Kielder Triple Crown
📍 North England, United Kingdom
Gisburn, United Kingdom · 04 July 2026
Difficulty: 5/5 — Brutal
The 103km Lancashire Gravel Epic is a highly challenging off-road event in the UK, featuring 2200m of climbing across mixed gravel and tarmac surfaces. It demands significant fitness and technical skill due to long climbs and varied terrain.
Visit official site →This event is designed for experienced off-road cyclists and regular riders who are in decent shape, comfortable with long distances, and prepared for substantial elevation gain.
Beginner gravel riders, those unprepared for sustained climbs, or individuals lacking experience on technical and chunky off-road sections will likely find this event very difficult.
Training should concentrate on building endurance for prolonged hours in the saddle, tackling long climbs on both paved and unpaved roads, and honing bike handling skills for diverse gravel conditions.
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Riders can choose between a 103km long route with 2,200m of climbing or a 68km medium route featuring 1,500m of elevation gain.
The route offers a diverse mix of surfaces, with approximately 55% off-road sections including smooth fire roads, challenging chunky gravel on Salter Fell, and parts of the Pennine Way. The remaining percentage is on tarmac back roads.
A gravel bike is recommended, but a hardtail mountain bike would also be suitable. It is advised to use wide, all-round gravel tires, ideally between 42-50mm, with specific recommendations provided closer to the event date.
The event includes a fully signed route, GPX files, checkpoints with proper food and drinks (tea, coffee, cake, sandwiches), mobile mechanics at the village and select feed stops, support vans, and a celebratory beer at the finish line.
The long route is rated as very tough for both rider fitness and technical skill. It features long and steep climbs, sustained off-road sections with varied gravel, including some rocky parts that may require walking.
The rider village at Gisburn Forest opens at 7:30 am, with staggered starts for participants between 8:00 am and 8:45 am. The village closes at 7:00 pm, and ride times and photos are sent by email at 8:00 pm.
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