Continental is increasing its commitment to the gravel segment for the 2026 season with the launch of two new community-focused initiatives. Partnering with the Gravel Club and the grouprides.cc platform, the tyre manufacturer is introducing a 12-stop tour across Germany and a wider European riding challenge.
Based in Hanover, Germany, Continental is a major tyre manufacturer and industry specialist. Founded in 1871, the company’s bicycle division produces a range of products such as the Grand Prix 5000 road tyre and the gravel-specific Terra range.
The Continental Gravel Club Tour 2026 will begin on April 25, 2026, in Hannover. Running through October, the series features two-day events in 12 German cities, including Cologne, Munich, and Berlin. These events include after-work rides on Fridays and larger community rides on Saturdays.
The tour is designed to focus on social riding and exploration rather than competitive performance. The series will conclude on October 10, 2026, at the Contidrom, which is the company’s dedicated test track located north of Hannover.
Participants who hold a regular tour ticket will be entered into a raffle for a trip for two to the finale of the 2027 Tour de France in Paris.
Running alongside the German tour is the ‘Lead in the Unknown‘ challenge hosted on grouprides.cc. This initiative encourages gravel riders to explore new routes across Europe, with featured locations such as Braunschweig, Stuttgart, and Vienna.
Riders who book and complete four rides via the grouprides.cc platform are entered into a draw to win one of four hand-signed and framed Tadej Pogačar jerseys. The challenge coincides with the release of the Terra Competition, a new high-performance gravel tyre from Continental.
Marco Buhl, Regional Sales Manager EMEA at Continental, said “We don’t just want to sell tyres – we want to be where gravel happens. With the Gravel Club Tour, we’re bringing 12 German cities together; with the challenge on grouprides.cc, we’re going Europe-wide.”
He added “The goal is the same in both: getting people out on their bikes, riding together, discovering new routes. And along the way, showing what our tyres can really do on gravel.”
In 2025, Continental generated sales of €19.7 billion and currently employs approximately 78,000 people across 54 countries. Its bicycle tyre division utilises technologies such as the Black Chili compound and continues to develop sustainable solutions, such as the Urban Taraxagum tyre made from dandelion rubber.
www.continental-tires.com
www.grouprides.cc
www.gravel-club.com
