The Gralloch 2025 Course Analysis

Essential Race Details

Welcome to our preview of the Gralloch 2025, a premier event in the UCI Gravel World Series. This challenging race spans 111km with 1,761m of climbing through the spectacular gravel trails and hills of Galloway and Southern Ayrshire, Scotland.

As a qualifier for the UCI Gravel World Championships, the event offers riders the chance to earn their spot at the World Championships where winners are awarded the coveted Rainbow jersey.

Here's our analysis of the course for those racing:

• Distance: 111 km

• **Duration:**3-4hrs

• Start Time: from 9:15

• Race Level: UCI Gravel World Series (Qualifier for worlds)

• Event Guide: Manual

• Event information: UCI Gravel World Series

• GPX Download: Download the course file

Race Start Times Schedule

Start A (Opens 08:45 AM)

Start Time	Pen #	Age Group
09:15	1	ELITE MEN
09:20	6	18-34 M
09:23	7	35-39 M
09:26	8	40-44 M
09:29	9	45-49 M

Start B (Opens 09:30 AM)

Start Time	Pen #	Age Group
09:50	2	50-54 M
09:53	3	55-59 M
09:56	10	60-64 M
09:59	11	65-69 M, 70-74 M, 75-79 M, 80-84 M, 85+ M
10:02	12	75-79 F, 80-84 F

Start C (Opens 10:30 AM)

Start Time	Pen #	Age Group
11:00	1	ELITE WOMEN
11:05	2	JUNIOR F, 18-24 F, 25-29 F
11:08	3	30-34 F, 35-39 F
11:11	5	40-44 F, 45-49 F
11:14	6	50-54 F, 55-59 F

Competitors

Link to Start list

Stem Notes

Miles	KM	Notes
0.0	0	START - Neutralized roll-out from Garries Park
0.9	1.4	LEFT TURN - Gravel begins - FIRST CLIMB 1.4km@6% (max 11%)
2.8	4.5	GORDANS CAIRN - 2.5km@6% (max 15%) - steep at end
4.3	7	Rolling gravel - establish group
13.7	22	KENICK HILL - 1.4km@5% (max 8%) - technical surface
14.9	24	Descend into 5km TARMAC
18.0	29	FEED ZONE
18.6	30	RIGHT TURN - short descent int B796 CLIMB - 1.3km@6% (max 12%)
32.3	52	SLAUGHTER HILL - 3.9km@3.5% (max 9%) - CHUNKY GRAVEL
34.8	56	Top - TECHNICAL DESCENT - caution
38.6	62.2	STEEP KICKER - 800m@7.5% (max 12%)
39.1	63	Top - rolling gravel section
47.2	76	TRIPLE BUMP SECTION BEGINS - 11.1km total
54.1	87	End of Triple Bump - TECHNICAL DESCENT - hazardous stones
61.3	98.6	FINAL CLIMB - 1.4km on ROAD
65.9	106	Enter TECHNICAL APPROACH to town
67.1	108	Position for final right-hander
68.4	110	FINISH

Previous Editions Insights

• Starting climbs critical for forming key race groups - front group always contains the eventual winner

• Typical winning time: approximately 3 hours

• 2024 results provided below

Males

Females

Course Breakdown

The 2025 edition features a total distance of 111km with 1,761m of elevation gain:

• 80% off-road gravel terrain (over 88km of gravel)

• 20% paved road sections (primarily at start/finish and connecting segments)

• 3 feed zones located at 29.1km, 61.1km, and 87.1km

• Cut-off point at 67.9km (must reach by 4:15PM)

Key Strategic Points:

• Opening climb: Critical first 6.5km ascent (Fuffock Hill) - 5.6% average with max 18.6% sections - positioning here determines race groups

• Kenick Hill (around 10km mark): 3% gradient over 3km with challenging surface - requires careful line selection

