Once, 2025.

I love the course and I love the atmosphere of like minded people. And I want to finish with 5% Body Battery.

Total escape, focus and a lifelong passion for being outdoors.

The start line is really exciting and a chance to meet fellow riders. Look for safe wheels, keep an eye out for hazards and the Loch views are epic.

Go in with a realistic riding time in mind and use the food stations to refuel as well.

Total encouragement and banter!

Loch Ness Etape at the front of Group 1, mile 6.

Yes! The Gralloch was my first ever gravel race which I took on last year.

The route, the terrain, the challenge, the atmosphere, the buzz – it’s just an epic event!

Cycling has introduced me to new places, new friends, and a whole host of adventures from cycling the Tour de France mountains, to bike packing around Europe, to racing gravel!

Raiders Road, I think this was the first point in the race in which I smiled! I was well into race mode, and so I didn’t take in much of the scenery until this point.

Make sure your bike is comfy and you have a good saddle, you’ll be spending lots of time on it. Don’t set off all guns blazing, and take your time on Fuffock Hill, this will be a long day. Keep hydrated, set reminders on your phone or watch to eat and drink and remember to take in all the views you will be treated to.

Smiles, support, encouragement and more. I’ll be there with a friendly face, some much needed banter, cheering you up the next hill, and keeping your motivation high. Oh yeah, I also carry plenty of spare snacks!

Nowhere unusual to be honest, however, on one occasion I got a puncture only to realise that the tube I was carrying wasn’t the right one for the bike I was on. I had 60mm rims on my road bike and only a standard tube! After flagging down a couple of passing riders, no one had a spare tube with a long enough valve and so I started walking towards home (which was around 15 miles away). Luckily only a few meters up the road a lovely lady pulled over in her car to ask if I was ok – she ended up giving me and my bike a lift home. Proof that there are some super kind souls out there willing to help! I offered to give her some money for petrol, which she wouldn’t accept. Lesson learnt – double check you are carrying the right tubes for the bike you are riding!

Only once in 2025, both age group race plus the short sportive.

The atmosphere around the event village.

Being out in the open countryside.

The buzz and mayhem going up the first climb.

Don't take off too quickly and eat regularly.

Encouragement , and ability to deal with mechanical issues.

On the top of Lammermuirs whilst leading a road race, hit a bad cattle grid and punctured whilst it was blowing a hooley and peeing down.

I have ridden The Gralloch 3 times 2023, 2024, 2025

Love the event! It’s such a great course and really well organised, oh and it’s in Scotland!

I love where cycling takes me and who I meet along the way. I love the challenge of it all as well.

The following nature of the course with great descents. The views of the lochs in the second half of the course are great.

Ride your own pace and stay well fuelled and hydrated. When it feels tough look up and enjoy the views.

Share my knowledge of the course.

The Gralloch! Stopped at the side of the track seeing everyone race by me and trying to stay calm.

3 times.

Some of the best riding in the world.

Getting outside.

Look up and not at the ground as there are great views that cannot be missed. The viaduct as its the finish!

Smile, breathe relax and stay loose.

Smiles.

Outback Australia.

Yes I rode the Gralloch race last year.

Amazing course, great organisation, good atmosphere, fantastic event village.

Freedom, fresh air, the ability it gives you to switch off, friends, challenge, seeing new places.

There were some fantastic views but it was all a bit a bit of a blur as I was in full on race suffer mode.

Eat, eat, eat. Steady on the hills. Stop and take photos.

Encouragement, chat and any advice I can give (if it's wanted) oh and I can take some nice photos.

Yorkshire Dales in the snow - snapped chain. Not sure I ever warmed up again!

I've ridden the Gralloch every year so far, including both the race and The Stag sportive last year.

It's such a stunning area to ride in and every year I say how much I'd love to spend some more time riding in such a beautiful area. The Gralloch race is one of the best gravel events on the calendar and one of the few chances women get for a fair race without interference from the men's race.

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Whilst the gravel is glorious, every year we see many riders get punctures out on course. I'd recommend riding a slightly gripper tyre with more thread for protection just to help reduce the odds of ending up stuck.

In terms of views I'd say to keep an eye out for the lake near feed zone 2 where the course is rolling but the views are gorgeous and towards the final feed there's a big climb but it's worth it for the beautiful sights.

I'd recommend carrying plenty of spares and snacks to get you around. Make sure you know how to repair a puncture and adjust things on your bike because I always find the more prepared you are the less likely things are to go wrong!

I'll be out and around course ready to provide good vibes and chats as well as carrying plenty of spares to help with any mechanical issues.

Mid-race at National Gravel Champs. Whilst it was a lovely area its always heart breaking watching a big race go away from you due to a mechanical issue.

I’ve been at every edition of The Gralloch. Raced (more like survived) it for the first two years, and then completed The Stag sportive last year.

A great community event with some of the best riding in the UK.

Getting outdoors with friends and enjoying nature.

Remember to look up and take in the views. If I’m suffering my favourite view will either be the feed stops or the finish.

Spares Spares Spares, it’s a tough course and there can be lot’s of punctures and mechanicals, so make sure you have everything to be self sufficient!

Sarcasm and a big smile. Will stop for anyone who’s having an issue.

About 5 minutes before Xan was about race UCI CX World Cup. Whilst the location wasn’t bad, the timing was not great at all.