gravel cup canada

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R3G3 Gravel Epic

What is the Gravel Cup?

The Gravel Cup is the ultimate gravel cycling events for everyone—no matter your bike or your experience level.

Whether you’re looking for a new challenge or want to enjoy a fun day exploring the National Capital region on two wheels, the Gravel Cup is for you.

In 2026 Gravel Cup will put all our gravel elbow grease into R3G3. Previous sponsors, Bushtukah and Montu.cc are back on board. And Specialized Bicycles has joined the Gravel Cup party as well.

The beauty of the Gravel Cup is there are events and courses for everyone–regardless of your cycling experience, abilities, and interests.

Who is the Gravel Cup For

The Gravel Cup is for everyone who loves cycling and is ready for an adventure!

Whether you’re new to gravel riding, an experienced racer, or are looking for a new challenge– the Gravel Cup is for you.

If it’s your first gravel event, the Gravel Cup is the perfect place to get a taste of gravel.

You don’t need to be a racer to do the Gravel Cup—we designed our courses for every type of rider.

We really just want you to come on out and enjoy the experience of riding on safe, friendly, and quiet gravel roads.

Get together with your friends, family members (yes, kids aged 10 and up are welcome), or cycling team/club members for a fun time on two wheels on the best gravel roads the National Capital Region has to offer.

If you have experience on a bike and are curious about gravel, you’ll fit right in.

Everyone is welcome—bring your bike, your spirit of adventure, and join the fun!

Gravel Cycling adventures in Canada’s Capital Region.  

Your Guide To Gravel Cup Fun

We want you to be as prepared as possible for your Gravel Cup experience.

As you get ready for your first or 20th Gravel Cup event, keep in mind these keys to event-day fun:

  1. The day before the Gravel Cup event, download the Strava, Garmin, or RideWithGPS route for your event. The link to these is on the Event page.

    Please make sure the route displays properly on your cycling computer.

    We highly recommend printing out the map and carrying it with you–you never know when your cycling computer battery will stop working…

  2. Arrive an hour before start.

    This gives you time to catch up with your friends, pick up your numbers, and do a short warm-up before your gravel event starts.

  3. Check in at registration to pick up your number, timing chip, and post-event meal ticket.

    The friendly person at the registration table will explain where to pin your number (really anywhere on the back of your jersey works - we recommend pinning it on the pockets).

    We’ll provide you with either zip ties or elastic bands to attach your timing chip to your front fork.

  4. Get on your bike and go out for a short warm-up.

    We recommend you’re back at the event headquarters 15 minutes before the start of your event. This gives you time to go to the washroom, make any clothing adjustments, regroup with your friends, and get ready to ride.

  5. Listen for an announcement about your event starting.

    EPIC: 9:00 a.m.
    MEDIO: 9:30 a.m.
    PETIT: 9:45 a.m.

    There are no call-ups for our events. We ask you to self-seed yourself based on your ability and goals for the day. For example, if you’re ready to ride fast and race, please line-up at the front of the field or if you’re out for your first gravel event, please line-up closer to the back of the field.

  6. Relax and enjoy the 1 - 2 km long neutral start, this is a chance to roll out onto the road and get comfortable as you ride to the official event start.

    We’ll regroup at the official start location, be ready to unclip and put your foot down. Brendan will give you some final instructions and then it’s time to ride. 

  7. Have fun! Relax, enjoy the scenery, encourage your riding partners, and keep pedaling.

    This is your gravel adventure–if you want to ride hard and race, go for it or if you want to focus on enjoying the route, do this.

    Your number one goal is to finish your ride feeling satisfied and excited about riding gravel.

  8. During the ride you’ll come across the aid stations.

    Remember to  stop and fill up your bottles and get some food.

  9. Keep riding and pay attention to the Gravel Cup route signs and what your computer is telling you.

    Soon enough you’ll be riding under the finish line banner. Well done–you did it!

  10. Go to your vehicle, put your bike away, get changed, and grab your meal ticket.

    It’s time to sit back and relax, talk about the day, watch the awards ceremony, enjoy your complimentary meal, and check out the event expo.

    One of the major features of the Gravel Cup is our event venues. We want you to have a comfortable and relaxing place to hang out after your ride. 

