Skip to content
TIER 3

TransRockies Gravel Royale

British Columbia, Canada · 2026: August 21

VERDICT British Columbia multi-stage gravel adventure.

57
LAB SCORE
[05]

The Ratings

Course verdict

BC mountain multi-stage gravel.[4]

Course Profile ratings for this race. Select a point for its explanation. LOGISTICS2/5LENGTH4/5TECHNICAL3/5ELEVATION4/5CLIMATE3/5ALTITUDE2/5ADVENTURE4/5 22/35
Course Profile
How the scoring works →
Custom plan

Train for TransRockies Gravel Royale

A training plan for TransRockies Gravel Royale—shaped to your fitness and the hours you have.

[01]

Course Overview

British Columbia multi-stage gravel adventure.

200 mi
Distance
20,000 ft
Elevation
British Columbia, Canada
Location
August 21, 2026
Date
~200
Field Size
$500-800
Entry Cost
Facts & History

Reputation: Regional BC event.

[03]

The Course

Cyclist with race number 625.2 navigating through dense forest on single track gravel trail with fallen logs and lush vegetation - TransRockies Gravel Royale - British Columbia, CanadaPhoto: YouTube / PIQUE PICTURES
Wide gravel road stretching through dense coniferous forest with mountains visible in the distance creating perfect gravel racing conditions - TransRockies Gravel Royale - British Columbia, CanadaPhoto: YouTube / PIQUE PICTURES

BC mountain multi-stage gravel.

Signature challenge: BC multi-stage mountains.

SURFACE COMPOSITION
overall
gravel 84%
pavement 10%
gravel 84%pavement 10%doubletrack 5%
50
MILE
Stage 1 Mountains
First stage mountain sections.
100
MILE
Stage 2 Midpoint
Halfway through multi-stage.
180
MILE
Final Stage Mountains
Final stage mountain sections.
RIDERS REPORT
forest sections
First sections where the woods are slow real slow according to riders
challenging descents
More challenging descents where suspension helps take out some of the rough edges
tougher climbs
Tough climbs that require extra gears, with riders mentioning the need for a 52-tooth cassette for additional gearing
Champagne gravel is present on sections of the course, described as one of the surface types riders encounter during the race week
Course has rough edges on descents that benefit from suspension to smooth out the ride
Mix of forest sections and gravel roads, with forest areas being notably slow
[04]

From the Field

There are a few sections where having a little bit of suspension is quite nice. The diverge also comes with this seat post that provides a little bit of suspension as well. Just takes out some of the rough edges on some of the more challenging descents.

PIQUE PICTURES · 1.1K views

That first sections where the woods are slow real slow. So yeah nice day it's going to be a slow day it's going to be a hard day but hey if it was easy everyone would do it right.

Life Without Number · 220 views

I've kind of given up the idea of place half de just enjoying the ride

Life Without Number · 220 views

Not long after that last shot was taken the GoPro left its noisy Mount and went flying almost slow motion like over my shoulder into the bushes at the side of the trail

Life Without Number · 220 views
Gravel Racing Canada. TransRockies Gravel Royale 2024 Stage 2 Nipika BC. YETI v Tegart Pass #mtb
Life Without Number · 434 views · 10:59
What we'll be riding at TransRockies Gravel Royale  -- Bike Setup & Gear Breakdown  4K
PIQUE PICTURES · 1.1K views · 3:50
Gravel race Canada. TransRockies Gravel Royale 2024 stage 3 Nipika Mountain Resort on Yeti ARC mtb
Life Without Number · 220 views · 8:29
RACER

Racer Reviews

Raced TransRockies Gravel Royale? Be the first to rate it.
[07]

Training

August 21, 2026 TRANSROCKIES GRAVEL ROYALE
RIDERS REPORT
47mm tires run at 30 PSI on 650B rims for wider tire clearance
10-52 tooth cassette recommended for extra gears on tougher climbs
Specialized Diverge with Future Shock suspension is quite handy for sections where having a little bit of suspension is nice
Electronic shifting recommended for longer days as it provides easy feather touch shifting that's more enjoyable
[08]

Train for TransRockies Gravel Royale

RACE DEMAND PROFILE

Durability
10
Climbing
10
VO2 Power
4
Threshold
5
Technical
6
Heat
0
Altitude
4
Race Specificity
6
FREE

GET THE TRANSROCKIES GRAVEL ROYALE PREP KIT

12-week training timeline, race-day checklists, packing list, and personalized fueling calculator — unlocked instantly.

