A four-day international gravel stage race, the Raiders Gravel Galloway, is set to take place in Galloway Forest Park in south-west Scotland in October .
The event features three race stages, with riders exploring the many corners of the Galloway and Southern Ayrshire UNESCO Biosphere and taking in the natural wonders, wildlife and serene outdoors.
What is Raiders Gravel Galloway?
Raiders Gravel Galloway is organised by Golazo Cycling UK. It is a team event with riders competing in teams of two. The inaugural edition will take place from October 7 to 10, 2021. The event village is in Gatehouse of Fleet. See entry details.
Malcolm Smith, Golazo Cycling director, says: “We’re stoked to bring this incredibly unique event to the stunning region around the Galloway Forest Park. Our goal is to create the world’s leading full-service gravel cycling event and to showcase the spectacular wilderness and beauty of the region to a global audience.
“We aim to welcome gravel and outdoor enthusiasts from across the globe to the south of Scotland while inspiring the next generation of cyclists in the region.”
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Canyon Bicycles is one of the partners of the event. Aaron Budd, of Canyon says: “We are very excited to be a partner of this uniquely Scottish gravel event. The format of the event, coupled with the vast landscape in Galloway makes for some exciting racing and riding and we can’t wait to be there this October.”
Raiders Gravel Galloway has been made possible through funding support from the South of Scotland Destination Alliance (SSDA), Dumfries & Galloway Council and South of Scotland Enterprise (SOSE), as well as the support of world renowned brands including Canyon, POC Sports, HIGH5, Bioracer, MucOff and several other event partners.
Hidden gem: Dumfries & Galloway
Dumfries & Galloway hosts a range of cultural and sports events such as the Wigtown Book Festival, Spring Fling Open Artists’ Studios, Dumfries and Galloway Arts Festival, Big Burns Supper, the Scottish Rally and World Championship Ice Hockey tournaments in Dumfries.
The Tour of Britain cycling event has visited the region and hosted more stage starts and finishes than any other venue or destination outside of London.
The area is home to the self-guided cycling tour, the Solway Coast 200, and a number of 7Stanes mountain biking trail centres.
Councillor Adam Wilson, the Council’s Events Champion said: “I warmly welcome Golazo UK’s decision to create the Raiders Gravel Festival in our unspoilt Galloway Forest Park. We have so much for cyclists to explore and enjoy, plus our villages and towns are charming to visit.”