THE WORLD'S GREATEST GRAVEL EVENTS

Globe-trotting gravel racer Joe Laverick chooses his eight favourite events, from coastal Wales to the wilds of Kenya

- Joe Laverick

Gravel has become the darling of cycling surfaces, growing fast in popularity across the world. Everywhere you look it seems, there's a new event or bit of tech dedicated to the discipline. It's the lure of riding on the path less travelled, the ultimate freedom. Gravel events are more than just bike rides, and they're even bigger abroad, especially in the USA, where they're more akin to festivals - expect live music, food trucks and an all-round good time.

Having plied my trade as a road racer until last year, I diversified and took on the gravel world, creating a calendar that has taken me to some of the biggest and best races in both Europe and North America. There's a certain beauty to gravel. You can race on the same day and at the same time as the world's best. The events are set up for amateurs primarily, from the aid stations to the live music to the free nutrition. It's the ultimate cycling adventure, and you will not regret signing up for one. The events listed below are my personal favourites. I've had the chance to experience some of them personally, while others remain firmly on my bucket list.

MID SOUTH GRAVEL

Name: Mid South Gravel Location: Stillwater, Oklahoma Date: 13-16 March, 2025 How to get there: Fly into Oklahoma Airport (approx. £700 return), rent a car and drive one hour to Stillwater.

Race entry: $225 (£172)

The traditional season-opener to the US Gravel scene, the Mid South Gravel is one of the biggest parties in the USA. The phrase 'more than just a bike race' is overused, but at the Mid South it couldn't be truer. Be warned, though, the race is characterised by red dirt roads and if it rains in the days before, the course becomes a mud bath. If it's dry, you'll be finding traces of the red dust for weeks to come.