Gravel Fest Morlaco

Gravel Fest Morlaco, also referred to as Gravel Fest Austro, is a gravel cycling event based in Cuenca, a UNESCO World Heritage city in the Ecuadorian Andes sitting at roughly 2,500 meters elevation. Organized by Bikepacking Ecuador, the country's leading endurance cycling community, the event's flagship Morlaca edition covers approximately 129 kilometers with over 3,200 meters of elevation gain, riding through a demanding mix of natural roads, unpaved tracks, paved sections, bike paths, and local roads, with brief stretches requiring riders to dismount and push their bikes. The terrain reflects the Andean highlands around Cuenca: shifting microclimates, untouched gravel, cobbled colonial paths, and cloud forest trails through páramo ecosystems.

Founded in 2018, Bikepacking Ecuador has built a strong endurance cycling community in the country, also organizing TransEcuador and various Brevet events. Gravel Fest Morlaco represents a newer, festival-style addition to their calendar, emphasizing both the physical challenge of riding at altitude in the Andes and the cultural experience of Cuenca and its surrounding rural communities. Solo and pairs categories are both available, with the race typically held in early December.