Seven
Date
Saturday 11.05.2024Distances
85 - 125 kmCity
Nannup, WA
Country
AustraliaSeven is Australia’s premium Gravel Race that started in 2017 when the organizers were looking for a “Paris-Roubaix” experience for their existing Tour of Margaret River Pro Am road event. The inaugural event in 2018 combined the result of 12 months of discovering dirt roads around Nannup in Western Australia. The event doubled in size every year and was the second biggest UCI Gravel World Series event in the first year of the series, having more than 1000 riders at the start. Nannup will also host the 2026 UCI Gravel World Championships.
Course
The course starts and finishes in the picturesque township of Nannup, approximately 40 minutes’ drive from the major regional centres of Busselton, Bridgetown and Margaret River. The Melo Velo Cafe and Bike Shop is the event village host, and their delightful grounds along Brockman Street provide the perfect starting point for the 125 or 85km course. The route winds its way around the golden triangle of cycling in WA that is formed by connecting the townships of Nannup, Bridgetown and Donnybrook.
The route has 96% of unpaved roads with a mix of dirt, gravel, hard-packed clay, quartz grit and mica. They wind, climb, switchback and descend through pine plantations, state forest and farms. The best way we can describe the roads of SEVEN is “parallel single track”. They are exciting, challenging and magnificent to ride.
85 km
official qualifier distance for men 60+ and women 50+
125 km
official qualifier distance for men 19-59 and women 19-49
Profile
Thanks to the unique topography of the valley and peaks between Nannup and Balingup, the ten major climbs of SEVEN are amongst the best that the State has to offer. These climbs range in length from 1.2km to 4.5km long with gradients frequently touching on 20%. Our advice is to not use too much energy too early. The primary climbs of Brockman Farm, The Crucible, Kinky, Arcadia, and Chainsaw Ridge are in particular challenging to tired legs.
Nannup
Situated on the banks of the Blackwood River and nestled in the Blackwood River Valley, Nannup has been perfectly preserved as a historic and character-filled timber town from the early 1900s. As a result, it was chosen as a film location in the 1970s-inspired surf movie Drift. Bullnose verandas, weatherboard shop fronts and colourful flower boxes all enhance the delightful appeal of the town and keep it in character, surrounded by trees it exudes peace and calm. A walk along Nannup’s main street will take you past tearooms and gift stores full of local wares.
Nannup is a place to relax and recharge, get close to nature, discover our heritage or have an adventure. A hub of productivity and creativity with farms producing award-winning food and wine and artisans making furniture, arts and crafts. You will be welcomed by passionate and friendly locals.
Make sure you spend some time in Nannup to experience all it has to offer.
Nannup is an easy and scenic 40-minute drive from the heart of iconic Margaret River in Western Australia’s magnificent South West. As our state’s centre for wine, surfing, cycling and gourmet food, the Margaret River Region is one of Australia’s most iconic destinations for international tourists. Encompassing the major accommodation centres of Busselton, Margaret River, and Dunsborough, the region has over 15,000 available beds.
Nannup is recognised as the highlands cycling town of the Margaret River Region, and the starting point of the ‘golden triangle’ of cycling in WA that is formed by connecting the townships of Nannup, Bridgetown and Donnybrook. The SEVEN route winds its way around the golden triangle, an area estimated to be around 30,000 acres with more than 1000km of rideable roads and trails.
Once the closest parking areas are full, the signage and marshalls direct participants to the further parking areas.
For more information, please visit : https://www.margaretriver.com/ and http://www.everythingnannup.com.au/
