If you’re attracted to the challenge of biking on an unpaved path over long distances, then gravel racing is for you.
Filipinos have been engaging in more and more leisure activities that double as both a fitness workout and a chance to enjoy the outdoors. One such activity that has been gaining traction – pardon the pun – is gravel racing.
For the uninitiated, gravel racing is basically like traditional cycling – except it’s done over unpaved or gravel-filled routes. It presents its own challenge, where riders have to deal with mud, rocks and uneven terrain across distances that stretch for up to 100 kilometers.
Yet it’s precisely these challenges that have attracted the thrill-seekers and outdoor sports enthusiasts to gravel racing. In just a few years, it has grown from casual leisure activity to competitive sport here in the Philippines.
One of the largest gravel racing events in the country is Gravelton, which for the past five years has drawn gravel racing enthusiasts from all over the world. The event’s growth is a testament to the parallel rising popularity of the sport.
“Gravel racing is a raw and unpredictable test of grit, endurance, and equipment,” Ritchie Santayana, Group Category Director of Gruppo Innovare Corp. / Specialized Philippines, organizer of Gravelton PH, told The GAME.
“But beyond the physical challenge, it is about embracing the organized chaos, sharing the experience, and creating lasting memories with fellow riders.”
Santayana says that Gravelton is gradually making a name for itself in the gravel racing ecosystem.
“It has evolved tremendously through the years, growing from a close-knit local gathering into the country’s premier gravel event. Recent editions have drawn more than 700 participants, establishing Gravelton as a buzzing regional event for gravel racing.”
Gravelton, Santayana adds, is simply different from other gravel races.
“While many international gravel races focus purely on elite-level suffering or remote isolation, Gravelton uniquely fuses a top-tier, fiercely competitive challenge with a vibrant, festival-like community celebration anchored in authentic Filipino warmth and post-ride camaraderie.
“Past editions have drawn a truly regional crowd, pulling in participants and cycling enthusiasts from 11 different countries alongside our passionate local gravel community.”
This year’s edition, the event’s fifth, will once again be held at Filinvest Mimosa Plus Leisure City in Clark, Pampanga, on October 25.
Gravelton Clark 2026 is expected to lure hundreds of gravel racing cyclists both foreign and local for another competitive race against the backdrop of Central Luzon’s rugged and scenic trails.
“Gravelton started with a simple idea: to bring people together through a gravel event. It’s about the race, the celebration, the stories, and the shared moments that happen along the way. More than anything, it’s our way of building a gravel experience that feels authentic, memorable, and proudly our own,” said Santayana.
“From the toughest terrain to the post-ride festivities, we are elevating every aspect of the event to showcase the grit of gravel riders, while strengthening the bonds within our local and international gravel racing communities.”
This year’s edition will offer three categories: the 50KM partner race, 80KM and 120KM, all across Clark’s challenging gravel routes.
Interested parties can visit graveltonph.com for registration and information on race categories, routes, and official partners.
Banner images from Gravelton
Frequently Asked Questions
Gravel racing is a cycling discipline on unpaved or gravel-filled routes, testing riders against mud, rocks, and uneven terrain across distances that can stretch up to 100 kilometers.
Unlike traditional road cycling, gravel racing takes place on unpaved terrain, requiring riders to navigate rougher surfaces, varied elevation, and unpredictable conditions over long distances.
Gravelton is the Philippines’ largest gravel racing event, organized by Gruppo Innovare Corp./Specialized Philippines. Now in its fifth year, it has grown into the country’s premier gravel competition.
Gravelton Clark 2026, the event’s fifth edition, will be held on October 25 at Filinvest Mimosa Plus Leisure City in Clark, Pampanga.
Gravelton Clark 2026 offers three race categories: a 50-kilometer partner race, an 80-kilometer race, and a 120-kilometer race, all across Clark’s gravel routes.
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