It's Gravel Week at Cyclingnews

In the wake of Unbound Gravel, it's the return of Gravel Week on Cyclingnews, and that means we're looking at all things off-road. 

In the past few years, gravel cycling has exploded into an industry with hundreds of races and thousands of new products. 

Anyone who tuned into our coverage of Unbound will have noticed that a once small gravel race in a sleepy town in Kansas now attracts thousands of entrants. It's the same picture across all events, with the UK's Dirty Reiver being a fast sellout every year, the five-day Rapha Pennine Rally which occurs this week attracting hundreds, and the Lifetime Grand Prix series in the USA enticing pros from both road and mountain biking to switch up their profession.

During our Gravel Week, we'll explore all corners of the discipline, with interviews, in-depth features, photo galleries, tech news and more. 

Of course, like any of our other themed weeks, such as our 'women's week', this isn't the only time you'll find gravel content here at Cyclingnews. 

Just this past weekend, for example, we saw dozens of stories on the subject. For example, our resident tech writer (and coincidentally, former geologist) covered the literal basics with his feature "what is gravel," with an interesting spin on how that relates to gravel racers' equipment choice courtesy of Ian Boswell's expertise. 

We also had a deep-dive Unbound tech gallery from the lead-up to the Unbound mudfest, where paint stirring sticks were employed for mud clearing and extra handlebar padding was added to circumvent the ban on aero bars. We also spotted an unreleased Shimano GRX groupset, a prototype Canyon Grail, and even a new Santa Cruz Stigmata CC that was ridden to the win by Keegen Swenson. 

This week will simply be one in which gravel is given priority, call it a celebration of the fast-growing genre. So join us as we go off-grid and take a deep dive into the world of gravel.

The stories

Best gravel shoes - The best options for whatever gravel means to you

The best gravel shoes out there, from race options to hike-a-bike adventure shoes

5 conclusions from a muddy and muddled Unbound Gravel

Mass starts create massive troubles in mud, pro fields surge with international riders and new stars, keeping the amateur experience alive

Broken gear, barbed wire, mud wreak havoc on Unbound Gravel 200 favourites

From defending champion Ivar Slik to 2021 winner Lauren De Crescenzo, 2023 race edition went askew after just 10 miles of racing for many contenders

'Thank you Howard' – support riders make the difference with wheel swap for Finsterwald in Unbound Gravel

Specialized Off Road teammate Grotts preserves Finsterwald's chance to contest finishing sprint from group of seven

Best electric gravel bikes: Get a boost riding off-road

The best electric gravel bikes will help you go further faster more easily

Six things I learned testing gravel bike shoes

Key notes on fit, function, upkeep, and style

Carolin Schiff's unreleased Canyon: The Women's Unbound Gravel 200 winning bike

Schiff raced to a solo win on a prototype Canyon gravel bike

Michelin's new Power Adventure gravel tyres are all-road all-rounders

New rubber compound adds both speed and grip, both on road and off, with a tread designed for '80%-tarmac' rides

Carolin Schiff takes solo victory at women's Unbound Gravel 200

German secures emphatic win in wet and muddy conditions, with 15 minute lead to second-placed Sofia Gomez Villafañe

Keegan Swenson wins men's Unbound Gravel 200

Tough gravel battle plays out in Kansas with a seven-rider sprint to the line

David Brower, Tiffany Cromwell win Unbound Gravel 100

19-year-old Brower wins men's sprint while Canyon-SRAM rider solos to the line for women

Villafañe: I’m ready for a women’s-only race at Unbound Gravel 200

‘Equality means having equal opportunity for us to show what we're capable of’ says 2023 runner-up for elite women

Prototype Canyon gravel bike spotted at Unbound

Peter Stetina and Carolin Schiff were both racing on what looks like a new gravel bike from Canyon

Peanut butter mud causes chaos at Unbound Gravel

‘I couldn’t believe what we saw. It was absolute madness’ says Nathan Haas after early retirement

Keegan Swenson's Santa Cruz Stigmata: The Men's Unbound Gravel 200 winning bike

Was the unbound winner riding a prototype Santa Cruz frame and fork?

Lachlan Morton hits Unbound Gravel podium after end to ‘annoying luck’

Australian EF Education-EasyPost rider finishes third after his late attack was reeled back in

Payson McElveen ends chase for Unbound Gravel glory with physical issues

US rider pulled off the course after Texaco Hill

Tech gallery: Aero tricks and puncture-repair hacks aplenty at Unbound Gravel 2023

Handlebar hacks, puncture-repair prep, a paint stirrer, an unreleased groupset and even a Beagle called Sherman

UCI Gravel World Series calendar 2023

Life Time Grand Prix Series 2023 schedule