No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.

[09]

Race Logistics

Airport
Vancouver (YVR) or Kelowna (YLW) varies by location
Lodging
Included in package or arranged by organizers.
Food
Support provided. Stock nutrition.
Packet Pickup
Day before typically
Parking
At start/finish
RIDERS REPORT
Load all routes onto Garmin GPS device to avoid navigation difficulties on course
Always tether your GoPro as lesson learned from equipment flying off during the race
Expect slow days in forest sections and plan accordingly rather than focusing on placement
[10]

Tire Picks

42mmMIXED
1
Specialized Pathfinder Pro
42mm · $55 · 32W
Fast center, grippy edges. The modern all-rounder benchmark.
2
Pirelli Cinturato Gravel M
40mm · $74 · 34W
Mixed-terrain specialist. Balanced grip and speed for variable conditions.
3
Vittoria Terreno Mix
40mm · $80 · 34W
Graphene versatility. Mixed-terrain grip with reasonable rolling speed.
FRONT/REAR SPLIT Vittoria Terreno Dry 40mm / Specialized Pathfinder Pro 42mmFaster front for reduced rolling resistance on straights, grippier rear for traction on loose climbs and corners
[—]

Similar Races

[—]

Frequently Asked Questions

Historical weather data shows average highs of 69°F and lows of 50°F, with a 42% chance of rain on any given day. Chief Medical Officer warns 'rain can turn quickly into snow, especially on passes' with temperatures ranging 'above 30 degrees celsius and below zero.' Andrew Davidson faced 'a rain-soaked course that sapped the legs that little bit extra' on Stage 4, while forest fires forced course reroutes in multiple years. Similar climate challenges to SBT GRVL.[4]

A 'fabulous event with incredible attention to detail' but getting there remains self-solve. No airport information, no parking details, no packet pickup specifics despite $1,549 USD pricing. The camping and luggage transport work well at Nipika basecamp once you arrive.[7]

One rider counted '47 piles of bear shit' on Stage 1 roads, while the medical officer notes encounters with 'grizzly bears and stuff like that' in a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Barry Wicks describes following 'an old first nations hunting route' through remote forest service roads built for logging trucks.[8]

Rob Britton earned 'my first win as a gravel pro' at the 2022 inaugural edition, but this remains a 3-year-old event building reputation. No documented prize purse or established pro field beyond scattered elite participants. The course difficulty earns respect, but prestige requires time to develop.[6]

If you're in Canada with a budget—yes, it's solid. If you're international—there are better options.

[11]

Sources & Citations

Research sources used to build this race profile. Always verify details with official race sources before making travel or registration decisions.

  1. Route Maps RideWithGPS: TransRockies Gravel Royale 2021 Full Route (copy) (copy)ridewithgps.com/routes/52499537
  2. Other Sources 4Iiii4iiii.com/blog/2024-gravel-royale/
  3. Other Sources 4Iiii4iiii.com/blog/transrockies-gravel-royale/?srsltid=AfmBOo...
  4. Other Sources Cyclingmagazinecyclingmagazine.ca/gravel/2024-transrockies-gravel-royale...
  5. Other Sources Pacificcyclingcentrepacificcyclingcentre.ca/news/transrockies-gravel-royale/
  6. Other Sources Theradavisttheradavist.com/2022-transrockies-gravel-royale
  7. Other Sources Granfondoguidewww.granfondoguide.com/Contents/Index/6869/inaugural-tran...
  8. Other Sources Transrockiesgravelroyalewww.transrockiesgravelroyale.com/stage-stories/rider-safe...
  9. Other Sources Transrockiesgravelroyalewww.transrockiesgravelroyale.com/stage-stories/robert-sav...
  10. Other Sources Transrockiesgravelroyalewww.transrockiesgravelroyale.com/stage-stories/the-transr...