Bern, Switzerland 21.10.2023
On Saturday, October 21, the sixth Gravel Ride & Race Bern will take place at the Weyermannshaus outdoor pool in Bern. An event for everyone. Whether large or small. Whether pleasure-oriented or sporty ambitious. An event that has set a new participation record every year since its premiere in 2018 and this year also has some prominent names at the start in addition to many amateur athletes.
At the “Gravel Ride & Race Bern”, everyone gets their money’s worth. With the two popular sport formats “Ride” and “Race”, the VCS Family Ride as well as the Kids Cross, everyone will be offered something to actively participate in the Bernese cycling festival. You can start with a gravel bike, cyclo-cross bike, mountain bike or even a running bike. The wonderful, varied course with an incredible amount of gravel roads and only a few meters of asphalt will enchant all participants. And that will be many again this year.
| Zeit | Programm |
|---|---|
| Ab 10:00 | Start number distribution Gravel Ride & Race / Luggage depot |
| Ab 10:00 | Food, Drinks, Expo & Gravel Bikes testing |
| Ab 11:00 | Kids World (skill course, bouncy castle, roller slide) |
| Ab 11:45 | Start number distribution Family Ride |
| 12:00 | Start Gravel Race, 50km |
| 12:15 | Start Gravel Ride, 25km |
| 12:45 bis 14:15 | Start VCS Family Ride |
| Ab 13:00 | Arrivals Gravel Ride |
| Ab 13:30 | Arrivals Gravel Race |
| Ab 14:30 | Start number distribution Kids Cross |
| 15:15 | Award ceremonies & raffle Gravel Race & Ride |
| 15:45 | Target closing Gravel Ride & Race and VCS Family Ride |
| 16:15 | Start Kids Cross |
| 17:00 | Prize draw Kids Cross |
At the sixth Gravel Ride & Race in Bern, the participants ensured the sixth record in a row. More than 1,000 start numbers were assembled at the Gravel event with start and finish at the Weyermannshaus open-air swimming pool in Bern. A total of 1,059 participants took part, which is more than 200 more than a year ago. And with Mathias Flückiger and Alessandra Keller, there were two clear favorites at the end of the race.
What was launched in 2018 with the premiere of the “Gravel Ride & Race Bern” culminated in a great event on Saturday, October 21, 2023 at the sixth edition. The incredible number of amateur athletes created a unique atmosphere. Already at the start number distribution you could feel the Gravel spirit on every corner and the starting signal with the countless participants on the starting straight was a real eye-catcher. Both the Race (with ranking and over 50 kilometers) and the Ride (without ranking and over 25 kilometers) were started quickly. The mountain bike pros Mathias Flückiger and Alessandra Keller soon took control and both ensured a clear solo victory. While Flückiger finished almost four minutes ahead, Keller won the women’s race with just under a minute to spare.
Everyone got their money’s worth at the “Gravel Ride & Race Bern”. Amateur athletes, families, line riders and kids. It was a real cycling festival, which was celebrated around the outdoor pool Weyermannshaus and the surrounding gravel roads. Because the wonderful and varied route with an incredible amount of gravel roads and only very few meters of asphalt was a real treat for the participants. Also because the weather played along perfectly. While it was still raining during the preparations the day before, Saturday showed a great mix of sun, blue sky and a few clouds.
Organizer and OC president Christian Rocha was also overwhelmed by the success of his event: “The numbers show that we have created a concept that meets with great interest. The renewed enormous increase in registrations is a huge motivation for future projects.” Rocha is not only referring to the upcoming seventh edition of the Gravel event in Bern, but also to the first edition of the Gravel Trans Jura. A unique bikepacking adventure that will provide a great gravel experience from May 30 to June 5, 2024 as a self-supported event and without a ranking list. “Our goal is to reach as many people as possible with our events. The idea of performance should not come first and the fun should definitely come first.”
Great Village and many visitors
In addition to the various opportunities to participate, those present also got their money’s worth off the track. In the Expo, no less than 15 different Gravelbike brands could be test ridden and the latest bikes and accessories could be admired at 17 exhibitors. Several street food stands provided the best culinary delights and thanks to various offers such as a skill course, a bouncy castle and a roller slide, children and families also got their money’s worth. A very successful cycling festival, which makes you want more.
Weitere Auskünfte:
Christian Rocha, Organisator Gravel Ride & Race Bern:
christian.rocha@crossroads-gmbh.ch ¦ +41 79 917 26 99
