More than 600 cyclists from the Philippines and 11 other countries gathered at Filinvest Mimosa Plus Leisure City in Clark, Pampanga, on October 25 for Gravelton Clark 2026, the fifth edition of one of the country’s biggest gravel cycling events.
Organized by Gravelton PH, this year’s race challenged participants to tackle a mix of paved roads and rugged trails across Central Luzon, putting their endurance, skills, and equipment to the test. Beyond the competition, the event also brought together cycling enthusiasts for a day of community activities and post-race camaraderie.
For its 2026 edition, Gravelton introduced a new 50KM Partner Ride category, allowing two-person teams to complete the course together. It joined the existing 80KM Intermediate and 120KM Long Distance races, giving cyclists of different experience levels more ways to participate.
The 120KM race saw Nash Lim take first place in the Men’s Gravel division, followed by Nathaniel Blanca and Luigi Mamburan. Althea Campana led the Women’s Gravel division, with Shagne Yao and Raji Detera completing the podium.
In the Men’s E-Bike category, Francis Allan Hugo and Marcel Arsenal claimed the top spots, while Arvin Velasco, Dave Cerilo, and Clyde Encarguez led the Men’s MTB division.
Meanwhile, Gerard Mendoza, Gab Espena, and Peter Ceriaco topped the 80KM Men’s Gravel division. Eloiza Pajarito, Rhia Stawicki, and Sam Abriol led the Women’s Gravel category, while Ren Sy, Miguel Bichara, and Benny Bautista took the top three spots in Men’s E-Bike. Matthew Symon Quinones, Valler Duffield, and Sammy Llupar completed the Men’s MTB podium. Top finishers across the divisions received wearable tech prizes.
Gravel cycling, which takes riders across a combination of asphalt roads, dirt paths, and uneven terrain, has steadily gained traction in the Philippines. What started as a gathering of cycling enthusiasts has grown into a major sporting event, with Clark emerging as a destination for local and international gravel riders.
Gravelton Clark 2026 was supported by the Clark Development Corporation and the Tourism Promotions Board (TPB) Philippines’ Philippine Cyclo Tourism initiative. Launched in May 2025, the program aims to position the Philippines as a cycling destination by developing more bike-tour circuits across the country.
With partners including Specialized Philippines, GoRacePH, and local cycling groups, the initiative also highlights how sporting events can encourage tourism and introduce more travelers to the country’s destinations.
