UCI RACE
World-Class Gravel. Scottish Grit.
Gravel racing at full tilt.
Welcome to The Gralloch | UCI Race, a Gravelking UCI Gravel World Series race set in the wild gravel country of southwest Scotland. This is more than a race. It is a test of endurance, skill and nerve across some of the most distinctive terrain in the UK. Riders take on a relentless mix of climbs, fast descents and rugged forest trails, all leading back to the finish in Gatehouse of Fleet.
On this page you'll find what you need for race day: what's included in your entry, rider classifications, start times, feed zones and key course details. Whether you're chasing a podium, racing for qualification, or taking on The Gralloch for the challenge alone, this is where it starts.
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Ride Hard. We’ll Handle the Rest.
What's included
Full race support, from the start pen to the finish line. Here is what comes with your entry.
FESTIVAL EXPERIENCE
The full Gralloch weekend in Gatehouse of Fleet, before and after your race.
FINISHER MEDAL
A medal to mark the race and achievement.
MEDICAL & EMERGENCY SUPPORT
Event Control on standby with full medical and emergency cover.
BAG DROP
Leave your gear at the start. It's waiting when you finish.
FEED ZONES
Three feed zones stocked with water and nutrition, each with a Tech Zone for quick repairs.
MECHANICAL SUPPORT
Expert mechanics in the Event Village to keep your bike race-ready.
TECH BOXES
Tools and spares placed along the course in case of a mechanical.
BIKE WASH
A professional bike wash.
FULLY SIGNPOSTED ROUTES
Every turn marked, so you can focus on the race. GPX files available to download.
111 Kilometres of Relentless, World-Class Gravel
THE ROUTE
The Gralloch route holds nothing back. 111 kilometres and 1,761 metres of climbing, starting and finishing in Garries Park in the heart of Gatehouse of Fleet. More than 80% is gravel.
It runs deep into the Galloway Forest Park, past lochs and through forest, over exposed hillside and along descents that reward control and punish hesitation. Every climb asks a question. Every descent answers it.
ready to take on the gralloch?
Chasing qualification, racing for pride, or riding for the love of gravel: this is the start line to aim for. Riders come from across the world. The course meets them all the same way.
timing & results
All results are recorded with electronic chip timing, with your chip fixed securely to the fork of your bike.
Riders in the same start pen share the same Gun Time start, measured from the moment the start signal sounds until you cross the finish line. All results and UCI qualification standings are based on Gun Time.
The top three riders in each category will be invited to the podium presentations after the race.
CLASSIFICATIONS
All participants race within their age and gender category, or in the Elite category. Your age group is determined by your age on 31 December 2027.
Categories include (with separate Men's and Women's groups for each): Elite, Junior*, 19–34, 35–39, 40–44, 45–49, 50–54, 55–59, 60–64, 65–69, 70–74, 75–79, 80–84, 85–89, and any additional 5-year age group as required.
Each category is identified by a distinct colour on your rider number plate for easy recognition.
*Junior races are not part of the UCI Gravel World Series.
Start Times & Waves
All races begin with a mass start, with riders divided into pens by age and gender category. Each pen sets off separately, with a short gap between starts.
Some smaller categories may be merged and start together. Riders must start from the correct pen for their category. Starting from the wrong pen may result in disqualification.
All start pens are located in the Event Village at Garries Park. To keep racing safe and fair, pens are also split into separate start waves. The first race start is at 9:00 AM, with full timings and wave details confirmed closer to the event.
The Gralloch 2027 will again feature a standalone women's race.
FEED ZONES
The route includes three feed zones, at 29.1km, 61.1km and 87.1km, each stocked to keep you fuelled.
Expect a mix of sports nutrition, energy drink mix, water, bananas and snacks at every stop. Each also has a dedicated Tech Zone with spares, tools and a workstand to sort a mechanical on the spot.
Further detail, including products and layouts, will be shared in the Event Guide ahead of race weekend.
ELITE CATEGORY
The UCI Gravel World Series features an Elite category for men and women, each with its own dedicated start pen.
Riders in this category compete solely for qualification to the Elite race at the UCI Gravel World Championships. Those wishing to qualify through their age group must enter their respective age group race, not the Elite category.
To enter the Elite category, riders must hold a valid race licence bearing a UCI ID number. Your UCI ID must be provided at registration, and your licence will be checked on arrival. Riders who are members of a UCI-registered team must register for the Elite category.
