2025 Bluewater International Gran Fondo

Gravel and Tar

January 18 2025
Feilding New Zealand
Unconfirmed
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Distances: 164 km
Difficulty: Moderate terrain with rolling short steep hills or moderate, sustained climbs

The Gravel and Tar held its fifth edition in 2020 over and throughout the beautiful roads and scenery of the Manawatu region in New Zealand. It was the first serious ‘gravel’ race in Australasia, and remains the only UCI race which consists of large sectors of gravel that require extra skill and concentration from the riders.

In 2020 Gravel and Tar Classic UCI 1.2 was a 140km international elite men’s cycling race, and with five gravel sectors making up approximately 40km, it has the reputation as the hardest single day road race in the Oceania region.

For 2021, the distance has been increased to 164km, making it now classified as a "true" Classic.

For the first time in 2019, there was a women’s Gravel and Tar cycling race to accompany the men’s event. Like the men’s event, the Gravel and Tar La Femme UCI 1.2  comprised five gravel sectors making up approximately 40km and another 76km on the tarmac.

The event attracted the top Australian and New Zealand women’s teams to compete and is fast becoming a uniquely hard race on the international women’s cycling calendar. The prize money purse for the La Femme is equal to the men’s race.

In 2019, the organisers introduced a "gran fondo" version, the  Slicks and Stones which now provides a chance for junior, masters and ‘weekend warrior’ riders to experience the same arduous course as the professional riders, by following the Gravel and Tar elite men’s and women’s course.

The Slicks and Stones is proudly supported by Westpac and starts on the same day as the Gravel and Tar - 23rd January 2021.

Gravel and Tar

 
Start Located At: Feilding, New Zealand
 
 
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