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
| 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 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 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 |
Link to Start list
| 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 |
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
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)
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
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.
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
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
Continuous rolling terrain on gravel surfaces.
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
Immediately after turning off the tarmac:
1.3km long
6% average (12% max)
85m elevation gain
KOM: 2:42
QOM: 3:44
A rolling 17km section follows, taking riders to 46.5km before the next challenging section containing two climbs.
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
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
After the descent from Slaughter Hill, there's 4km to the next challenging hill.
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.
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.
Nothing super steep - just wearing on the riders
250m elevation gain
KOM: 20min
QOM: 25min
Technical section with challenging descent with hazardous stones, providing opportunities for gaps to establish after the Triple Bumps section.
Riders are blessed with road surface on the final climb:
1.4km long
KOM: 2:06
QOM: 3:19
Followed by fast descent with sweeping corners.
Technical approach to town with critical positioning needed for the final right-hander before the finish line.
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.
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