village, creating a polished weekend for racers and supporters alike. Between efforts, riders can soak up the moorland scenery, test new kit, and enjoy food and coffee on site before cheering the finish with friends and family.
Sign up here: https://www.dalbygrit.cc/
Chase The Sun - Ireland - Italy - England – Scotland
Chase The Sun is built around a simple idea: riding from coast to coast in a single day, pedaling from sunrise to sunset on the longest day of the year.
Created by founder Olly Moore, the events are designed as an “extraordinary challenge for ordinary cyclists”. Riders can take part individually or as part of a relay team, joining a welcoming international community across four epic coast-to-coast routes.
In Ireland, cyclists set off from Belfast at sunrise and aim to reach Enniscrone on the Wild Atlantic Way by sunset, covering over 340 km in one day. In Italy, the route runs for around 280 km from the Adriatic coast in Emilia-Romagna across the Tuscan hills to the Tyrrhenian Sea. In southern England, riders navigate green countryside over approximately330 km, while in Scotland the journey weaves through forests, lochs, and valleys along a demanding 320 km route.
Each route offers a distinctive landscape and atmosphere, combining endurance and unique scenery. Ride this mid-summer on Saturday 20th June.
Sign up now: www.chasethesun.org
Giro delle Dolomiti – Italy
Hairpin bends, rock faces, castles, and the challenge among iconic peaks: the Giro delle Dolomiti returns to Bolzano from July 13th to 17th for its 49th edition. Five days on the roads of the Dolomites, with the option to take part in individual stages. A unique format: long sections at controlled speed and one uphill time trial per day on closed roads, allowing riders to test themselves safely. The sum of the five times determines a final classification with prizes.
Sign up now: https://www.girodolomiti.com
Granfondo San Gottardo - Switzerland
Granfondo San Gottardo takes place on August 23 in Ambrì, in Switzerland’s Leventina Valley, with a start-finish hub that’s easy to reach by car or train. It’s designed for riders seeking a true alpine challenge on legendary roads. Two routes are offered: the Big Loop, an epic 115 km with 3,250 metres of climbing over the Gotthard (Tremola), Furka and Nufenen passes; and the Small Loop, a shorter but still demanding 52 km with 1,500 metres of elevation gain, including the climb to Ronco. A highlight is the historic Tremola: the original cobbled ramp to the Gotthard Pass, famous for its pavé, hairpins and timeless mountain atmosphere. With big scenery, well-defined courses and a classic Swiss mountain setting, the event delivers a concentrated day of climbing, camaraderie and unforgettable descents. Riders pass alpine lakes and stone villages, then return to Ambrì for a celebratory finish that matches the scale of the climbs and the valley’s warm hospitality.
Sign up here: https://en.granfondosangottardo.com/
Badlands - Spain
Badlands takes place from 27 August to 3 September with start and finish in Granada, southern Spain. It’s a self-supported gravel endurance challenge of roughly 800 km and more than 16,000 metres of elevation gain, crossing some of Europe’s most striking terrain. The route links the deserts of Gorafe and Tabernas with the wild Mediterranean edge of Cabo de Gata, then climbs into the Sierra Nevada, close to the legendary Pico Veleta at 3,396 metres above sea level. More than a race, Badlands is built around a community and environmental ethos, aiming to leave a positive legacy in the areas it traverses. Through Badlands Rewild, the organisers support social and environmental initiatives, while the permanent bikepacking route Badlands Unplugged lets riders experience these landscapes year-round. Expect big horizons, extreme contrasts and a pure, adventurous spirit from the first pedal strokes to the final return to Granada. Navigation, pacing and resilience are part of the challenge.
Sign up here: https://badlands.cc/
Gravellina – Strade Rurali – Italy
Explore an Alpine valley on September 19 and 20: Sondrio hosts Gravellina – Strade Rurali, a non-competitive cycling event celebrating the connection between gravel riding, local traditions and rural culture. The routes wind through historic villages and terraced vineyards that shape the landscape, telling the story of a territory where nature and viticulture have coexisted for centuries.
Gravellina is also a social experience: a community of enthusiasts riding together and sharing moments of conviviality, with local products along the route. Taking place close to harvest time, the event becomes even more evocative, with intense colours and sweeping Alpine views.
Several routes of varying distance and elevation are available, with the option to ride them all through the “Gravellina Weekend” format. Riders follow a mixed surface of gravel and cobblestones, with some singletrack and paved sections. Live music, traditional cuisine, e-bike tours and activities for children complete the programme, offering a chance to discover this authentic corner of the Italian Alps.
Sign up now: https://www.gravellina.com/en/?utm_source=chatgpt.com
ENVE Stone Circle — United Kingdom
ENVE Stone Circle is a midsummer gravel cycling festival set in Salisbury between June 26–28, 2026. Riders choose from three routes rolling through ancient landscapes near Stonehenge, blending fast gravel with chalk climbs.
Off the bike, the ‘Festival Fort’ delivers music, DJs, craft beer, pizza, camping, yoga and family-friendly fun — equal parts ride challenge and cultural celebration.
The three route options include: The Bastard (220km), The Rebel (130km), or The Jester (80km). Each route passes Stonehenge as the solstice sun rises (you might even spot a Druid or two), before you hit the big ring and fly across “hero gravel” on the Imber Ranges and rarely accessible MOD land — opened specially for the event.
Sign up now: https://www.stonecircle.cc/
Valchiavenna Gravel Escape – Italy
The event takes place between May 9 and 10 in Chiavenna, an Alpine village of Roman origin located in a strategic position on the border between Lake Como and Switzerland. It is a non-competitive event open to gravel bikes, mountain bikes and e-bikes. The routes change every year and include distances of approximately 50, 80 or 110 kilometres and the courses are revealed as a surprise three days before the event. Participants ride between Italy and Switzerland, along gravel and secondary roads, to discover the landscape and culture of this border territory, among terraced vineyards, forests, waterfalls and Alpine valleys.
It is an experience designed to discover the natural attractions and savour the local food thanks to the gourmet refreshment points along the route. Those who can extend their stay have the opportunity to ride on the road towards the Splügen Pass, with the summit at 2,100 metres, or choose the Valchiavenna Cycle Path, which has won an award as one of the most beautiful in Italy.
Sign up here: https://gravelescape.it/en/