If you took any photos during or after your gravel ride, feel free to tag us @gravelcupcan on Instagram and Facebook.

Remember to clean your bike when you get home. The chain is likely a bit dirty and your frame needs a good wipe down.

We can’t wait to see you at the next Gravel Cup event! Thank you for registering and coming on out for a fun day of bikes, gravel, and like-minded people. 

 

Sponsors

 
 

bushtukah

We are proud to have Bushtukah as a series sponsor for 2025.

Bushtukah has locations throughout the National Capital to help you gear up for your outdoor adventures, whether it be cycling, skiing, camping, hiking or more. Visit them in store or online at Bushtukah.com.

SALSA Bicycles

After years of riding and racing gravel roads on modified cyclocross bikes, we knew we could build a better bike for the gravel experience. That led us to Warbird, the industry’s first gravel race bike and a machine that helped usher in one of cycling’s biggest movements. But we didn't stop there. We've spent nearly a decade using our experience to build a world-class gravel and road bike lineup.

Continental Tires

Discover the range of Continental bicycle tires for all disciplines.

www.Montu.cc

 

Montu is a Canadian business started by husband and wife Hani & Katharine in 2021 in Arnprior, Ontario, Canada. 

We created Montu to bring some soul into the world of bicycles and technical cycling apparel. We make products that reflect who we are and what we want: to enjoy the freedom of cycling and to celebrate the growing geographical and cultural diversity of endurance sports. Montu is a Canadian company with roots in Egypt. Our design and product development philosophy showcases elements that define and connect the different cultural and historical influences that make us who we are. ‘Montu’ is an ancient Egyptian God signifying strength, courage and victory.

 
 

Good Words Work (Vicki Thomas) specializes in content for small- and medium-sized companies who lack content writing and strategy expertise or resources.

Website copy. Blogs and articles. SEO content. Whitepapers. LinkedIn posts. Thought leadership. Email newsletters.

People-to-people content for companies like yours who need to get their story out.

I write what one client calls word magic.

Let's talk about your words and how Vicki can help you.

 
 

About the Gravel Cup Team

The Gravel Cup was born out of the passion a group of friends have for long rides on gravel roads. For these “roadies”, gravel offered something new and different–beautiful scenery, quiet and safe riding, and legendary stories to tell after the ride. 

Brendan, Charlie, Jennifer, and Mike are the people behind the Gravel Cup. A small, mighty, and experienced team of cyclists, organizers, and adventurers.

Get to Know Brendan

Brendan is our fearless leader and gravel kingpin. He created the Gravel Cup to share his passion for gravel riding with as many people as possible and to help people experience new routes and challenges.

Brendan has spent countless hours literally lost in the woods, curating the best gravel routes that Ottawa and the National Capital Region has to offer. He firmly believes that gravel riding is for everyone–regardless of your experience, skill level, or fitness. 

Get to Know Charlie

Charlie is an avid cyclist, racing masters level events along with travelling by bike and exploring on two wheels.

You’ll find Charlie on the loud speaker at the events keeping things on track and providing guidance, encouragement and good gravel vibes.

Get to know Jennifer

Jennifer is an encyclopedia of gravel routes and roads in the National Capital Region–if there’s a gravel road, it’s very likely Jennifer has ridden it. With an innate understanding of what makes a good, safe, fun ride, she is instrumental in designing the Gravel Cup routes.

A passionate cyclist with a deep history of road and mountain biking, there is nothing Jennifer likes more than a long epic ride on gravel roads (ideally with a couple of water crossings thrown in for fun). Jennifer is one of the co-founders of the Ottawa Women’s Cycling Club and a strong advocate for getting women out on bikes. 

Get to know Mike

Mike is our master organizer, ensuring we all stay on track and focused on delivering the best gravel experience possible. He makes sure the t’s are crossed and i’s are dotted–making sure every Gravel Cup event goes smoothly.

Mike is well-known for his love of a very very long ride that takes in as much gravel as possible. 

Questions? Want to Know More About the Gravel Cup?

We’re always happy to talk about our love for gravel riding, the Gravel Cup, and what we’re all about.

Feel free to email Brendan or fill out a CONTACT FORM 

We can’t wait to meet you and help you discover how much fun gravel riding is. 


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