The second edition of the cycling event is scheduled for this Saturday, IG360 by Iron Gravel. Organizers emphasize that this is not a race or a walk, but a personal challenge on a gravel road, testing endurance over an extreme distance. The start point remains Sergio Melgares Park in Alicante, set for Saturday, April 8.
The Sport Councilor, José Luis Berenguer, describes the challenge as a grand adventure in self-sufficiency rather than a competition. The Gravel Club will begin and end at Sergio Melgares Park and will traverse a portion of the province, offering visitors and locals alike captivating sightseeing along the way.
This year the bike journey adds a cumulative gain of 1600 meters and introduces a new 100-kilometer distance. A total of 226 kilometers and 360 kilometers are retained, with a required completion time of 12 hours for the shorter and 36 hours for the longer route.
As in the previous edition, the event is run in self-sufficiency mode, with no support or competition. Participants must complete the course on their own, carrying a tracker or geolocator for online monitoring. Progress is trackable on an interactive map via a dedicated tracking platform, allowing spectators to follow the field in real time while the organizers provide marked updates and situational awareness for safety.
The route highlights a coastal and inland sweep of the Alicante province, taking riders through mountains, roads, trails and protected natural areas such as the Santa Pola Salinas Natural Park, Serra Escalona in Orihuela, the Segura River greenways, Mount Coto de Pinoso, and the Sierra del Maigmó, among others. The IG360 organizers aim to demonstrate that enjoying nature and its landscapes can beautifully complement active travel experiences.
Departure times are 05:00 for IG360, 07:00 for IG226, and 08:00 for IG100. The maximum arrival time for the 360K distance is 14:00 on Sunday, and 22:00 on Saturday for the 226K. After the official start, riders will navigate the first leg through Alicante at a slow, neutral pace. Once past these initial kilometers, each participant may ride at a speed best suited to their own fitness and conditions. The final kilometers loop back from Orgégia to finish at the original park starting point in San Juan Playa.