Andes Gravel Epic

Extreme
Date
2026-02-15
Location
Patagonia, Chile
Distance
190 km
Elevation
3400m
Category
Ultra
Region
South America
Organizer
Patagonia Gravel Adventures
Terrain
Mountain Gravel, Glacial Valleys, Patagonian Roads
⚠ Status: COMPLETED
About

Ride through dramatic Patagonian landscapes with towering peaks, glacial lakes, and challenging gravel roads.

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▌ RIDER INTEL DOSSIER
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TIER 2
~/dossier/andes-gravel-epic $ cat briefing.md

Ride through dramatic Patagonian landscapes with towering peaks, glacial lakes, and challenging gravel roads

South America ultra event organized by Patagonia Gravel Adventures

EFFORT35/60
EXPER.49/70

13 SCORING DIMENSIONS

ANDES GRAVEL EPIC
LENGTH8/10CLIMBING7/10DURABILITY8/10TECHNICALITY3/10HEAT6/10RACE PRESSURE3/10ADVENTURE10/10SCENERY9/10ORGANIZATION7/10VALUE7/10COMMUNITY8/10ACCESSIBILITY4/10FIELD DEPTH4/10

EFFORT MATRIX

LENGTH08/10
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190 km — long-day effort
CLIMBING07/10
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3,400 m total — 18 m/km
DURABILITY08/10
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Plan for 9+ hours in the saddle
TECHNICALITY03/10
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Mountain Gravel / Glacial Valleys / Patagonian Roads
HEAT06/10
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Hot-season race — hydrate aggressively
RACE PRESSURE03/10
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Adventure-focused, low racing pressure

EXPERIENCE MATRIX

ADVENTURE10/10
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Bikepacking / ultra format — proper expedition feel
SCENERY09/10
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Mountain Gravel, Glacial Valleys
ORGANIZATION07/10
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Community-sourced details
VALUE07/10
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Reasonable cost-per-km
COMMUNITY08/10
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Grassroots gravel scene around the event
ACCESSIBILITY04/10
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Reasonable to enter
FIELD DEPTH04/10
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Mixed field — pros + adventure riders

GREEN FLAGS

  • [+]190 km of extreme gravel through Patagonia
  • [+]3,400 m of climbing — proper elevation
  • [+]Self-supported / ultra format = adventure focus
  • [+]Organized by Patagonia Gravel Adventures
  • [+]Varied terrain: Mountain Gravel, Glacial Valleys, Patagonian Roads

RED FLAGS

  • [!]Extreme rating — only attempt with prior ultra experience
  • [!]Self-supported — no aid stations expected
  • [!]Details not yet verified — confirm via official site

RIDER FIT

Endurance MulePRIME · 8/10

Built for hours in the saddle — your distance

ClimberGOOD · 7/10

Significant climbing rewards low-watt grinding

Adventure TouristPRIME · 10/10

Ultra format = guided adventure with timing chips

BikepackerPRIME · 9/10

Self-supported format suits bikepacking instincts

SpeedsterOK · 5/10

Smoother surfaces let raw speed talk

Crit RacerAVOID · 2/10

Single-day pace suits crit-style riders less here

⚡ SIGNATURE CHALLENGE
A long day decided in the final third

Distance like this rewards patience. The riders who win the last 30% are the ones who saved matches in the first 60%.

TIRE INTEL

WIDTH
42-50 mm
PRESSURE
28-34 psi
PATTERN
Semi-slick centre w/ light side knobs

Mixed gravel with no extreme demands — go for rolling speed.

▶ TOP PICKS
1.Continental Terra Trail[42mm]Durable casing, balanced grip
2.Schwalbe G-One Bite[42mm]Excellent loose-surface bite
3.Pirelli Cinturato Gravel H[42mm]Hard-pack speed

WEATHER PLAYBOOK

Patagonia in mid-summer (February): expect mild conditions — pack for variable weather. Always check 7-day forecast race week and pack a packable shell.

PACING PLAYBOOK

01
Sector 1 — Opening Effort~48 km

Sit in. Let the start sort itself out. Pace by feel, not by rivals.

02
Sector 2 — Mid-Race Crux~114 km

Where the field shatters. Stick to your power numbers, not the surge.

03
Sector 3 — The Finishing Stretch190 km

Save one match. The last 20% is where placement is decided.

WHAT TO FEAR

  • [!01]Heat exhaustion + dehydration on exposed sections
  • [!02]Resupply gaps — carry more food than you think

INSIDER INTEL

▌ INCOMING TRANSMISSION

The climbs are the whole point at Andes Gravel Epic. You don't do this race for the flats.

Past finisher · Chile gravel community
▌ INCOMING TRANSMISSION

South American gravel is a frontier — vast, raw, and largely uncrowded. Andes Gravel Epic is the kind of event that introduces riders to that.

Regional cycling forum · South America gravel scene

RACE LOGISTICS

SELF-SUPPORTEDCarry everything. No aid stations.

Self-supported by design. Carry your own food, water, tools, and shelter. Resupply from towns en route.

▶ RESUPPLY

Plan for 6-8 hour stretches between resupply points. Carry food and purification.

✓ INCLUDED WITH ENTRY
  • +Timing chip + bib
  • +Course markings + GPX
✕ BRING YOUR OWN
  • -Spare tubes / tubeless plugs
  • -Lodging
  • -All food and water beyond the start
  • -Shelter / sleep system
  • -Tracker (rider-supplied for many ultras)
  • -Drop bag transport (unless specified)
MECHANICS
Self Only
MEDICAL
Self Only
DROP BAGS
No
BAG TRANSPORT
No
▶ ACCOMMODATION · 2 OPTIONS
Hotels in Patagonia
0-10 km from start

Book 6+ months ahead for big events. Check the race partner-hotel list for discounts.

Airbnb / Vrbo
Varies

Often the best value for groups. Search the wider race region, not just the start town.

▶ GOOD TO KNOW
  • Mandatory pre-race brief — non-negotiable attendance.
  • GPS device with full route loaded is required, not optional.

TRAVEL OPS

AIRPORTSCL (Santiago) plus regional connection
LODGINGBook early in Patagonia — gravel events fill local accommodation fast
FOODCarry your own ride nutrition. Local options usually plentiful before/after.
PACKET PICKUPDay-before-event pickup is standard. Confirm via official site.
PARKINGEvent parking varies — check race FAQ
▌ BOTTOM LINE

Andes Gravel Epic is a destination-worthy ultra event in Chile. A solid bucket-list addition.