Grinduro Italia: The world’s coolest gravel race?

James ‘Hank’ Lowsley-Williams is no stranger to a challenge. He’s conquered the world’s longest descent on a Chilean volcano and attempted to set the Land's End to John o'Groats tandem record alongside Mark Beaumont, to name just two.

Despite his impressive list of achievements, Hank had somehow avoided any gravel challenges…until now. Virtually every GCN presenter has tackled the rough stuff, so we decided it was time for Hank to join his presenter companions by taking on some gravel.

There are lots of gravel events available worldwide, but we decided to enrol him into Grinduro Italia, one of the world’s coolest gravel events. Watch the video above to find out how Hank fared and read on for an overview of the event.

What is the Grinduro series?

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There are six events in the Grinduro series in 2023

To any gravel-fanatics, the Grinduro name will be familiar. It’s a series of gravel events run throughout the world, from America to Europe.

With the popularity of the gravel scene surging, the Grinduro series was founded in Quincy, California, in 2015. The premise behind it was simple: create an event that mashed the best elements of enduro mountain biking and the classic gravel-grinder format into an event, ‘with an emphasis on fun and inclusivity’.

That first event in the Sierra Nevada mountains saw 450 riders tackle Grinduro’s now established format, with the route featuring four timed segments, while the rest of the route wasn’t against the clock, giving riders the opportunity to relax and enjoy the event. It’s that fun aspect that has remained at the heart of the series ever since, with the camping, live music and bike exhibition creating a unique atmosphere that’s as important as the riding itself.

It proved to be a successful formula and only two years later Grinduro made the leap across the Atlantic, launching its first European event in Scotland, before moving on to Canada and Japan in 2019 as it became a truly global event.

In 2023 the number of events had grown to six, spread across three continents, with ones in Germany, Wales, Italy, Japan and two in the USA.

Grinduro Italia: coolest cycling event?

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The Grinduro Italia route

Each location provides a unique experience, but we decided to send Hank to the inaugural edition of Grinduro Italia, a three-day event which blends riding with partying - the actual ride only takes place on one of the three days, so there’s plenty of chance to explore and have fun away from the bike. Check out the full schedule for the three-day event here.

Read more: How much faster are pro gravel cyclists? Beginner vs amateur vs pro

Despite the festival-like atmosphere, it’s still a race and Hank is very competitive, so he naturally had his eyes on a high placing.

To do it, he’d have to complete the 103km course in Tuscany, except he wouldn’t need to be the fastest over that distance. Times were only taken over four segments, and placings were based on accumulative time.

The first segment was a short and sharp 2.6km climb, taking in 133m of elevation gain. Hank isn’t known for his climbing ability, so this was one where he’d aim to lose as little time as possible.

With the climbing out of the way early, next up was an opportunity for the descenders. At only 3.7km long, it’s only a short segment but was one Hank targeted, being a better descender than he is a climber.

Even on the timed segments, the event is about having fun, and the Montioni Jungle singletrack was one of the funniest sections of the entire route, flowing for 3.8km.

The final segment offered another chance for the descenders, including Hank who was hoping to take time on the 1.7km downhill run.

These segments vary per event and they don’t have to be raced, it’s completely up to each rider. Many choose to take them easy, while others take the opportunity to test themselves.

Best bike for Grinduro?

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Hank's Orbea Terra bike for Grinduro Italia

As the events combine elements of enduro and gravel riding, there are always a wide range of bikes on show. Many use dedicated gravel bikes while others use mountain bikes, and there’s often a lot of hybrids, landing somewhere in between. Ultimately the best bike is whatever you’re comfortable on.

Read more: Gravel bike vs mountain bike - which is best?

For his event Hank opted for a gravel machine, using the Grinduro-ready Orbea Terra combined with Campagnolo’s mechanical Ekar groupset, which according to the Italian brand is the lightest dedicated gravel groupset available. Ready for any terrain, and the tough uphill segment, it’s 13-speed, guaranteeing the perfect gear whatever the terrain. Campagnolo also supplied the Levante wheels, impressively lightweight for a durable wheelset at only 1.5kg.

Beyond the wheels and groupset, saddle choice is important for events like these which can be rather uncomfortable on your rear end. Luckily Hank had Selle San Marco’s Regal - a redesigned version of the brand’s iconic saddle which was first released in 1983.

It was a seriously impressive bike, but was it enough to power Hank to success? Watch the full video now to find out.

To learn more about the Grinduro range of events, head over to its website here.