Oncogravel

A different kind of gravel event

Most gravel events on the Catalan calendar are about the route, the community of riders and the challenge around a shared distance. Oncogravel is about something else. It’s a fundraiser first.

The 4th edition takes place on 7 November 2026 in Palamós, and the whole architecture of the event is built around one purpose: raising money for the Fundació Oncolliga Girona, a charity that works day in, day out for and alongside cancer patients and their families, offering support, presence, and a listening ear.

How it works

Riders enter as teams of 4 to 6. Two route options: a long 211 km and a shorter ~120 km, both on dirt roads and paths through the Baix Empordà, Gironès, and la Selva. The format is a relay: team members swap in and out during the race, but at least three riders from each team must be riding at any given time. That structure lets teams mix stronger and less experienced riders without leaving anyone behind, and shapes how teams plan sectors, swaps, and pacing across the day.

The terrain doesn’t demand technical mastery as the route is designed to be doable by any reasonably fit cyclist, not just seasoned racers.

What it costs

Each team commits to a minimum donation of €500 on top of the €65 per-rider registration fee. The donation goes directly to the Fundació: psychological support, home physiotherapy, lymphatic drainage, wig bank, orthopaedic equipment loans, and dozens of other services offered to people navigating cancer treatment and its aftermath.

The scale of the impact

The event has grown quickly since its launch. The 2024 edition drew 70 teams with 391 riders and raised €43,941. In 2025, the third edition passed €60,000 for the first time. If 2026 fills its 125-team cap, it becomes one of the more meaningful fundraising events on the Catalan endurance calendar. Donations, both to teams and to Dorsal 0 (the general fund), route through the official platform so Fundació Oncolliga Girona can issue tax deduction certificates.

Who’s behind it

Oncogravel is a collaboration between four organisations:

• Fundació Oncolliga Girona — the beneficiary, providing support to people with cancer
• Grand Fondo Community — the operational partner in Palafrugell, running route design and logistics
• Ajuntament de Palamós — host municipality, through its Department of Sports
• Palamós Outdoor Sports Festival — the wider multi-discipline outdoor sports event Oncogravel forms part of, spanning several days of sports, expo, and family activities

Why we’re covering it

At Gritline we spend a lot of time writing about races that push riders — technical, fast, remote, hard. Oncogravel doesn’t fit that template. It exists because a group of organisers in Girona decided that gravel could carry more than a race number, and every year a growing number of teams have agreed. Worth knowing about, worth showing up for, worth supporting even if you’re not on a team.