There are some events that live up to the hype — and then there’s The Gralloch!
Set against the incredible backdrop of the Galloway Forest Park in Gatehouse of Fleet, the UK’s premier gravel festival once again delivered an unforgettable weekend of racing, riding, tech, community and classic Scottish adventure. As part of the UCI Gravel World Series, The Gralloch has become one of the standout events on the gravel calendar, drawing riders from across the UK and beyond to tackle over 100km of fast forestry roads, rough gravel sectors and relentless climbing.
This year, Merlin Cycles was there alongside Ventum, soaking up the atmosphere, talking bikes and supporting riders taking on one of the toughest gravel races in Britain.
Friday Ride-Out with Cycling Royalty
The weekend got off to an incredible start on Friday with a special social ride alongside some huge names in cycling.
We joined none other than Bradley Wiggins, Michael Woods and current UK Gravel Champion Lizzie Hermolle for a relaxed gravel spin around the stunning Scottish trails surrounding Gatehouse of Fleet.
It was one of those moments that perfectly sums up what makes gravel events like The Gralloch so special — world-class athletes riding alongside everyday cyclists, all sharing the same roads, trails and post-ride beer and pizza. There was plenty of chat about bikes, racing, setup choices and the growing gravel scene, with the relaxed atmosphere making it feel more like a ride with friends than a major international cycling weekend.
Gravel, Grit and Galloway
The Gralloch route is famous for its mix of high-speed gravel and punishing terrain. Riders faced over 100km of rough forestry roads, technical sectors and relentless climbing across the forests and trails of south-west Scotland.
One thing that became clear over the weekend? Tyre choice matters.
From conversations in the event village to stories shared at feed stations, punctures and mechanicals were a constant talking point among riders. Plenty of competitors opted for wider tyres and more robust setups to survive the rougher sectors, especially after reports of chunky gravel and fast descents throughout the course.
Ventum Bikes Turning Heads
The Ventum stand was busy all weekend, with riders keen to check out the latest bikes and chat about setups for modern gravel racing.
As the exclusive UK retail partner for Ventum, Merlin Cycles was proud to be on-site helping riders get hands-on with the bikes and answering plenty of questions about geometry, tyre clearance and race-ready builds. Gravel riders are constantly searching for that balance between speed, comfort and capability, and events like The Gralloch are the perfect proving ground. Having the Ventum team over from the USA was also an added bonus!
With gravel racing continuing to evolve, it’s clear that bikes capable of handling aggressive race pace while still delivering all-day comfort are becoming more important than ever.
Racing Success for the Merlin Cycles Rivington Brew Co Race Team
It wasn’t just a big weekend for the event village and social rides either — there was success out on the course too.
A huge congratulations goes to Si Deplitch of the Merlin Cycles Rivington Brew Co Race Team, who put in an outstanding ride to win his age category at The Gralloch. Also congratulations to Andy Oldham, Isac Paddock, Dan Hall and Sean Nicholls from the team who qualified for the UCI Worlds in Australia.
On a course as demanding and competitive as this one, that’s a seriously impressive result. With fast gravel sectors, relentless climbing and technical descents testing riders all day long, consistency and smart pacing were just as important as outright speed.
It was a brilliant performance and a great result for the team at one of the biggest gravel events in the UK calendar.
Sunday Social Spin with QUOC
After the intensity of race day, Sunday brought a slightly more relaxed pace with a chilled social ride alongside the team from QUOC.
It was the perfect way to round off the weekend — good coffee, bacon butties great trails and plenty of tired legs. The ride gave everyone a chance to unwind after a huge few days of racing and expo action, while still making the most of the incredible riding around Galloway Forest Park.
Events like The Gralloch aren’t just about racing; they’re about the community that builds around them. Those quieter social rides often end up being just as memorable as the race itself.
More Than Just a Race
One of the reasons The Gralloch has become so popular is that it’s more than simply a UCI race. The whole weekend has grown into a proper gravel festival, with shakeout rides, camping, live music, food vendors, demos and a packed event village creating an atmosphere that feels welcoming whether you’re racing for a podium or just riding for the experience.
That community feel was everywhere throughout the weekend. Riders swapped stories about tyre pressures, gearing choices and survival strategies while supporters lined the course and expo area. Even after long hours in the saddle, the mood around the finish line stayed positive, with riders celebrating simply getting round one of the UK’s hardest gravel events.
Until Next Year
For Merlin Cycles and Ventum, The Gralloch was an incredible weekend of bikes, racing and community — exactly what gravel cycling is all about.
Massive congratulations to everyone who lined up on the start line, whether you were racing the full UCI route, riding the sportive or simply coming along to enjoy the atmosphere.
Scotland delivered once again. And judging by the stories, smiles and muddy bikes heading home on Sunday evening, we’re already looking forward to next year.
