Specialized and Hutchinson join Dalby Grit gravel race as official sponsors

Focal Events, the northern powerhouse behind the UK’s premier gravel events, have unveiled leading bike brand Specialized and French tyre specialists Hutchinson as the new event sponsors for this year’s Dalby Grit.

Launched in 2025, the Dalby Grit has quickly established itself as a must-do event on the UK gravel race calendar. This year’s edition takes place on the weekend of 19-21 June, with entries open now.

Hosted in the North York Moors National Park, the 110km route takes in a network of trails around the Dalby Forest over punchy climbs, fast descents and long stretches of fast, flat out racing. 

Joining the partner roster this year is Specialized as official bike sponsor for 2026. Known for their world-class bikes across all disciplines, their gravel offerings – notably the Crux – are frequently seen on the top step of the podium at gravel races worldwide.

“Dalby Grit is quickly becoming one of the standout gravel events in the UK, so we’re thrilled to be involved,” explained Specialized UK Marketing Manager, Symon Lewis.

“More importantly, we are really happy to support Bryan and the Focal Events team in their incredible work they have done for the gravel scene over the past decade.

“The course, the atmosphere, and the riders all reflect the energy and progression of gravel racing right now. We’re looking forward to bringing Specialized to the event and supporting everyone taking on the challenge.”

Joining them will be Hutchinson, as official tyre sponsor, supporting riders as they tackle the challenging parcours, providing course-side aid boxes with spares to ensure racers’ days aren’t cut short by any mechanical mishaps.

“We’re incredibly excited to partner with Dalby Grit,” said Luc Herbert, Head of Communications at Hutchinson Cycling. 

“Gravel racing is about pushing the boundaries and relying on equipment that won’t let you down so the challenging terrain of Dalby Forest will provide the perfect proving ground for our range of performance gravel tyres. We’re looking forward to supporting the riders taking on this incredible event.”

Try and buy at Dalby Grit

Both brands will be present at the Dalby Grit event village, with Hutchinson providing expert advice on tyre choice and setup alongside offering their complete range of gravel tyres with free fitting for those wishing to upgrade their race-day set up.

Specialized will be offering riders the chance to get up close with their latest gravel line-up – including, perhaps, the freshly unveiled Crux – and showcasing the tech that thrives on Dalby’s diverse terrain.

Racers will also be able to take part in the Hutchinson Strava Segment competition, with the fastest riders across a specific section of the race winning a Hutchinson Care Package and an opportunity to stand on the Dalby Grit podium.

Last year’s inaugural Dalby Grit saw over 300 racers take on the all-gravel route around the picturesque Dalby Forest, and this year’s event is set to be even bigger.

Registration for Dalby Grit is currently open. Enter direct on Sportive.com at sportive.com/event/dalby-grit-2026.