The Gralloch gravel race has quickly become one of the most popular gravel weekends in the UK. Located in Gatehouse of Fleet, the Gralloch might just be the best UK gravel race and with it doubling up as a possible qualifying opportunity for the Gravel World Championships later on this year, I headed up to attempt to qualify and this is how it went. 

The Gralloch is tough. There is no denying that. The course is brutal. To paint the picture the first 12 km is nearly all uphill, right out of the blocks. From here you descend the rough gravel tracks before you’re treated with a brief respite as you get to enjoy a few kilometres of smooth tarmac to catch your breath before you again dive back onto the gravel. For the next 80 kilometers the course dips and dives through the Galloway Forest, taking in the sights before you finally return to the tarmac for the final 10km stretch to the finish line. 

This year the 110km long course was extremely dry and dusty and even though you climb just over 1,700 metres the course was running extremely quick this year. So fast in fact I averaged nearly 32 km/h! 

90 grams of carbs an hour was my magic number. It’s something I’ve practiced a lot in training, trying out taking on slightly more and slightly less grams of carbs an hour but I’ve always found 90 grams to be the optimum amount for me. 

After working out how many grams an hour it was then time to work out the optimum way to consume this much. Little and often is something many will be familiar with and it couldn’t be more true when it comes to your nutrition. I've found a Veloforte energy gel every 15 minutes is the perfect gravel race nutrition strategy. Each gel contains 22g of dual sourced carbohydrates as well as electrolytes which makes them perfect for both racing and training. 

However the biggest thing for me is the fact they contain all natural ingredients. When you’re racing full gas the last thing you want to be worrying about is an upset stomach or getting flavour fatigue and then not being able to hit your nutritional goal. With the Veloforte Energy Gels I look forward to consuming them, especially the Riba and Primo. I always keep my Doppio ones for the back end of the race when the 75mg of caffeine really gives me an extra boost when I need it most. Because they’re made from all natural ingredients means they’re also extremely pocket friendly and don’t take up all the room in your jersey pockets which makes them perfect for big days out in the saddle.

Standing on the start line I had one goal. Qualify for the World Champs. I was quietly confident I could achieve this in my 19-34 category, but with gravel racing anything can happen. One over cooked corner, one puncture or even one too little energy gels and your race can be over just like that. When the balls in your court people look at you, watching your every move and there is no hiding from it. 

With the first 12km being nearly all uphill I had one goal, set a pace hard enough that I would drop most riders but not enough that I would be left with no one to work with. Having done this course a number of times before I knew the climb well and how to pace it and as we crested the top of the climb there were only around 30 to 40 riders left.

Entering the final 25km I knew the majority of the course was now downhill and reaching for my final Doppio Energy Gel I powered on just hoping I could hold on for the win and not come stuck at the final hurdle. 

Luckily a put down a smooth, safe ride and exited the gravel onto the final 10km road stretch to the finish. I knew I had won if I could just carry on at this pace. By this point the hills had really opened up allowing me to finally see a few kilometers back to check no one was on my tail and potentially cause me heart break right at the end. 

5 Km to go soon turned to 1 and before I knew it the finish gantry was in sight and that moment knowing you’ve won hit me. Not only had I won but I had also guaranteed myself a spot at the Gravel World Championships later on this year. I couldn’t have asked for a better day out and to win solo after nearly a 70 km attack is the best feeling and the best way to win. I think it also proves the perfect testimony to my set up and fueling strategy that is real life tested and has the result to prove it. 

I guess now it’s time to start planning my trip to the Netherlands for the gravel worlds!