Clayton and McIntosh Set First Fastest KnownTimes at Inaugural Genesis Gralloch Ultrapresented by Maxxis

323 kilometres through Galloway test a 19-nation field across cold sunrise, northern rain and a near-zero night.

GATEHOUSE OF FLEET, SCOTLAND. Damien Clayton (SCOTT x Spatz) and Zoe McIntosh (Sugo C.C.) have set the inaugural Fastest Known Times at the Genesis Gralloch Ultra presented by Maxxis, completing the 323-kilometre self-supported route through Galloway in 12:02:59 and 15:00:46 respectively.

The first running of the Ultra, part of The Gralloch, Scotland’s gravel festival, drew riders from 19 nations across an age range of 14 to 61, with 37% of the field taking on their first Ultra.

Riders rolled out of Gatehouse of Fleet at 7am into cold but sunny conditions. The early hours were favourable, with clear light over the opening kilometres. Weather closed in further north, where light rain turned heavier across exposed sections of the route. Overnight, temperatures dropped close to zero, and the riders still on course faced the long, quiet hours that define the Ultra.
Local support carried the field through. Spectators turned out in Patna, Dalmellington, Barr, Glentrool and across the smaller villages along the way, with food, cheering and presence that made the route feel held by the communities it passes through.
In the men’s event, Clayton was followed by Charlie Bratt (Paradigm Cycles) in 12:16:13 and Johannes Rom Dahl (DRAG2ZERO) in 12:51:27. In the women’s event, McIntosh was followed by Suvi Loponen (Escape Collective) in 15:55:47 and Rebecca Richardson in 16:45:26.
Finishers were welcomed back into the Event Village by The Gralloch team and served warm meals through the night, prepared in partnership with Galloway Larder. The final rider crossed the line in 24:18:34, closing out one of the most demanding routes in UK gravel.

“The Ultra asks the route to do most of the talking, and Galloway delivered a full range of conditions across the day and night,” said Maximilian Wussler, Co-founder of Red On Sports. “Damien and Zoe’s times are exceptional, but the story of this first Ultra is also the rider who came in after over 24 hours, and the field who chose this as their first attempt at the distance. The villages along the route are part of what made it what it was.
We’re grateful to every one of them.”