Cycling World Gravel Series set for Galloway Forest
The UCI world championship event will see some of the best gravel cyclists in the world head to Gatehouse of Fleet on May 20th.
Galloway Forest Park will play host to an elite gravel cycling race next month, with over 1000 riders expected to take part.
The event, called The Gralloch, is part of the Trek UCI World Gravel Series and will take place on May 20th.
More than 2000 visitors will head to Gatehouse of Fleet in Galloway, including the world's best professional and amateur gravel cyclists - providing what is hoped to be a significant boost to the local economy.
Maximilian Wussler is the co-founder of RED:ON, the company organising The Gralloch.
He said: "It's all come together quite quickly but even more successfully than we could have imagined, with 1000 riders now due to be on the start line.
"It offers this opportunity of having this exciting mix of the very best amateur riders up and down the country and across the globe racing alongside the professionals, and that's a unique opportunity you don't get in other sports and other cycling categories.
Galloway could be regular on world cycling stage
The race is 113km long and winds through the forest park on gruelling gravel tracks.
Mr Wussler thinks this event can put Galloway on the map when it comes to world-class gravel cycling venues.
He said: "It's easily up there with the best in Europe in terms of trails, stunning nature, beautiful scenery and great access.
"If you think about Gatehouse of Fleet, within two or three minutes you're off-road, onto gravel tracks - and that's hard to match elsewhere."
When speaking on the difficulty of the course, he added: "It's going to be extremely challenging, but also very exciting. For the professional riders and for the amateur riders, earning that finisher medal will easily be one of the toughest challenges they face."
Local hopes fall on British cyclocross champion Cameron Mason and international mountain biker Isla Short, while Australian Freddy Ovett - who was born in Dumfries - will also take part.
An unnamed olympic gold medalist is also expected to compete, with further details on their participation to be revealed at a later date.