2024 will be a year of growth for gravel. Along these lines, Rural Cycling, Gravel Cerdanya and Club Open Natura have joined forces to promote the first edition of the Maxxis Gravel Series, a circuit of six gravel events that will be held between March 2 and September 28.
The competition calendar will start in El Vendrell and will also pass in this first edition through Castelldans (March 16), Torrelles de Foix (April 13), El Catllar (May 11), La Cerdanya (June 1) and Sant Joan de l'Erm, which will close the Maxxis Gravel Series on September 28.
All tests will have timed sections on the 'Long Track' and 'Half Track' circuits, which will decide the winners of each test and award points for the classification.
This format allows you to do the tour safely. No special stage will have any important crossings, nor any road to avoid. For the organizers it is very difficult to be able to do tracks of 80 km to 140 km without crossing roads and sensitive areas in towns.
Shooting parts of the track without the timer allows us to group up, enjoy the territory and choose our rhythm without taking risks.
Below we briefly detail each of the competitions.
El Vendrell will be held on March 2, Open Natura is preparing an affordable track of approximately 80 km, with 2 not particularly long sections, for anyone who wants to measure themselves. An ideal test to get acquainted with the championship and the format.
Castelldans, Rural Cycling is preparing the second event for us, it will take place on March 16. Connoisseurs of La Garrigues, they present us with a track of 140 km +1600, one of 110 km +1100 and one of 50km +500. As if that were not enough, on Sunday the 17th they are preparing a cycle tour and it is part of a bicycle festival, with conferences and activities to spend a complete weekend.
Torrelles de Foix It will take place on April 13, usual on the Open Natura circuit. We still don't know if Jordi will add the impressive climbs of the area, a territory with many possibilities, a classic that will not disappoint. Don't expect less than +1500 elevation gain.
The Catllar It will take place on May 4, home of the last Catalan Marathon Championship, it usually has a rolling profile, but they are preparing a track with cycle paths that will surprise everyone.
Cerdanya It will be on June 1, Pachamama is preparing a day of pure gravel at more than 2,000 meters high. We can add little about an unusual area of gravel, but it could not be more suggestive.
Sant Joan de l'ErmOn September 28, La Contrabandistas will be held to close the Maxxis series, with two impressive tracks, the EPIC 102 km +3,170 m and the HERO 51 km +1,300 m
Registration is now available and will close one week before, or when the maximum limit of 300 participants established by the organization is reached. There are packs to run all the series with a discount.
Registrations open in www.info@clubbtt-opennatura.com
In the Maxxis Gravel Series, participants must follow the course using GPS, the usual format in gravel events.
Following the essence of gravel, the tests, which will have different categories, from cadet to master, will be open to all types of participants, from those who want to compete to those who participate in a more playful way.
The competition, designed for Gravel bicycles, also allows participation with MTB or E-BIKE, although without the option of classification.
Maxxis Gravel Series
| Day | Location |
| March 2 | El Vendrell |
| March 16 | Castelldans |
| April 13 | Torrelles de Foix |
| May 4 | The Catllar |
| June 1 | Cerdanya |
| September 28 | Sant Joan de l'Erm |