Gravel Mexico: Where Culture, Community, and Cohetes Collide
- Merida Miller
- Aug 29
- 4 min read
Updated: Sep 2
Words: Mérida Miller
Pictures: Mérida Miller
Socials: @mercatmiller
CCC Bio: Link
One of the reasons I love gravel is where it takes you, off the beaten track and into the everyday life of a region. On a bike, you’re not just passing through, you’re immersed. You feel the wild power of nature, the rhythm of the land, the warmth and energy of the people who call it home.
But as gravel grows, and races pop up all over the world, I sometimes wonder: What impact do these events really have on the communities they visit? Do they truly connect us to the culture — or do we just drop in, race, and fly home, with only a glimpse of what’s beyond the start line?
What drew me to the Cycling Culture Club was the line: “Cycling is a tapestry, we’re the weavers.”
Gravel Mexico is where that weaving truly comes alive. Talking with other international riders who joined the event, we all agreed: this event sets a new standard for how a race can celebrate a culture, honour its people, and remind us why we fell in love with riding to begin with.
Mexico: A Place That Welcomes You Home
Mexico has been a part of my life since I was very young (Hell, I’m even named after the capital of the Yucatán: Mérida). I’ve been coming here since I was five years old, but this was the first time I got to experience it by bike. Seeing a country I already loved in a new way made it feel even more like home, and that’s the best thing about Mexico: whether it’s your hundredth time or your first, you’ll feel at home the moment you arrive.
When people think of Mexico, they think of the food and yes, the food is reason enough to visit. But what makes Mexico truly unforgettable is the vibrant culture. It’s the way people invite you in — with open arms, open hearts, and endless pride for where they’re from.
Everyone I met during Gravel Mexico wasn’t just proud of their home, they wanted you to feel that pride too, like it was your own country to love for a weekend (or indefinitely). After the race, multiple riders offered me a place to stay the next time I visit, eager to show me their local gravel routes from Mexico City to the Sierra Gorda mountains of Guanajuato. And it’s not just something they say, they truly mean it when they say, “mi casa es su casa.”
The Race: Brutal, Beautiful, and Full of Heart
Gravel Mexico’s mission says it all: “We are committed to valuing the nature and culture of the Altiplano Potosino… to share the essence of this extraordinary region with the world.”
And share it they did.
From the start line with local street dogs welcoming the line up to the finishers' fiesta, complete with Mezcalinas and home-cooked meals by the local abuelas (grandmas), every moment felt woven into the local fabric.
The event is so much more than a race, it's a chance for anyone to experience something truly once in a lifetime, while digging deep to cover some of the toughest terrain the Mexican desert has to offer. With some of the tracks only reachable by horse (or bike), the course itself was brutal but beautiful, full of landscapes you can only dream of, reminiscent of paintings from José María Velasco.
The final 80km of the course for both the 129,6km and the 240km is through the Wirikuta desert. As a rider you could feel the shift and spiritual magic that was happening when you crossed into this area.
The desert terrain is relentless and tubeless is a non-negotiable; it’s the desert- every plant comes with a spine. From sand flanked by nopales cactus, to long stretches of Yucca forest, to vast canyon vistas. You will experience it all.
Hot tip: Catch your breath and take it all in before rolling down the final caliche rock technical descents.
Guaranteed on course: roadrunners, horses, rabbits, and local mezcal at feed stations… because, as race organiser Perla (aka La Reina of Gravel Mexico) put it: “We thought the racers would want something that isn’t sweet.”
When you cross the finish line in the old train station town of Refugio de Coronados, you’re greeted by cohetes (Mexican celebratory rockets), a cold Coca-Cola or cerveza, and the smell of homemade tortillas drifting through the air.
A local band plays. A quinceañera floats through the podium ceremony. Vaqueros and their horses dance in the background. Este es México.
More Than a Race — A Celebration
What made this event special wasn’t just the wild, spectacular terrain but the people who poured their hearts into it. From the organisers to the volunteers, to the riders who came from all over Mexico, everyone welcomed you into their world, eager for you to love it as much as they do.
Gravel Mexico isn’t a race that’s dropped on a community; it’s an event woven into the culture and celebrated at every turn!
To the organisers and community behind this wild and wonderful weekend: gracias. You showed us what’s possible when a cycling event doesn’t just pass through, but truly belongs to the place that hosts it.
I’m already planning my return for 2026… just with bigger tires this time. (I was rolling 45 but wished for 54).
An Invitation
I’d be remiss if I didn’t mention the often ugly stigma placed on Mexico by the US media and government. If you ever get the chance to visit and rewrite that story for yourself — take it. You’ll be met with open arms, big smiles, and a shot of mezcal.
If you’re a rider looking for an experience that’s more than a race — that digs deep into what makes cycling culture so rich — put Gravel Mexico on your list. And if you’re a race organiser, take notes: this is how you do it right.
Because cycling is a tapestry. Gravel Mexico reminded me just how beautiful it can be when we weave ourselves into the story of a place, rather than just passing through.
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