LOCH & LOAD
Sean McFarlane is in the Galloway Forest Park for Raiders Gravel, a three-day gravel stage event
Words Sean McFarlane Images Andy McCandlish
T
he cycling-event scene in the UK has endured a torrid few years. As we all know, 2020 was almost a total write-off. It picked up in 2021, but not by much, and it was only in 2022 that things got back to some kind of normality. Even still, the pandemic and its aftershocks continue to reverberate, with some events either folding as a direct result, or struggling to fill up as riders continue to avoid mass events.
Raiders Gravel, a three-day gravel event in southern Scotland’s Dumfries and Galloway region, has had a particularly tricky gestation. Its first edition was set for 2021, but ultimately had to be cancelled as the country continued to tackle Covid. The organisers had a freer run at it for 2022, which gave the impetus for the inaugural event to take place last August, and I was delighted to be invited.
If I was happy to be there, it was nothing compared to how the organisers felt. Along with photographer Andy, at the start of the event I met the event’s chief architect, Warren Sanders, a local bike guide whose sole aim really has been to show off his place of work to a wider audience. Talking to us about finally having lift-off with this very personal project, he was soon holding back tears. I’d have given him a hug had it not been for the fear of needing to prop up his huge 6ft 3in frame! Warren looked to have arranged an impressively slick event, with Canyon on board as a title sponsor and backed by the local council, Dumfries and Galloway, along with tourism agencies such as South of Scotland.
The event HQ and campsite opened on the Thursday, at Garries Park in Gatehouse of Fleet, with daily rides between 69 and 80km scheduled from Friday through Sunday. Each stage started with a neutralised rollout, before racing, should you wish to do so, began in earnest. The whole event was set in the fabulous Galloway Forest Park, which itself is part of the Galloway and Southern Ayrshire UNESCO Biosphere. This designation is down to the area’s landscapes, wildlife and cultural heritage. There are over 700 worldwide and this is Scotland’s first.
Nations league
On the start line was an eclectic mix of nationalities, with France, the Netherlands and USA all represented. There was also a significant Irish contingent, which reminded me that we were just an hour’s drive away from the ferry terminal in Cairnryan, which docks in Belfast. You could ride solo, or as a pair – if you rode in the latter category, your overall time would be take
