Gravel And Tar
Gravel and Tar Classic & La Femme
Sunday 16th November 2025 For the ninth year, the event will be held over the beautiful roads of the Manawatu region.
FOR THE NINTH YEAR, THE GRAVEL & TAR CLASSIC & LA FEMME EVENTS
WILL BE HELD OVER THE BEAUTIFUL ROADS OF THE MANAWATU REGION.
An opportunity for Cycling Clubs, Elite Cyclists, and Up and Coming Talent, to participate in the internationally recognised
Gravel and Tar 2025
Riding in the inaugural Gravel & Tar La Femme cycle race in 2019, our first winner, Brodie Chapman commented on the podium, “That was the most fun I’ve had on a bike – ever!”.
And the Gravel & Tar (Men’s Classic and Women’s La Femme) is considered one of the toughest one-day cycling events in the Oceania region. So how much “fun” can that be? According to Chapman, apparently, quite a lot.
Comprising approximately 75% sealed and 25% gravel roads, it provides riders with the opportunity to test all their skills against other elite and promising cyclists on a variety of surfaces.
Now in its ninth year, the 2025 Gravel and Tar, to be run in the beautiful Pohangina region of the Manawatū (between Palmerston North and Feilding), has some exciting changes. If you’re a keen sports cyclist and would like to test yourself and enjoy the “fun” this race presents, here are what’s on offer.
For the first time, there will be a category for all NZ Cycle Clubs to enter teams. So here’s an opportunity for all clubs to grab bragging rights as the “inaugural club winner of the prestigious Gravel and Tar”. Clubs – you’ll need your four best A-Grade riders:
Club Teams (four riders)
And it’s expected to attract teams in two more categories:
UCI Continental Teams (four riders)
Trade Teams (four riders)
The event will also recognise results for individual “A Grade” cyclists in three categories (Men’s and Women’s):
Under 19
Elite
Over 35
Distances are:
· Men’s Classic – 155km with 41.2 km’s gravel
· Women’s La Femme – 91km with 23.1 km’s gravel
The Gravel and Tar will be held on Sunday 16th November, starting and finishing in the village of Ashhurst (maps follow).
Plus – yes, there’s more – on Saturday 15th November there will be:
- Team Time Trial (four riders) run over 20km – 30km’s.
- Points gained from the TTT will be added to Team points for Classic and La Femme races on the Sunday.
Many cyclists have only seen team time trials on TV – here’s a fabulous opportunity for you to experience the challenge and excitement of working together as a team to beat the clock. Our thanks to Bike Manawatu for organising the TTT.
How to enter
More detail is provided on the Gravel and Tar website www.gravelandtar.com with official entry forms available from our organiser’s website www.greasychain.com Should you require more information, or to express an interest in participating but are not sure of details, please email gravelandtarclassic@gmail.com
AND THE WOMEN ARE BACK IN 2025 IN THE EXCITING LA FEMME!
As proud supporters of women’s cycling, we feel that it’s imperative to provide an opportunity for our local and national women cyclists to participate in an international event to provide experience at this level, something they will be unable to get unless they go overseas.
As the only international standard race of its type in the country, we have the distinction of being one of the first cycling events in the world, the Gravel and Tar La Femme, to pay equal prize money with the men riding the Classic. The Greasy Chain Trust has been recognised by Cycling New Zealand for our work in this area receiving the Shona Smith Award for our contribution to women’s cycling.
So, make sure to be in Ashhurst on Sunday 16th November, or pick a great vantage spot around the beautiful Pohangina Valley to watch this exciting international event.
More information can be found here
or emailing:
We are indebted to our two local Councils – Palmerston North City and Manawatu District who have supported the UCI Gravel & Tar since its inception in 2016 and to our many sponsors for enabling such a prestigious event to continue.