It's difficult to define the time and place where dirt roads gave birth to gravel racing as a distinct mode for riding and then racing. In 2025, what was easy to see was that the off-road, long-distance discipline had moved from being 'alternative' to a business.
The debate may never end about how to keep the 'spirit of gravel' at the heart of the sport, especially at the front of the pro races. Let's face it, enthusiasm still thrives at the grassroots level but professional athletes are serious about earning a living on gravel.
