The Ultimate Guide to the 2024 Gravel Racing Season

Visit Velo’s 2025 Gravel Biking Events Calendar here

There is no bike race calendar like a gravel race calendar.

In 2024, there are dozens of dirt road events every weekend, splattered across the country like a tire-spraying sealant. There are events for everyone these days, from those resembling more of a backyard BBQ with a side of bike race to the big bucket list events like Unbound and SBT GRVL (sorry, you’ll have to wait until 2025 for those).

Read also: Velo’s gravel coverage

For this list, we focused on some of the most prestigious events, ones that have either been around since gravel was grassroots and gritty or those that have risen in size and stature rapidly during the gravel gold rush of the past five years. It’s by no means exhaustive but rather a primer for people who either want to participate, follow the burgeoning professional sport, or both.

April

April will see the winners of the Belgian Waffle Ride Tripel Crown after the California event at the end of the month. There are three iconic events before that with Barry Roubaix, Rasputitsa, and the Gorge Gravel Grinder. For those hoping to qualify for the gravel world championships, the Highlands Gravel Classic is the only US stop on the UCI Gravel World Series calendar.

Read all about the Belgian Waffle Rides

May

While the luckiest of riders may find themselves in the European gravel capital of Girona for the Traka on May 1, there are plenty of events stateside in early spring, as well. In particular, the weekend of May 18 is bursting with races in Bentonville, Texas, and Nevada. Women should take particular note of Stetina’s Paydirt: there’s a $10,000 cash purse that’s solely for the ladies.

Gravel Locos GL 150 Mile Route (2023 Edition) on Trailforks.com

June

June kicks off with the Superbowl of gravel, Unbound. Although the Kansas race sells out in the winter through a lottery system, there are plenty of other options for the month. Lost and Found, which has conflicted with Unbound for years, now has its own date on the calendar, and there are two international events of note that still have spaces left.

FNLD GRVL Midnight Sun on Trailforks.com

July

July is a great time to go west, with marquee events in Colorado, Utah, and Montana. But if you’re closer to Indiana or … Iceland, we’ve got you covered there, too!

The Last Best Ride: Big Horn Sheep (Long Course) (2023) on Trailforks.com

August

August is a fairly quiet month on the gravel circuit — back to school and all that jazz — but for some people it’s the peak month of racing. Many of gravel’s biggest stars will be shining at SBT GRVL and Gravel Worlds, while New England’s favorite race, the Overland, will also deliver beautiful backwoods racing. The month closes with a fan favorite event, Rebecca’s Private Idaho, three days of racing in the stunning Sawtooth mountains.

September

September opens with the fights for the stars and stripes at gravel nationals in Nebraska. The current champs? Keegan Swenson and Lauren Stephens.

October

If you’re not tired yet, October offers some great gravel. The Gravel Earth Series concludes in Spain, and the Life Time Grand Prix wraps up in Arkansas. Amateurs are invited to both events!

Grassroots Gravel – The Whole 2023 on Trailforks.com