The Gravel of Marathon
GRAVELKING UCI GRAVEL
WORLD SERIES 2026
The race series that paves the way for the Gravel World Championship
The fifth edition of the Gravelking UCI Gravel World Series, the only UCI race series where elite athletes race alongside amateurs, brings a record 45 races, with 14 new events, in 32 countries and five continents, to 2026. In each race, the top 25% of each age group will compete for a place in the Gravel World Championship.
The final new addition to the 2026 calendar is The Gravel of Marathon, which will take place on November 15, 2026 in the magnificent and historic city of Marathon, a place closely linked to the roots of the marathon and long distances. It is the first race of the series in Greece and qualifies for the 2027 World Championships.
The series continues to grow, combining experienced organizers with new, dynamic events, with the support of partners Panaracer, Shimano and Santini.
WHEN
Sunday | November 15, 2026
WHERE
MARATHON GREECE
UCI Gravel World Series
The Gravel
of Marathon
On Sunday, November 15, 2026, in the historic town of Marathon — the place where the famous Battle of Marathon was fought around 2.500 years ago — cyclists from around the world will have the chance to experience an unforgettable gravel adventure, “The Gravel of Marathon,” for the very first time in Greece.
This will be the first UCI Gravel World Series race to take place in the country, following the great success of the “Megalopolis Gravel Classic” in Arcadia and the “Amarantos Gravel Experience” in the Agrafa mountains of Thessaly. It is organized by the MBike team, the leading cycling media platform in Greece and the organizer of the Athens Bike Festival since 2010.
The Gravel of Marathon
MARATHON
LOCATION
Marathon is a municipality in eastern Attica, located about 40 kilometers from Athens.
The area is famous for the Battle of Marathon in 490 BC, a moment considered crucial for the future of Europe. The victory over the Persians allowed the Ancient Greek civilization to continue to develop and ultimately set the foundations of the modern Western world.
The region is blessed with natural beauty, suc as the sandy coastline and pine forest of Schinias, as well as the artificial Lake Marathon, which will serve as the main terrain for “The Gravel of Marathon.”
The region is blessed with natural beauty, such as the sandy coastline and pine forest of Schinias, as well as the artificial Lake Marathon, which will serve as the main terrain for “The Gravel of Marathon.”
The Gravel of Marathon
SUNDAY | November 15, 2026
Which Bike
Can I Ride?
The Gravel of Marathon is a gravel race, and our recommendation is clear: the ideal bike for the course is a gravel bike. With 75% of the route on dirt, rocky sections, shallow streams, soft ground beside the lake and the asphalt and rural stretches that link them together, a gravel bike offers the best balance of speed, comfort and control, and it is the bike the course was designed for.
That does not mean you need to buy a new bike to take part. You can also ride a mountain bike or a cyclocross bike, and many riders will choose what they already own and love. The race regulations state explicitly that standard mountain bikes are permitted, while road bikes are not allowed on the course.
If you arrive on a mountain bike, you will feel at ease on the rocky sections and on the soft ground beside the lake, but you will have to work harder on the asphalt and the rural roads, which are not few. A bike without overly heavy suspension helps, as do fast-rolling tyres and, if your suspension allows it, a lockout for the flat and paved stretches.
A cyclocross bike is very close to gravel in spirit and will perform superbly. The one thing to watch is the tyres: cyclocross bikes often come with narrow tyres, and for this course we recommend 45 mm, and nothing narrower than 40 mm, if your frame allows it.
If your goal is to qualify for the 2027 UCI Gravel World Championships, bear in mind that the UCI regulations for the World Championships themselves call for drop handlebars and do not allow participation on a mountain bike. For anyone chasing qualification, a gravel or cyclocross bike with drop handlebars is the safe choice.
Whichever bike you choose, make sure it is in excellent condition, with reliable brakes, tyres suited to the terrain and a GPS device for navigation. Most importantly, come. The course is the same for everyone, whether you are racing for qualification or for the experience, and we look forward to seeing you in Marathon.
The Gravel of Marathon
Who is *The Gravel of Marathon* for?
For cycling enthusiasts. For lovers of adventure. For everyone who values participation over finishing time. For those who enjoy good company, wine, and great food, as well as exploration, and who want to rely solely on their own strength to discover a place.
For all of you, we will do our very best to create an event worthy of gravel riding and everything it represents. And that’s why we invite you to become part of this exciting experience!
Co-organization
Sponsor
Supporters
Under the Auspices of
Media Sponsors
