Embraced by borderland peaks, Grava Lybica emerges as a weekend of intense cycling and deep connection with the mountains — less a conventional race than an invitation to rediscover the free-spirited essence of gravel.

For three days, with the unique enclave of Llívia, in La Cerdanya, as its base camp, the gravel community will gather from July 17th to 19th to share kilometers and stories far from the pressure of rankings. Alongside complementary activities intrinsically related to cycling but in its most social form, Grava Lybica is set to be one of the highlights of the summer.  

Beyond the chronometer

What sets Grava Lybica apart from traditional events is its philosophy: there are no starting grids or overall classification, but rather timed segments that allow riders to test themselves without compromising the spirit of the journey. Each participant sets their own pace, while the organisation marks the route, ensures basic safety, and provides clearly signposted water points and feed zones.

“We’re inspired by the adventurous cyclist — the person who, like us, gets on the bike and rides six or seven hours just to discover new places. We’re not looking at numbers, speeds or watts. That’s the spirit of Grava Lybica,” says Marcos Batista, one of the event’s organizers.

The proposal goes beyond pure performance: it is about enjoying the landscape, the silence of the Pyrenees, and the quiet complicity that emerges between riders.

The heart of the gathering: La Foguera

At the centre of Llívia beats La Foguera, the social village where the life of the event unfolds. Here, after each day’s ride, music blends with food trucks serving local produce, craft beer and spaces to unwind.

Throughout the weekend, the programme will also include talks on different topics, open-air documentary screenings and live music — all with the ambition of transforming the atmosphere into an experience for the participants and their guests as memorable as the riding itself.

Two stages, two landscapes

On the first stage menu, 110 km with +2,500m, riders will tackle a demanding route departing from Llívia and climbing along the ridges la Cerdanya — from Baga d’Alp to the Serra de l’Artiga — offering wide panoramas, sinuous ascents and technical descents that require focus and rhythm.

On the second day, 60 km with +1,300 m, we’ll encounter pure mountain terrain. The route approaches 2,000 metres of altitude at the foot of Puigpedrós, one of the most emblematic guardians of the region. Pine forests, sun-exposed sectors and a fast final descent on wide tracks round off a day that captures the essence of Pyrenean gravel.

Both stages are designed to be fully rideable on a gravel bike, yet with the variety of terrain and vegetation — and the honest difficulty — that gravel riders quietly hope for.

With its high average altitude, open valleys and well-preserved tracks, the organization hopes to establish the Cerdanya region as a destination that reaches far beyond other types of tourism.

“We want people who come here to learn to respect this privileged environment we have. Ideally, riders leave with the taste of a genuine connection with the mountains and perhaps with a new perspective on what Cerdanya can be, beyond second homes, golf courses and ski resorts,” Batista adds.

Grava Lybica goes beyond a cycling challenge; it is a celebration of everything that makes gravel unique: the freedom to explore without haste, a deep connection with the landscape, and the chance to share a passion with fellow cyclists. In a setting where the Pyrenees dominate the horizon and local culture seeps into every trail, the bicycle ceases to be merely a means of transport and becomes a bridge to a pure, memorable adventure.

Registration for Grava Lybica, including all its activities, is now open on its website. Raw Cycling Magazine will be part of this inaugural edition, and we are already looking forward to sharing a great weekend with organizers and participants. See you there?