No. If you start in the Elite category and don't qualify there, you can't claim qualification in your age group instead, even if your finish time would place you within the top 25% of your age category.
Yes. Please follow the instructions here.
NO OUTSIDE ASSISTANCE
No outside assistance is permitted. For drinks, nutrition and mechanical issues, riders may not receive help from anyone other than event staff or other riders.
junior race
The Junior Race gives the next generation of gravel riders a chance to take on The Gralloch and race on Scotland's gravel. It's about building skills, confidence and a lasting hold on the sport.
The Junior Race is not part of the UCI Gravel World Series and does not offer World Championship qualification. Junior riders start in their own dedicated pen and race the same course and distance as every other category, with a podium presentation for the top Junior finishers.
To enter, you must be at least 16 years old on the day of the event, and no older than 18 on 31 December 2027.
Your Path to the Championships
european & World Champs Qualification
As part of the UCI Gravel World Series, The Gralloch is an official qualifying event for the UCI Gravel World Championships and the European Gravel Championships.
To qualify, you must place within the top 25% of starters in your age group. Qualification is based on Gun Time: the period from when your age group wave starts until you cross the finish line.
Every rider who qualifies for the World Championships can collect their UCI Gravel World Series medal in the Event Village on race day.
CUT-OFFS
For rider safety and to maintain essential road closures, all participants must clear set sections of the course within set time limits.
A course cut-off will be enforced at 67.9km, which riders must reach by 4:30 PM (time to be confirmed). Riders arriving after this time will be directed onto a shorter route, rejoining the main course at roughly 87.6km.
Any rider affected by the cut-off will still be ranked according to their position at that point.
optional BAG DROP
Make race day simpler with our bag drop service. Leave your bag with us before the start and we'll keep it safe while you're on the course. A change of clothes, extra gear, or post-ride essentials: it will be waiting when you return to the Event Village.
RIDER INSURANCE
All Gralloch participants, whatever their experience, must hold third-party liability insurance to take part. This is a UCI Gravel World Series requirement.
Third-party insurance ensures you and your fellow riders are protected in the event of an accident or crash during the race.
where to stay
There's a wide range of places to stay across southwest Scotland.
For the best value, choose our official event campsite just outside Gatehouse of Fleet, a short walk from the Event Village. It's the simplest way to settle into the Gralloch weekend, with easy access to everything and the Galloway landscape on your doorstep.
If you'd prefer something different, the region has family-run country inns, B&Bs, boutique hotels, eco-lodges, scenic campsites, and even castle stays.
festival
The UCI Race is part of the wider Gralloch Festival, a full weekend of gravel, endurance and community. Riders can settle into the atmosphere before and after the race, with a full schedule at the Event Village in Gatehouse of Fleet.
Panel talks, shakeout rides, food and drink, and an expo of leading brands and local producers. Whether you're preparing for the race or reflecting on it, the festival is where riders meet, swap stories and take in the weekend together.
Medical & Emergency support
Your safety is our priority. Red On Sports holds the highest safety standards across all its events, and The Gralloch is no exception.
A dedicated Event Control team monitors rider progress throughout and coordinates medical or emergency support whenever it's needed. If you need help, you can reach the team at any time by call, text or WhatsApp.
We're here to look out for you, so you can race knowing we've got your back.
Rider & Bike Repatriation
Not every rider will reach the finish, and your safety comes first. If you can no longer continue, make your way to the nearest Pick-up Point on the route and wait there. Do not leave the course or try to find your own way back to Gatehouse of Fleet.
How recovery works: Two minibuses with bike trailers cover the Pick-up Points, and a Sweep Crew van follows the last rider on course. When you reach a Pick-up Point under your own steam, take a seat in the minibus and load your bike onto the trailer.
The minibus won't leave until the Sweep Crew van has passed and offloaded any riders picked up along the way. Once that section is clear, the minibus either moves on to the next Pick-up Point or, if full, returns to Gatehouse of Fleet, avoiding closed roads. Be prepared to wait. Depending on where you are on course and how the day is running, this can take some time.
Bike repatriation: Bikes recovered without their rider are photographed by the Sweep team, the image sent to the Control Room, and the bike taken to the Registration Manager at the Registration Desk in Gatehouse of Fleet. Collect it on your return.
Pick-up Point locations to be confirmed and published closer to the event.
regulations
The Gralloch UCI Race follows the official UCI Gravel World Series regulations, so racing stays fair and safe for every competitor. From equipment rules to rider conduct, you'll find everything on our Regulations page. Review it before race day.
