GranGuanche Audax Gravel

GranGuanche Audax Gravel is a ferry-hopping journey across five Canary Islands, from the volcanic north of Lanzarote to a steep, misty finale on El Hierro. In the old audax spirit the clock is set by the ferry timetable rather than by rivals: riders are self-supported but free to ride together, and the ports, cafés and crossings become the places where the field regroups, shares meals and swaps stories.

Every island has its own character. Lava fields and black sand on Lanzarote, wide, windswept gravel on Fuerteventura, the pine-forested mountain heart of Gran Canaria, damp forest and high slopes beneath Teide on Tenerife, and finally El Hierro, where the route climbs into the clouds before dropping hard towards the sea. Most of it follows non-technical double track and quiet lanes, with occasional rocky stretches and a short push.

The event comes from Outer Detours, the team of Matteo Minelli, who conceived the GranGuanche, ultra-cyclist Daniela Kirchner and Audax director Ventura Mendoza. Their route tracks are free for anyone to ride outside the event, and a share of the places is reserved to bring more women and non-binary riders to the start line in Lanzarote.