Gravel n Grostl is a 540-kilometre gravel event set in the Kaiserwinkl region of Tyrol, Austria, with approximately 11,000 metres of elevation gain through one of the Alps' most beautiful and underexplored gravel riding landscapes. The event takes its name from Tiroler Grostl — the classic Tyrolean dish of pan-fried potatoes, onion, and meat topped with a fried egg — a nod to the culinary culture of the region that organisers hope riders will stop to enjoy along the way. The route navigates alpine valleys, high mountain passes, forested plateaus, and traditional farming communities across a four-day window, combining fast descents on wide gravel forestry roads with technical climbs on narrower mountain tracks. The Kaiserwinkl sits at the eastern end of Tyrol near the German and Italian borders, and the route crosses into both during its course, giving it an international flavour despite its Austrian base. October timing means the high alpine sections have largely shed their summer tourist traffic and can feel genuinely remote; temperatures are cooling at altitude, and the risk of early season snow on the highest passes adds a note of genuine uncertainty to route planning. The event has a relaxed and community-oriented culture that reflects the Alpine tradition of hospitality — riders who stop at mountain huts for local food are very much in the spirit of the event.
Based on this event's terrain, difficulty and riding style.
Riders taking on Gravel ‘n’ Grostl will cover 540 km and climb roughly 11000 m over the course of the route.
For Gravel ‘n’ Grostl, we'd recommend a Gravel Bike — plan on 45-50mm Tubeless tires and a wide-range drivetrain, something like a 38-40T (1x) chainring paired with a 10-51T cassette, to handle the terrain comfortably.
We rate Gravel ‘n’ Grostl as Intermediate overall. Riders should be ready for rough, technical terrain for a good stretch of the route, steadily rolling, with a healthy amount of climbing elevation gain, and mild and generally comfortable conditions.
Gravel ‘n’ Grostl takes place on October 8, 2026. That puts it in autumn, as conditions start cooling but daylight hours are shrinking.
Gravel ‘n’ Grostl runs primarily on gravel, and we'd recommend 45-50mm Tubeless tires to handle it comfortably.