Red On Sports, an event management company based in the UK, has announced two developments for the Gralloch Ultra, which forms part of its Scottish gravel festival. Genesis Bikes has been confirmed as title sponsor of the event, with Maxxis joining as presenting partner.
Both partnerships are multi-year commitments. The event this May will now be known as the Genesis Gralloch Ultra presented by Maxxis.
The announcement coincides with the full unveiling of the 2026 route, which covers 323km and includes 4,819m of climbing through the Galloway Forest Park and the hills of East and Southern Ayrshire in Scotland. The route takes riders through private estates, renewable energy landscapes, ancient forests and remote Galloway glens.
Departing Gatehouse of Fleet at dawn on Saturday, May 16, 2026, the route traces eight distinct sections across southern Scotland. From the opening climbs past Loch Skerrow and Slaughter Hill to the ‘champagne gravel’ of Raiders Road Forest Drive, the course includes the gravel superhighways of North – South Kyle Wind Farm, where the highest point of the route exceeds 500m.
Riders pass through Craigengillan Estate, a 3,000-acre landscape of native woodland and loch, before the route enters a 50km passage through the southern reaches of Changue and Carrick Forest. For those riding into darkness, the Galloway Dark Sky Park provides a view of the stars past Bruce’s Stone and the shores of Loch Trool.
The final kilometres bring riders back through the forest beneath the twenty granite arches of the Big Water of Fleet Viaduct before a 10km descent returns them to Garries Park and the finish in Gatehouse of Fleet.
Maximilian Wussler, Co-founder of Red On Sports said “A route like this doesn’t begin with a map. It begins with ideas and conversations. We’ve worked closely with Forestry and Land Scotland, regional councils, private estates, working farms and individual landowners who are willing to open their ground to an event of this nature.
“Each section of this route exists because someone said yes, and we are genuinely grateful to every one of them. Getting that buy-in across 323km of such varied land is no small undertaking, and it is what makes this route unlike anything else in UK gravel. To then have Genesis and Maxxis come in behind that vision, on multi-year commitments, in the inaugural year of the event, means a great deal.”
Kellie Parsons, Marketing Director at Madison and Sportline said “We’re delighted to partner with the Gralloch Ultra alongside Genesis and Maxxis for the next two years. The Gralloch Ultra is a fantastic, growing gravel event that is a perfect fit for Genesis. Not only are Genesis bikes ideally suited to demanding off-road adventures, but the event’s strong community focus aligns closely with the brand’s values. Meanwhile, Maxxis offers an outstanding range of gravel tyres, with exciting new technologies on the horizon.”
Genesis has produced bikes such as the Croix de Fer and Vagabond for over two decades. Maxxis, established in the mountain bike market, has more recently expanded into gravel with a product range including the Rambler and Receptor models.
Riders entered in the event can expect demo opportunities, on-route support, and dedicated tyre guidance from both brands. The Genesis Gralloch Ultra presented by Maxxis is a semi-supported ultra-distance event. The Gralloch is a gravel cycling festival held annually in Gatehouse of Fleet, Scotland. It was the first UK event to feature a Gravelking UCI Gravel World Series race and serves as a qualifier for the UCI Gravel World Championships.
www.grallochgravel.com
www.redonsports.com
