GravelMan Series Marrakech

So, you want to swap your usual saddle for the trails of the Atlas ? Good news: the GravelMan Series is saddling up in Marrakech in January, and honestly, it looks absolutely wild. Struggling to picture it? No problem, we’ll help you out: desert 🏜️, Berber villages perched high 🏘️, the Toubkal looming at 4 167 m above you, and endless trails. Morocco is a fairly dry country 🌵, so you’ll likely have sun ☀️ and temperatures ranging from 10°C to 20°C. The pitch is simple: you start from the town of Ourika toward the Haut-Atlas, you climb up to altitude villages (hello legs 🔥), you traverse landscapes, you dip back toward Marrakech, the ochre city. Between two, you’ll eat some elevation on a big spoon 🥄, rocks (if you choose the gravel option 🪨), and you’ll probably wonder why you didn’t stay a bit longer on the couch 🛋️ after the holidays 🎉. But that’s what’s good about it! As they say, “start with the legs, finish with the mind.” Spoiler: you’ll need the mind 💪. Okay, now, let’s get to the point.

The GravelMan Series Marrakech, this isn’t ONE race, it’s TWELVE races. Yes, you read that right, twelve. Enough to please everyone, from the hardcore fan of Eddy Merckx and Tadej Pogačar, who want to tackle 600 km (7 500 mD+) to the Sunday cyclist who’ll settle for 60 km (1 000 mD+). Between those? Formats of 500 km, 350 km (6 000 mD+), 200 km (4 500 mD+), and 120 km (2 000 mD+). And cherry on the tajine 🍒, each distance comes in a Gravel version (mixed road/trail) OR Road (100% asphalt). If you don’t have a gravel bike? No problem—bring your road bike! Do you love crunching gravel? There’s plenty for you. Morocco in all its splendor! ✨ What’s great about GravelMan Series is that “back-to-basics” vibe. No lead car, no mechanic every 30 km... Just you, your bike, and your resourcefulness! Flat tire? 🛞 Fix it. Hungry? You’d better have energy bars 🍫. Lost? Pull out your map 🗺️. You spot goats? 🐐 You weave and exchange waves 👋. This autonomy, that’s what makes the adventure magical 🪄. When you reach the end, you’ll feel like you’ve accomplished something truly grand. You won’t have just finished a race—you’ll have lived a real expedition.

The backcountry of Marrakech, is a different world 🌍, you’ll have plenty of time to see it as you pedal 🚴. That said, after your little excursion, there’s a lot to discover. If you worry about not having time to hit the trails this year, the Oukaïmeden ski area will open its doors at Oukaïmeden ⛷️ at 3 200 m altitude. Yes, snow isn’t a myth on the African continent ❄️. You’ll also discover the secrets of the Ourika valley or the cascades of Ouzoud further east, before returning to Marrakech. The souks, the Medina, the Jardin Majorelle, it’s all these places waiting for you. We haven’t even touched the comfort part yet... the stomach! Let us tell you you’ll be spoiled 🍽️. Moroccans do not mess around with this. Among the must-try dishes, you must absolutely sample the couscous, the national dish, the harira 🍜, the msemmen, the tangia as well as a good kebab Moroccan! For dessert, head to the Sfendj, the cornes de gazelle and the chebakia. You’ve got to dive in with style! 😉

Are your colleagues at work talking about their New Year’s resolutions? You show them photos from your adventure. Game over 🎮.