"Community ownership of gravel is upheld by British Gravel Championship organizers, assuring the essence of gravel racing remains untouched"
British Gravel Championships Head to Dalby Forest in 2025
The British Gravel Championships are set to take place in Dalby Forest, North Yorkshire, from September 12-14, 2025. The event will feature a challenging 16 km gravel time trial lap, along with races on gravel tracks through the forest and adjacent moorland.
Dalby Forest, renowned for its high-quality mountain bike trails, will provide an exciting and challenging route for gravel racing. The forest's trails, voted a favourite by UCI MTB riders, offer a mix of forest trails, technical features, and undulating terrain, making it perfect for gravel bikes and riders of all skill levels.
The time trial course is a 16 km loop with approximately 195 meters of climbing. It features a steep, mile-long road climb to the finish, as well as fast-rolling sections and technical parts requiring bike handling skills. The broader event routes will be set within forest trails, offering a mix of climbs, descents, and natural terrain challenges, including forest tracks, gravel surfaces, and some moorland edges.
The massed start race resembles a hillside chalk horse, with each 'leg' representing a descent and then the haul back up. The final two miles of the race are flat and untechnical, except for a moderate wiggle through some singletrack on the final approach.
The choice of Dalby Forest as the venue for the British Gravel Championships was not without its challenges. Due to complex land ownership issues in England, the venue search was difficult. However, Dalby Forest was chosen for its variety, extensive trail network, and event field, making it an ideal location for the championships.
The organiser of the event, Red On Sports, has run the championships independently of British Cycling for the past three years, with Scotland proving easier to find venues for the championships compared to England. The organiser is open to engaging with British Cycling to help them understand gravel and be involved in gravel for the better, but it's up to British Cycling to show added value to gravel if they want to get involved.
The 'spirit of gravel' is a carefree and slightly maverick approach that feels less tied up in red tape than other disciplines. The organiser of the Gralloch, a UCI Gravel World Series event, has no beef with working with cycling's major overseers.
Elite men, women, juniors, and masters will all ride the same 120km race, consisting of four laps of a 30km course with relentless ups and downs. The race will take place on September 14, with strong fields including Connor Swift (Ineos Grenadiers) and Alison Jackson (EF-Oatly) expected to compete.
With its challenging course and scenic location, the 2025 British Gravel Championships in Dalby Forest promise to be an exciting event for gravel racers, testing their skills, speed, and endurance.
Road racing and sports are prominently featured in the 2025 British Gravel Championships, as elite gravel racers from various skill levels will compete in a grueling 120km race through the challenging trails of Dalby Forest. The event, set to take place from September 12-14, 2025, combines a combination of bike handling skills, speed, and endurance, making it a thrilling sports experience for racers and spectators alike.
