B-well Around the Pot presented by SEESA Joins the UCI Gravel World Series as a 2026 Qualifying Event

The B-well Around the Pot will make history in 2026 as it joins the prestigious UCI Gravel World Series, placing one of South Africa’s most-loved gravel events on the global cycling stage.

Taking place in Swellendam on 1 August 2026,  the 100 miler B-well Around the Pot will become an official qualifying event for the 2026 UCI Gravel World Championships, giving riders the opportunity to earn their place at the world championships in Nannup, Western Australia, on 10 and 11 October 2026.

As part of the official qualification system, each UCI Gravel World Series event grants qualification rights to the top 25% of riders in each age category. These riders will qualify for the UCI Gravel World Championships, where the world’s best gravel riders will compete for the coveted UCI rainbow jersey.

“It’s an incredible honour to announce that the B-well Around the Pot has been officially recognised as a UCI Gravel World Series qualifying event. This will see riders from around the globe experience the breathtaking beauty of Swellendam while earning their chance to compete at the UCI Gravel World Championships,” says Bob Verbeeck, CEO of Golazo.

The UCI Gravel World Series is a global series of UCI-sanctioned gravel races held across the world. The series has quickly evolved into a high-level international gravel competition, while still remaining true to the spirit of mass participation cycling. It brings together professional elite riders, competitive age-group athletes and passionate amateur riders on the same routes, celebrating the adventure, challenge and discovery that gravel racing is known for.

One of the defining features of gravel racing is its ability to uncover hidden backcountry roads and showcase landscapes that riders may not otherwise experience. For B-well Around the Pot, this milestone will bring international attention to Swellendam and the surrounding Western Cape, offering riders a unique opportunity to experience one of South Africa’s most scenic gravel destinations.

Western Cape Premier Alan Winde adds, “This is going to be great for the Western Cape, and all of us here in South Africa. This international recognition will only strengthen our reputation as a world-class sporting destination.”

The UCI Gravel World Series was created by the UCI in partnership with renowned Belgian sports marketing agency Golazo, which also manages the UCI Gran Fondo World Series. Golazo brings extensive experience in the delivery, coordination and international marketing of world-class mass participation events.

Golazo has organised hundreds of major sporting events, including the UCI Road World Championships in 2021, the African Cycling Championships in 2024, and the Diamond League athletics meeting in Brussels. Its experience in developing global cycling series makes it an ideal partner to help elevate B-well Around the Pot’s international profile.

For riders, the 2026 edition of B-well Around the Pot will offer more than a day out on the gravel. It will be a chance to ride through the beauty of Swellendam, be part of a global celebration of cycling and, for those chasing qualification, take one step closer to the UCI Gravel World Championships.

Entries for the 2026 B-well Around the Pot are now open.

Enter via www.aroundthepot.co.za