Exeter Gravel Races

Q: What is your withdrawal & refund policy?

Please see our Withdrawals Policy

Question 1

What is your withdrawal & refund policy?

Accepted Answer

Please see our Withdrawals Policy

Question 2

When will I receive further information about the event?

Accepted Answer

The detailed race information including maps, details on parking, registration, baggage and start times will be e-mailed out to participants the Tuesday before the event. This sometimes ends up in junk mail so please keep an eye out for it! You can also find it on the relevant event page under Race Manual. See full list of events here

Question 3

Are ebikes allowed to be used at your events?

Accepted Answer

We allow ebikes at all our cycling events, except for the Exeter Gravel Races which are classified as races under British Cycling rules. ebikes are also allowed at all our triathlon and aquabike events as we are keen to make our events as inclusive as possible. We just ask you to let us know that you are riding an ebike.

Question 4

How do I make changes to my booking? eg changing event, changing distance or adding a camping option?

Accepted Answer

The best way is to click the link in the confirmation email you received. There are then options to 'add items to booking', to change your booking or to transfer your entry to another person. There is an admin fee of between £8-£15 to change to a different event plus any difference in price.

Question 5

How environmentally friendly are you?

Accepted Answer

We’re doing our best to minimise our environmental impact. and use of single use plastics. Initiatives include

In 2026 we are transitioning to fully cupless events. Any cups we do provide are uncoated paper & designed to be recycled. We also encourage people to bring their own cups to events, both to take on liquids during events & if you want to buy a hot drink from any of our event caterers.
All medals are optional & we make a charity donation if you opt out
No dates on medals to minimise waste. We still put dates on medal ribbons though.
Any left over food from our events is taken to a local food bank.
We minimise use of single use plastics: we only use reusable zip ties & wherever possible use 5mm line instead of barrier tape.
For cycling events we now supply waxed cotton twine to attach numbers to bikes instead of single use plastic zip ties.
Swim hats are reused where possible & given on request at our pool based triathlons.
We encourage car sharing & offer discounts at some events for people who arrive on foot or by public transport.

Read the Sustainability & Reducing Plastics Use article on our website for the full programme,

Question 6

How do I use Klarna to spread the cost of entering an event over three interest free payments?

Accepted Answer

Klarna is now enabled for all our events. Fill in the registration form and then click the dark blue 'Pay in Full' button. On the next screen select 'Pay another Way' & you'll see the Klarna option.

Question 7

Do you offer Loyalty Points?

Accepted Answer

We now have a loyalty points system at Sportiva Events to reward people who take part in lots of our events. You accrue a point for each £1 you spend on events with us. Points can be swapped for Event Gift Vouchers at any time as follows

100 points £10
150 points £20
250 points £35
350 points £50
400 points £60

We also have double points on selected events. Unless otherwise stated points are turned off two or three weeks before the event date to encourage people to enter in good time. More details here

Question 8

Will there be timing chips

Accepted Answer

Yes, we use disposable timing chips are mounted on the back of your race numbers. These need to be attached, preferably using safety pins, to the front of your body above your waist. Please do not cover them with other clothing. If you attach them to your leg or back we cannot guarantee we will be able to detect your chip and you therefore may not receive a time.

Question 9

Are your gravel events fully marked?

Accepted Answer

For the Haldon Heroic the shorter Micro route, which also has the trickiest navigation, is fully marked, the longer routes are largely self nav. using the accurate GPX files supplied

For Devon Grit, again we mark the shortest Mini Route on Woodbury Common which multiple paths close to each other & is the trickiest section to navigate. The longer routes largely use the accurate GPX files supplied, though we do place a few arrows at confusing junctions.

The longer routes at Cornwall Grit are fully self nav.

Fully marking off-road routes is extremely time consuming & very prone to tampering. As the vast majority of regular gravel riders now have Garmin or similar head units, self nav makes more sense. It also means if you do go off course you realise within a few metres. The alternative, where someone has removed or turned an arrow, is that people can go miles off course before they realise.

The Devon Gravel races are on a closed circuit and are fully marked out with arrows and tape.

Question 10

Where can I find the Race Manuals for your events?

Accepted Answer

Race manual are now on the individual event pages. Please note that Race Manuals may be updated until the week before the event. See our full list of events here

Question 11

Can I wear headphones during your events?

Accepted Answer

Over ear or in ear headphones or pods are not allowed at any of our events. We do allow bone conducting type headphones, such as Shokz, at all events except triathlons, duathlons and open water swims. They should be set at a lower enough volume so you can hear instructions from marshals and the traffic around you.

Question 12

Are there age group prizes?

Accepted Answer

Yes, we normally have age group prizes for veteran categories in ten year bands. We'll award a prize to any age group that has at least three entries, three weeks before the event, when we order our trophies & prizes.

We operate a one prize per person rule so if the first overall finisher is a vet he/she will only receive the overall prize and the 1st vet prize will go to the first eligible vet.

Question 13

I think I ordered my pack by post but haven't received it?

Accepted Answer

We normally post these out on the Friday nine days before the event, so they should arrive by the Tuesday before the event. In the meantime you can read all the relevant information about the event including maps & the Race Manual on the event page. Click here for the full list of events.
If you're not sure if you ordered your pack by post, please log into your account, using the link in your confirmation email. Then go to the relevant booking & if you ordered pack by post you will see it listed in 'Purchases' with other products you've ordered, such as camping or a race belt.

Question 14

What bike do you recommend for your gravel events?

Accepted Answer

For all our gravel events we believe a gravel bike will be quickest. If top professionals such as Tom Pidcock or Matthieu Van der Poel were racing these courses they would definitely be on gravel bikes & probably running tyres in the 45-50mm range. Less experienced or skilled riders will probably find a mountain bike easier & more comfortable. The 'gravel' in Devon & Cornwall is very mixed. Yes there is some perfect 'Champagne gravel' but also a lot of more mixed terrain including rocks, pebbles & sand.

Question 15

Do you offer discounts for clubs?

Accepted Answer

Yes, we keen to get more clubs, companies & charities taking part in our events. If you buy six or more places in any of our events a 10 percent discount will automatically be applied to all the places. We're also happy to invoice your organisation instead of people entering individually. In that instance we will also waive our booking fees. If you'd like to be invoiced please email enquiries@sportivaevents.co.uk

Question 16

Are you races fully marked?

Accepted Answer

Yes all our events & road sportives are fully marked. The only exception is our gravel sportives, the Haldon Heroic and Devon Grit. On the gravel sportives only the short routes are fully marked.

Question 17

Are your events cupless?

Accepted Answer

During 2026 we are transitioning to fully cupless events. We now have collapsible TPU cups on sale if you don't have one of your own or we will of course refill bottles or soft flasks on request. We also strongly encourage people to bring hot drink cups with them for any drinks they plan to get from our event caterers. During the transition period we will have a limited supply of uncoated paper cups available.

Question 18

I opted for Refund Protect insurance when I registered. How do I make a claim?

Accepted Answer

There is a unique reference & a link in your booking email if you opted for Refund Protect. Alternatively you can log into your Eventrac account.

Question 19

I've ordered a t-shirt/other merchandise. Will it/they be posted out to me?

Accepted Answer

No, normally merchandise is ready to collect at registration at the event.

Sportiva Events

Exeter Gravel Races

Exeter Gravel Races

Organiser Details

4.7/5