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Train for your first gravel race

A realistic 12-week plan you can actually stick to — built around consistency, off-road skills, and dialling in race-day nutrition.

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The 12-week plan

  1. Weeks 1-4 — Base

    Build the engine. Aim for 3-4 rides a week, mostly easy (Zone 2 — you can hold a conversation). Add one weekly endurance ride that grows from 90 minutes to 2.5 hours. Skip intensity; consistency is the goal.

  2. Weeks 5-8 — Build

    Keep the easy rides, add one weekly tempo or sweet-spot session (2-3 x 10-15 min just below threshold). Long ride climbs to 3-4 hours, ideally on a course that mimics race surface. Add one off-road skills ride per week.

  3. Weeks 9-10 — Peak

    Highest training load. Long ride hits 4-5 hours (or ~70% of race distance), one harder day with race-pace efforts, plus easy spins for recovery. Test your full race nutrition and bike setup on the long ride.

  4. Weeks 11-12 — Taper & race

    Cut volume by 30-50%, keep a couple of short race-pace efforts to stay sharp. Sleep, eat, and pack early. Race week: short easy rides only, hydrate well, no new gear.

Two things most beginners underrate

  • Nutrition: practice eating on the bike

    Aim for 60-90 g of carbs per hour. Test every gel, bar, and bottle on long rides — race day is a terrible time to discover a flavour makes you queasy.

  • Skills: don't skip the basics

    Practice fixing a flat (tubeless plug + spare tube), drinking and eating without stopping, riding in a paceline, and descending loose gravel with weight back and arms relaxed.

Related reads:

Find a local gravel raceWhat to pack on race dayChoosing gravel tyres

Training for your first gravel race — FAQ

How long does it take to train for a gravel race?

For a 60-100 km event, plan on 10-12 weeks if you already ride 2-3 hours per week. For 100-200 km, give yourself 16-20 weeks to safely build volume and durability.

How many hours per week do I need to train?

Most first-timers succeed on 5-8 hours per week, peaking at 8-10 hours in the heaviest two weeks. Consistency matters more than crushing single big rides.

Do I need a coach or a structured plan?

A structured plan helps you avoid the classic mistakes (too much intensity, no taper). A coach is optional — many free or low-cost plans on TrainingPeaks, Zwift, or Strava work well for a first event.

Should I train on gravel or is road training enough?

Build base fitness anywhere, but spend at least one ride per week on terrain that matches your race — rough roads, doubletrack, or singletrack. Bike handling and confidence on loose surfaces are race-day differentiators.

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