RGT Cycling, the free to use virtual cycling platform, has announced a new collaboration with gravel race Dirty Reiver. Billed as ‘a first in taking a real-world gravel event virtual’, the partnership will allow riders to take to virtual gravel roads of the popular off-road event based in Northumberland, UK.
Dirty Reiver, a leading gravel cycling event in Europe, offers 200km of trails and gravel roads – sections which will be replicated on RGT Cycling’s virtual platform offering riders from all around the world the chance to experience the event.
‘The new Dirty Reiver road will enable RGT users to experience gravel riding from home, with in-app functionality aimed at giving a real-life experience virtually. In a world first, riders will experience real-world impacts on speed, of the road surface being ridden, providing a truly enhanced feel when switching from road to gravel.’
RGT Cycling’s Head of Brand and Marketing James Vickers, said, ‘We aim to present an ever-growing range of real roads on our platform, not limited to on-road courses, so to integrate the trails of Dirty Reiver and bring the event to life virtually is a great addition to RGT Cycling.
“The addition of gravel to the platform comes as part of an exciting wave of new developments across the RGT Cycling App, and one that will offer a much richer rider experience.”
Lead partners of the new Dirty Reiver RGT Cycling gravel roads are Genesis Bikes, Weldtite and Hunt Wheels – all of whom have visibility in-platform. The new Dirty Reiver experience is the first release of the event’s gravel roads, with more plans for the partnership in the pipeline.
The new announcement comes just days after RGT Cycling launched a new look across its app, featuring added race formats including Time Trial and Elimination events, as well as enabling riders to create their own race formats.
Focal Events, organiser of Dirty Reiver, said, ‘Bringing the Dirty Reiver adventure into the virtual world showcases our event and brand partners to athletes all around the world, while adding another dimension to the ride experience. We’re looking forward to enabling our event sponsors, Genesis, Weldtite and Hunt, to bring a host of exciting gravel events and races to RGT Cycling riders in 2021.’
