Many gravel event organisers look for ways of creating a legacy from their event and an obvious one is for them to use their local knowledge to create a route for visiting riders to try out. Pfalzlands organiser Timo Rokitto has created a number of different routes for riders keen to discover the magic of the Palatinate Forest in south-west Germany. Read on to find out more.

The Palatinate Forest, located in south-west Germany, covers an area of approximately 1700km² and is a designated nature park. As well as the scenic beauty and abundant flora and fauna, it is also chock-a-block with amazing gravel riding opportunities. Event organiser Timo Rokitta, who previously put on gravel events here has now decided to create what he hopes will become a long standing legacy with the Pfalzlands Permanent project – a series of three routes of different difficulties which showcase the best of the riding in the area.

Timo describes the Pfalzlands Permanent as “Your challenge on a gravel bike. You determine the day and the pace yourself. Ride alone or with friends on the trails and the hills of the Palatinate Forest.” The route is the designated gravel counterpart to the MTB Stoneman series.

There is a choice of three routes available:

• Gold - 220 km with 4,000m of climbing
• Silver - 180 km with 2,800m of climbing
• Bronze - 140 km with 2,000m of climbing

Anyone who signs up and completes one of the distances in one day (and sends in a copy of their ride file) will receive a finisher medal. Participants will receive detailed information with a komoot link and a GPX file once they have registered. The routes only exist digitally and are not signposted on the ground, so you will need a suitable bike computer or smartphone which can read a GPX route file. 

The Pfalzlands Permanent challenge is open between April 1^st and 31^st October 2025 and everyone who successfully completes it within a 24 hour period will have their name added to the “Wall of Pfalzlands 2025.”

Entries cost €25 per person and €10 from each entry is donated to a children’s medical centre in nearby Worms. You can find all the details and sign up via the Pfalzlands Permanent webpage.