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What is the Gravel Cup?

The Gravel Cup is the ultimate gravel cycling series 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.

We offer three Gravel Cup events:

Ottawa Valley Gravel Experience: kick off the season on Saturday April 12, 2025 with one of our favourite events exploring the gravel roads around picturesque Calabogie. This event uses a spectacular network of single lane maintained old logging roads with a few unmaintained sections including a lane through a farm field.

Get ready for a unique gravel experience with entirely rideable, flowy, fast, and extremely fun routes for every gravel experience level and ability.
Glengarry Games Gravel Run: back for our second year, we’re excited to be part of the Glengarry Highland Games. Save Sunday August 3, 2025 for the second event in the Gravel Cup calendar.

Each course explores the rolling gravel roads around Maxville in the United Counties of Stormont, Dundas & Glengarry. You’ll finish your ride with a 3/4 lap of an oval track in front of the giant covered grandstands in front of hundreds of spectators.

Have fun on some rarely explored gravel roads, perfect for every fitness and experience level–come on out for some gravel riding and take in the Glengarry Highland Games.
Back Forty Highlander: the final event in the Gravel Cup calendar takes place on Saturday, September 6, 2025. Based out of the Back Forty Artisan Cheese Farm this marquee event uses the stunning roads of North Frontenac and Lanark Highlands.

Lots of single lane treed gravel roads await you in this beautiful area where maple syrup is the most abundant natural resource. You will be spellbound by views of the Mississippi River, Dalhousie Lake and the rolling hills of forests that dot the landscape.

Afterwards, relax and share stories about your ride with food and drink on the shore of the picturesque Mississippi River with the calming distant sound of waterfalls. This is the best way to enjoy the late summer weather–your gravel bike, friends, and beautiful scenery.

Choose your own gravel adventure: register for the entire series or choose individual events. You may want to start the season in Calabogie with the 40 km Petit course and build up to the 100-120 km Epic course on September 6 at the Back Forty Highlander.

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:

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

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

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.