• Slaughter Hill (mid-race): One of the toughest challenges with chunky gravel

• 68-87km section: No flat terrain with continuous short, sharp ascents

• Loch Grannoch (around 88km): precedes the most technically challenging descent

• 91-95km descent: Most demanding downhill - 150m drop over 4km on chunky, loose gravel with potential race-ending hazards

• Final 13km: Paved section with technical corners - positioning for the tight right-hander before the finish line is crucial

Section-by-Section Analysis

The Start (0-30km)

The start is a critical part of the race for getting in the early group. Generally, the deciding groups are established by the end of the first 10km. A strong warm-up and willingness to go deep early will pay off well. After this initial effort, there's a chance to settle in.

First 2.5km

Start (0-3km): Neutralized roll-out from Garries Park in Gatehouse of Fleet, 1.4km before turning left onto gravel to start the first climb:

• 1.4km long

• 6% average (max 11%)

• 80m elevation gain

• KOM: 3:32

• QOM: 4:09

• Strava segment

Fuffock Hill (4.5-7km):

Riders move directly into Gordans Cairn Climb, where the gravel is firm for power delivery:

• 2.5km Long

• 6% average (max 15%) -> gets steep towards the end

• 150m elevation gain

• KOM: 6:30

• QOM: 8:10

• Strava segment

Rolling gravel (7-22km):

Continuous rolling terrain on gravel surfaces.

Kenick Hill (22-24km):

More technical surface requiring careful line choice, so a good position entering this section will help. Descends into a 5km tarmac section, creating an opportunity to split on the hill and descent, potentially allowing gaps to grow on the tarmac section.

• 1.4km long

• 5% average (8% max)

• 78m elevation gain

• KOM: 3:57

• QOM: 4:42

• Strava segment

Rolling Gravel Racing (30-76km)

• After the tarmac section, riders take a right into a short descent followed by a climb. This comes right after the feed zone when riders might be vulnerable.

B796 Climb (30.7-32km):

Immediately after turning off the tarmac:

• 1.3km long

• 6% average (12% max)

• 85m elevation gain

• KOM: 2:42

• QOM: 3:44

• Strava segment

A rolling 17km section follows, taking riders to 46.5km before the next challenging section containing two climbs.

Stroan Loch North climb(s) (46.7-49.4km):

• Hill with a respite in the middle

• Second part is harder, the second part stats are:

  • 800m long

  • 6.5% average (maximum 10%)

  • 51m elevation gain

  • Strava segment

Slaughter Hill (around 52-56km):

Hard climb with chunky gravel followed by technical descent:

• 3.9km long

• 3.5% average (9% max)

• 150m elevation gain

• KOM: 8:14

• QOM: 10:47

• Strava segment

After the descent from Slaughter Hill, there's 4km to the next challenging hill.

Kicker at 63km.

• Hill starts gradually at 61km but has a difficult last 800m where the real punch is

• 800m long

• 7.5% average (max 12%)

Rolling gravel for 12km follows, taking riders to 76.2km just before the Triple Bump section.

The Finale (76-110km)

With 34km to go, riders face another critical part of the race: three grippy hills followed by no respite over the top, one last hill to potentially attack, and then the run-in to the finish.

Triple Bump section (76-87km): 11.1km:

• Nothing super steep - just wearing on the riders

• 250m elevation gain

• KOM: 20min

• QOM: 25min

• Strava segment

Technical section with challenging descent with hazardous stones, providing opportunities for gaps to establish after the Triple Bumps section.

Final Climb (98.6km)

Riders are blessed with road surface on the final climb:

• 1.4km long

• KOM: 2:06

• QOM: 3:19

• Strava segment

Road Section (98.6-106km)

Followed by fast descent with sweeping corners.

Final 5km

Technical approach to town with critical positioning needed for the final right-hander before the finish line.

Weather Outlook

Forecast preserved from the original 2025 race preview; not a current forecast.

Good news for riders and spectators alike - ideal racing conditions are forecasted with nothing significant to worry about.