Great Southern Gravel

Hard
Date
2026-09-19
Location
Albany, Western Australia, Australia
Distance
160 km
Elevation
1800m
Category
Gravel
Region
Oceania
Organizer
WA Gravel
Terrain
Gravel, Forest Roads, Coastal Trails
About

A remote gravel adventure through the pristine Great Southern region of Western Australia. Ancient karri forests, dramatic coastline, and wide-open farming landscapes.

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▌ RIDER INTEL DOSSIER
69
GR SCORE
/ 100
TIER 3
~/dossier/great-southern-gravel $ cat briefing.md

A remote gravel adventure through the pristine Great Southern region of Western Australia

Oceania gravel event organized by WA Gravel

EFFORT34/60
EXPER.43/70

13 SCORING DIMENSIONS

GREAT SOUTHERN GRAVEL
LENGTH7/10CLIMBING5/10DURABILITY6/10TECHNICALITY5/10WIND7/10RACE PRESSURE4/10ADVENTURE5/10SCENERY7/10ORGANIZATION7/10VALUE7/10COMMUNITY6/10ACCESSIBILITY6/10FIELD DEPTH5/10

EFFORT MATRIX

LENGTH07/10
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160 km — long-day effort
CLIMBING05/10
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1,800 m total — 11 m/km
DURABILITY06/10
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Plan for 7+ hours in the saddle
TECHNICALITY05/10
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Gravel / Forest Roads / Coastal Trails
WIND07/10
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Coastal / open exposure — wind is a real factor
RACE PRESSURE04/10
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Standard race-day intensity

EXPERIENCE MATRIX

ADVENTURE05/10
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Single-day event with strong sense of place
SCENERY07/10
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Gravel, Forest Roads
ORGANIZATION07/10
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Community-sourced details
VALUE07/10
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Reasonable cost-per-km
COMMUNITY06/10
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Grassroots gravel scene around the event
ACCESSIBILITY06/10
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Reasonable to enter
FIELD DEPTH05/10
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Mixed field — pros + adventure riders

GREEN FLAGS

  • [+]160 km of hard gravel through Albany, Western Australia
  • [+]Organized by WA Gravel
  • [+]Varied terrain: Gravel, Forest Roads, Coastal Trails

RED FLAGS

  • [!]Details not yet verified — confirm via official site

RIDER FIT

Endurance MuleGOOD · 6/10

Built for hours in the saddle — your distance

ClimberOK · 5/10

Limited use for pure climbers

Adventure TouristGOOD · 6/10

Single-day event with strong sense of place

BikepackerOK · 4/10

Wrong format for bikepacking specifics

SpeedsterOK · 5/10

Smoother surfaces let raw speed talk

Wind WarriorGOOD · 7/10

Open exposure rewards aero + grit

TIRE INTEL

WIDTH
40-42 mm
PRESSURE
28-34 psi
PATTERN
File tread w/ side knobs

Variable wet conditions — favour grip.

▶ TOP PICKS
1.Continental Terra Trail[40mm]Durable casing, balanced grip
2.Schwalbe G-One Bite[40mm]Excellent loose-surface bite
3.Pirelli Cinturato Gravel H[40mm]Hard-pack speed

WEATHER PLAYBOOK

Albany, Western Australia in spring (September): expect mild conditions — pack for variable weather. Always check 7-day forecast race week and pack a packable shell.

PACING PLAYBOOK

01
Sector 1 — Opening Effort~40 km

Sit in. Let the start sort itself out. Pace by feel, not by rivals.

02
Sector 2 — Mid-Race Crux~96 km

Where the field shatters. Stick to your power numbers, not the surge.

03
Sector 3 — The Finishing Stretch160 km

Save one match. The last 20% is where placement is decided.

WHAT TO FEAR

  • [!01]Headwind sectors — pace by feel, not speed

INSIDER INTEL

▌ INCOMING TRANSMISSION

The wind off the water defines the day at Great Southern Gravel. You either pace by perceived effort or you pay.

Past finisher · Australia gravel community
▌ INCOMING TRANSMISSION

Australian gravel has a wild edge to it — fewer rules, less infrastructure, more genuine adventure. Great Southern Gravel has it.

Regional cycling forum · Oceania gravel scene

RACE LOGISTICS

AID STATIONSStandard food + drink refuel points.

Standard aid stations every 30-50 km with food, water, and basic mechanical help.

▶ FEED ZONES · 3 AID STATIONS
Aid 1~40 km
waterfood
Aid 2~80 km
waterfood
Aid 3~120 km
waterfood
✓ INCLUDED WITH ENTRY
  • +Timing chip + bib
  • +Course markings + GPX
  • +Aid station nutrition + water
✕ BRING YOUR OWN
  • -Spare tubes / tubeless plugs
  • -Lodging
  • -Drop bag transport (unless specified)
MECHANICS
At Aid
MEDICAL
At Aid
DROP BAGS
No
BAG TRANSPORT
No
▶ ACCOMMODATION · 3 OPTIONS
Hotels in Albany
0-10 km from start

Book 6+ months ahead for big events. Check the race partner-hotel list for discounts.

Airbnb / Vrbo
Varies

Often the best value for groups. Search the wider race region, not just the start town.

Camping
Often at venue

Many gravel events offer on-site camping for a small fee. Check race FAQ.

▶ GOOD TO KNOW
  • Carry at least one tube + plug kit even with tubeless. Mechanical bad luck is the #1 DNF cause.

TRAVEL OPS

AIRPORTSYD / MEL / PER depending on region
LODGINGBook early in Albany — gravel events fill local accommodation fast
FOODCarry your own ride nutrition. Local options usually plentiful before/after.
PACKET PICKUPDay-before-event pickup is standard. Confirm via official site.
PARKINGEvent parking varies — check race FAQ
▌ BOTTOM LINE

Great Southern Gravel is a quality oceania event — great if you're nearby or want to explore the region.