The Gralloch 2026 Closes in Galloway: Schreurs, Pöstlberger, Clayton and McIntosh Headline a Three-Day Weekend
Scotland's gravel festival draws 3,000+ riders from 47 nations across UCI racing, the inaugural Ultra, and a full festival programme in Gatehouse of Fleet.
GATEHOUSE OF FLEET, SCOTLAND. The Gralloch 2026, Scotland's gravel festival and the UK round of the UCI Gravel World Series, wraps up in Gatehouse of Fleet after three days of racing, riding, and festival programming across the Galloway Forest Park and Galloway and Southern Ayrshire UNESCO Biosphere. More than 3,000 riders from 47 nations took part across the Gravelking UCI Gravel World Series race, the inaugural Genesis Gralloch Ultra presented by Maxxis, the Gralloch Sportive, and the wider weekend programme at Garries Park.
Geerike Schreurs (Specialized Off-Road) became the first rider to win The Gralloch twice; Lukas Pöstlberger (Rose Racing Circle) took a maiden men's UCI title; and Damien Clayton (SCOTT x Spatz) and Zoe McIntosh (Sugo C.C.) set the first Fastest Known Times at the inaugural Ultra.
Friday: festival opens with panels, shakeout rides, and a family programme
The weekend opened on Friday with the Event Village at Garries Park live for sign-on, alongside shakeout rides, panel talks, and final course reconnaissance. Shakeout rides were led by Sir Bradley Wiggins and Olympic medallist Jonathan Brownlee. The Friday panel programme brought together two-time Olympic triathlon champion Alistair Brownlee, Paris-Roubaix winner Alison Jackson, British cyclocross champion Cameron Mason, and adventurer Jenny Tough.
The family programme ran alongside the elite schedule. Multiple elite riders also joined the local school bike bus into Gatehouse of Fleet earlier in the day. Kids' activities, food stalls, and live music ran across the festival site through the weekend.
Saturday: Schreurs takes second title, Pöstlberger wins solo
Cool conditions and fast surfaces set the tone for the Gravelking UCI Gravel World Series race. The men's race split early over Fuffock Hill, with Pöstlberger, Jenson Young (Ribble Outliers Gravel Racing Team) and Michael Woods (Ventum Racing) opening a 90-second lead inside 30 kilometres. Young suffered a run of punctures in the closing gravel sectors, allowing Pöstlberger to ride clear for a solo win. Young held on to second, with Niels Vandeputte (Alpecin-Premier Tech) taking third after a four-way fight through the Red Bull Flying 400.
In the women's race, run from its own standalone start, a four-rider move on Fuffock Hill set the tone. Schreurs, Karolina Migon (PAS Racing), Wendy Oosterwoud (PAS Racing) and Danielle Shrosbree (Rapha Cycling Club) opened a 48-second gap that held through the middle of the course. At halfway, Schreurs and Migon pressed on past Loch Grannoch and through the Big Water of Fleet viaduct. Neck and neck into Gatehouse of Fleet, Schreurs launched on the short rise to Garries Park to claim her second Gralloch title and become the first repeat champion in the event's history. Oosterwoud took third.
The inaugural Genesis Gralloch Ultra presented by Maxxis
The first running of the Ultra rolled out of Gatehouse of Fleet at 7am into cold but sunny conditions. The 323-kilometre self-supported route drew riders from 19 nations across an age range of 14 to 61, with 37% taking on their first Ultra. Weather closed in further north, where light rain turned heavier across exposed sections. Overnight temperatures dropped close to zero.
Clayton set the men's Fastest Known Time in 12:02:59, followed by Charlie Bratt (Paradigm Cycles) in 12:16:13 and Johannes Rom Dahl (DRAG2ZERO) in 12:51:27. McIntosh set the women's Fastest Known Time in 15:00:46, followed by Suvi Loponen (Escape Collective) in 15:55:47 and Rebecca Richardson in 16:45:26. Local support carried the field through Patna, Dalmellington, Barr, Glentrool and the smaller villages along the route. Finishers were welcomed back into the Event Village by The Gralloch team and served warm meals through the night, prepared in partnership with Galloway Larder. The final rider crossed the line in 24:18:34.
Sunday: Sportive closes the weekend
The weekend concluded on Sunday with the Gralloch Sportive (111km and 53km), as the wider field rolled out for the non-competitive route through the Galloway Forest Park. The Wee Gralloch Family Rideout, led by Alison Jackson and Maddy Nutt, took young riders and their families on a relaxed loop from the Event Village, before festival programming closed at Garries Park.
"Three days, riders from 47 nations, and a Galloway weekend that delivered on every front," said Maximilian Wussler, Co-founder of Red On Sports. "The competition spoke for itself, and seeing kids on the school bike bus and on the Wee Gralloch Family Rideout alongside elite riders is the side of the festival we care about as much as the racing. What stays with us is the welcome. Gatehouse of Fleet, the villages from Barr to Glentrool, Patna to Dalmellington, and the volunteers and marshals who keep this event moving. Our thanks to them, and to the partners who back this event year on year. The Gralloch is what it is because of them."
The Gralloch 2027 takes place 14–16 May in Gatehouse of Fleet. We are already working on what comes next — a bigger field, a deeper programme, and the same terrain that has tested riders from across the world four times over. Pre-register now to be first when entries open.
