Experience a beautiful Japanese village this fall with the 2024 gravel ride

Are you interested in participating in an event where you can fully immerse yourself in lush forest landscapes while cycling through unpaved forest roads? This event will be held in one of Japan’s most beautiful villages, Nakagawa Village in Nagano Prefecture, on October 27.

Hosted by the International Cycling Association, the event is titled “2024 Gravel Ride Rally Series, Round 3: Nakagawa Village Stage.” This event offers a great opportunity to experience the charm of “gravel riding,” a new cycling activity that involves riding specially designed bikes on a mix of paved and unpaved roads.

What is gravel ride?

Gravel riding originated in Italy in the late 1990s when events using vintage bicycles became popular, recreating early 1900s race scenes from a time when asphalt roads were rare. Recently, gravel sections have even been incorporated into renowned European road races like the Tour de France and Giro d’Italia, making gravel riding more common across Europe.

By the mid-2010s, a new cycling culture took off in the American Midwest, particularly in Kansas, where cyclists rode road bikes with wider tires across long distances on unpaved and gravel roads. This gravel riding movement, which first gained popularity in Europe and the U.S., has since spread worldwide, and today, gravel riding events are held across the globe.

Overview of the Gravel Ride Rally Series

The Gravel Ride Rally Series is an event where participants ride through the forest roads of villages recognized as “Japan’s Most Beautiful Villages” by the nonprofit organization of the same name. In 2024, the series consists of three stages, with the Nakagawa Village stage being the third race.

Furthermore, the Gravel Ride Rally, which traverses the forest roads of Oshika Village, Nakagawa Village and Kawanehon Town, is organized as a way to help preserve Japan’s beautiful rural landscapes for future generations, with the support of local communities.

The event’s theme is “pursuing sustainability.” Therefore, rather than focusing on participant numbers, the rally aims to minimize the burden on local residents, who are facing population decline. To achieve this, the event adopts a rally format where rankings are determined by the cumulative times of time attack sections.

Event features

• Course: Approximately 100 km (a mix of paved and gravel roads)
• Start Format: Groups of 1-3 people with staggered starts at 1-minute intervals
• Competition Format: Rankings are determined by points in the rally sections, not by finish order
• Participation Requirements: Participants must have the stamina to ride over 120 km on a road bike

Highlights of the Nakagawa Village Stage

Nakagawa Village in Nagano Prefecture is a region rich in natural beauty, nestled between the Southern and Central Alps. Located in the southern part of Nagano, near the center of the Ina Valley, the village lies at the southernmost tip of the Kamiina District.

In 1958, the villages of Minamimuki on the east side and Katagiri on the west side, which were separated by the Tenryu River, merged to form Nakagawa Village, named after the river that unites the two areas. The village is divided into the Ryuto Minamimuki District on the east and the Ryusei Katagiri District on the west, each with its own unique characteristics.

Taking advantage of Nakagawa Village’s varied terrain, participants will ride through a course full of ups and downs. From paved roads to unpaved forest paths, the diverse landscape is what makes the Nakagawa Village stage so enjoyable.

Significance of the event

This event is not just a cycling competition but is also positioned as part of efforts to revitalize the region and protect the environment. Its significance can be summarized in two main areas:

1. Contributing to regional development

・Increasing interaction and tourism
・Enhancing the sustainability of the beautiful Villages
・Promoting forest roads as tourist resources

2. Environmental conservation efforts

・Forest restoration
・Promotion of forest road maintenance
・Raising participants’ environmental awareness

Message from the organizer

This gravel ride rally offers participants a unique experience that cannot be felt on paved roads. In fact, the vibrations directly transmitted through the tires and handlebars on unpaved ground, unexpected obstacles, and encounters with wildlife create situations where riders must constantly make decisions, allowing them to reclaim their own path.

Giuliano Nakanishi, the art director involved in planning and organizing the gravel ride rally, shares his thoughts:

“This rally is handcrafted by a small team of staff and local volunteers, so we don’t aim to attract a large number of participants. The goal is to spread the impact across smaller groups, ensuring sustainability without overwhelming any one location. Through the accumulation of small actions, we hope to build a community that enjoys cycling activities while promoting long-term branding for Japan.”

Become a part of sustaining Japan’s beautiful villages through gravel riding

The Gravel Ride Rally Series plans to expand to five stages by 2025, aiming to promote the appeal of gravel riding across Japan through this event. Participating in this event allows you to experience both the exhilaration of racing through nature and the joy of reclaiming your own path.

It’s not just about discovering the charm of the gravel ride rally but also about becoming a partner in sustaining Japan’s Most Beautiful Villages. If you’re interested in this initiative, consider applying through the link below.

Apply for the “2024 Gravel Ride Rally Series Stage 3 Nakagawa Village” here. (in Japanese)

Originally published on Livhub.