The Gravel X Triathlon
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Event Overview
The Gravel X Triathlon is a multi-discipline sports event held at Granite Beach within Folsom Lake. As part of the USA Triathlon Gravel Triathlon Series, the competition features a lake swim, a draft-legal off-road bike course, and a run on single-track trails. All participants receive a commemorative race shirt.
Distance Options
Participants can choose from several formats and distances:
- Sprint Triathlon: Includes a 500 m lake swim, a 15 km gravel bike leg, and a 5 km trail run.
- Olympic Triathlon: Includes a 1000 m lake swim, a 30 km gravel bike leg, and a 10 km trail run.
- SUP/Kayak Triathlon: Consists of a 1500 m paddle, a 15 km gravel bike leg, and a 5 km trail run.
Course Details
The swim takes place in Folsom Lake, which typically has water temperatures around 66 degrees in September. The Sprint distance involves one loop, while the Olympic distance requires two loops and the SUP/Kayak division requires three.
The bike course is a 15 km loop that is draft-legal. Olympic athletes complete two loops of this course. For the final leg, the run follows single-track trails along the shoreline. The Olympic distance requires two loops of the 5 km run course.
Equipment and Regulations
Specific rules apply to equipment for this event. For the swim, hand paddles and floats are not permitted. During the bike portion, time trial bicycles, aero bars, fixed gear bicycles, and recumbent bicycles are prohibited. All bike bar ends must be plugged. For the run, any equipment must be carried for the duration of the course. Relay teams are available for all distances, with awards provided for the top three teams in male, female, and coed categories. Visit the organization's website for the most recent information.
