Gempen Grinder - Gravel Race & Festival

Gempen Grinder – Basel, Switzerland

• Date: 25–27 September 2026
• Location: Basel, Switzerland
• Distances: 40km, 50km, 100km
• Event Type: Gravel Race, Festival, Social Ride

The Gempen Grinder offers a distinct weekend for those seeking a memorable gravel race in Switzerland, set against the backdrop of the Jura mountains near Basel. Spanning three days, the event is a considered blend of competition, community, and atmosphere. It’s an occasion built around the simple joy of a proper day on the bike, where the finish line each day marks the beginning of a shared evening with music, food, and quiet celebration.

Riders can choose their challenge, with 100km and 50km self-supported routes charting a course through the region’s best-kept secrets. The terrain is a mix of flowing champagne gravel and forested singletrack descents, designed to reward a steady rhythm. These are routes that ask for focus but give back with quiet scenery and a feeling of profound escape, creating a classic Switzerland gravel race experience. The riding is at the heart of the weekend, a shared journey through a rolling landscape.

A unique feature of the weekend is the Gravel Omnium, held at dusk on Friday. This is pitched as the world's first gravel track competition, taking the energy of velodrome racing onto a purpose-built gravel circuit. Spectators can watch riders contest a series of tactical events including scratch, elimination, and points races under the lights. It provides a focal point for the festival grounds and an exciting start to the weekend for riders and supporters alike.

The entire experience is structured as a full weekend retreat. Camping is available at the heart of the venue, allowing participants to stay immersed in the atmosphere from the Friday morning opening until the final quiet spin on Sunday. The days are framed by social gatherings, from the pre-race pasta party to the post-ride festival with its craft beer, food trucks, and workshops. It’s an event where community is built not just on the bike, but in the shared moments between.

For those seeking a more relaxed pace, the 40km Gempen 40 is a guided social ride with no timing, focused purely on the enjoyment of the landscape and the festival spirit. This inclusive approach ensures the weekend is open to a wide range of riders, making it a welcoming introduction to the region and a fine example among the other gravel events in Switzerland. The emphasis is on participation and shared experience, not just competition.

As the riding ends, the social fabric of the festival continues. The weekend concludes with the gentle ‘Hangover Ride’ on Sunday morning, a chance for one last quiet pedal and a proper goodbye to new friends and the Jura terrain. This thoughtful combination of a rewarding course and a vibrant community makes this more than just a race. For full details on the routes and to register, consult the official event website.