FAQ
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
The Gralloch organisers are working with one of the largest traffic management contractors in the country.
Advance warning signage and extensive diversion signage will be installed to ensure all alternative routes are easily accessible.
A dedicated parking area will be available to all event participants just to the north of Gatehouse of Fleet, along the Old Military Road towards the Big Water of Fleet viaduct (location subject to final confirmation).
Participants will be informed that using the on-street parking in Gatehouse is not allowed.
In the first instance we ask that any journeys to and from your house are planned to avoid the closed roads.
On race day we will have a telephone number available on the event website. The phone is located in the Event Control Room. Please call us and explain where you are and we can advise you based upon the dynamics of the racing and maintaining a safe environment for the public and the riders. Emergency services will always have immediate access to all areas of the race route. Emergency service representatives will be located in the Event Control Room on race day.
The Gralloch organisers work with the community, specifically the Gatehouse Community Council and D&G Council, to bring short- and long-term value to the area which from our experience can be substantial.
The short-term benefits are in the form of trade and excitement with the longer term bring in the form of jobs and economic opportunity for the region.
We do not pay compensation.
Our team will work with all disabled and vulnerable people directly affected to develop personal plans to minimise the inconvenience. Alternative parking spaces will also be made available for all those residents impacted by parking bay suspensions. Further details and locations of these alternative parking locations will be shared in April 2024 following community consultation.
The bus stop outside the Murray Arms will be relocated to The Ship Inn (subject to final confirmation from the bus operator).
The Fan Zone will be a busy area and will naturally have background noise of people. There will be talks and entertainment in the Fan Zone as well as the podium presentations. The times during which we expect noise for the stage will be published here as the detailed schedule evolves. There will also be a PA system in the Fan zone for announcements. During opening hours the Fan Zone shall have ambient music playing.
During the hours leading up to the start of The Gralloch there will be music playing through the PA system in the Start and Finish Zone. This will be louder than the music playing in the Fan Zone as its purpose is to build atmosphere. There will be commentary via the PA system throughout the race day.
If you are a business we hope that you will have a windfall weekend because of the people coming to ride in or watch The Gralloch. We also hope that the cycling helps to inspire kids to ride their bikes more, particularly with the Kids Races taking place whilst The Gralloch competitors are out racing in the forest.
Impacted businesses should contact us if they need support in planning access for staff and coordinating delivery/collection schedules.
We believe that there will be a long term tourism boost for the area. Needless to say, that the whole community is invited to come and watch the spectacle and enjoy free entertainment in the Fan Zone and get involved in helping us to deliver the event.
We work closely with local clubs, charities and organisations. Let us know if you’d like to get involved. Just drop an email to: info@grallochgravel.com
There will be some inconvenience in putting on such a large event and that comes in the form of some traffic management, road closures and parking bay suspension. We have designed the event to minimise these issues but inevitably there are some unavoidable downsides which we will work hard to help residents with.
There will be some road closures for setting up the Start and Finish Zone, as well as for the Fan Zone. There will also be some traffic management installed on both Laurieston Rd, B796, B727, Carstramon Wood and Queens Way to facilitate rider and public safety.
There will be some parking bay suspensions for the 16th and 18th May 2024 during the set up and operations of the event.
If you live in any of the Zones described on this page you will be affected by the traffic management, road closures and parking bay suspensions.
The Fan Zone is a designated area for various activations at the event including but not limited to:
Event Registration
Stage & Podium
Event Expo
Catering (food and drink)
Talks and Entertainment
The Fan Zone is open and free to attend for everyone (public and participants). The Fan Zone is located in Ann St (subject to final confirmation).
The Start and Finish of The Gralloch is on the High Street in Gatehouse of Fleet. The majority of the route is in the Galloway Forest Park. Sections of the route will be on public road where traffic management restrictions will apply to provide a safe environment for the riders and the public.
The Fan Zone is in Ann Street (subject to final confirmation).
The Gralloch is being held on May 18th, 2024. The race starts at 10:00hrs (subject to final confirmation). The final finishers are expected around 19:00hrs.
Anyone who wishes to compete can enter The Gralloch (minimum age is 19 on 31.12.2024). The Gralloch is highly inclusive however there are Cut-Off points and any cyclist not reaching those points by a certain time of day will be asked to return to Gatehouse of Fleet via a shortcut and will not be counted as official finishers.
The Gralloch is a cycle race for professional cyclists and amateur cyclists. The Gralloch is part of the UCI Gravel World Series. The winners and the first 25% of each age group will be invited to compete in the UCI Gravel World Championships. The competitors will be competing over a 110km course in the Galloway Forest Park. The start and finish of the race is outside the Murray Arms Hotel by the clocktower in Gatehouse of Fleet.
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