“GRVL Events Group, the organizers of SBT and FNLD GRVL events, today announce the addition of a new gravel cycling race in Australia called RADL GRVL at the Santos Tour Down Under.” – RADL GRVL
“The event will run from Thursday 18th to Saturday 20th of January during the 2024 Santos Tour Down Under and feature a $10,000 AUD Pro prize purse split evenly between the top three Pro Men and Women. The inaugural RADL GRVL event is founded by the organizers of SBT GRVL in the US together with Adelaide local and professional cyclist Tiffany Cromwell and her partner F1 driver Valterri Bottas. It is the first time a gravel cycling race in Australasia will be held at a World Tour event and the first time a gravel cycling race of this caliber will take place in the territory and will be supported by local partners and category exclusive GRVL Global Partners.”
RADL GRVL Promotional Video
Tiffany Cromwell Proud to Bring RADL GRVL to her Hometown Adelaide (also the hometown of JOM of Gravel Cyclist)
RADL GRVL is the latest event in a trifecta of gravel races that has grown out of the popularity and success of the founding race, SBT GRVL, which premiered in Steamboat Springs, Colorado in 2019. FNLD GRVL debuted in 2023 in Lahti, Finland, Valterri Botas’ hometown. Now, RADL GRVL will become the third international event in the series and its ties to Adelaide are strong as it is the hometown of RADL GRVL co-founder Tiffany Cromwell. According to Cromwell “I’ve spent years racing professionally, and the unpaved roads around my hometown of Adelaide are the reason I fell in love with gravel cycling. I’m looking forward to bringing RADL GRVL to McLaren Vale at Santos Tour Down Under this January and showing riders from around Australia and beyond what makes the riding, scenery, and hospitality in South Australia so special.”
Valtteri Bottas said bringing the event to Adelaide and aligning with the Santos Tour Down Under was an obvious choice. “I’ve enjoyed some very memorable gravel rides around Adelaide and McLaren Vale over the last few years, so when the opportunity arose to bring an event to the area I was fully committed,” said Bottas. “Last June I had the chance to introduce the gravel cycling community to the riding around my hometown of Lahti, Finland at FNLD GRVL, and this year I’m excited that Tiffany gets to do the same around her backyard of South Australia.”
“RADL GRVL offers a variety of gravel cycling events over the course of 3 days, kicking off on Thursday the 18th with an informal shake-out ride leaving from the Tour Village in Victoria Square/Tarntanyangga place. Riders will line-up to compete against each other through the region of McLaren Vale on Friday in a highly contested star-studded race across the gravel roads of South Australian wine country.”
“On Saturday 20 January RADL GRVL will host a legendary post-race shakedown ride from the Santos Tour Down Under Village that will finish with a fun watch party on Willunga Hill for the Santos Tour Down Under THINK! Road Safety Men’s Stage 5.”
Registration
“Registration will open on Wednesday the 25th of October at www.radlgrvl.com and will be limited to 250 entries on a first-come first-served basis. While the 2024 event will be a pilot and have limited places for participants, the organizer, GRVL, are looking to increase the event’s capacity in future years.”
Minister for Tourism Zoe Bettison said the GRVL event during the Santos Tour Down Under enhanced the overall event offering for cycling fans. “South Australia is the destination of choice for cycling enthusiasts in Australia, and we will continue to evolve the offerings we are giving our community,” said Minister Bettison.
Amy Charity GRVL Events Co-Founder and SBT GRVL CEO said Adelaide has always been on the team’s radar as one of the premier cycling destinations in the world. “When Tiffany joined the GRVL team as a co-owner she explained all the reasons why South Australia should be on our short list for gravel event destinations and I was immediately sold.”
The Santos Tour Down Under is taking place in Adelaide and regional South Australia from 12-21 January 2024. It will feature nine days of elite racing for men and women.
Please visit tourdownunder.com.au and www.radlgrvl.com for more information and to book or express interest for all participation events.