Migration Gravel and The Rift is one of six gravel events in Europe and South Africa that will be held in 2023 as a new circuit, the Gravel Earth Series. The circuit's promoter, Klassmark, has announced the series as a way to preserve the "gravel essence" of the most unique off-road event on the international scene.

The series will begin on April 29 with The Traka 360 in Girona, Spain. Last year, Mattia de Marchi won the men's event for Lachlan Morton and Marion Ziwnik won the women's event. The event comes one month after the 2023 UCI Gravel World Championships, which will be held in Italy from September 30 to October 1. [I started organizing THE TRAKA six years ago and wanted to organize this series before the pandemic, but COVID destroyed my dream. Three years later, after traveling around the world to get to know all the events, we decided to organize the world's first independent gravel series," Gerard Frakes, CEO and founder of Classmark, told Cycling News.

"We are very ambitious and we are going to do something very beautiful and interesting, focusing mainly on gravel athletes, gravel events, ethics, and putting respect for the environment above competition."

Fraysseth also said that the long-term goal is to offer prize money to athletes, which may still be possible in 2023, but "will definitely be rewarded with prize money in 2024."

Series participants earn points at each event, with the final standings based on their scores in the top two events on the circuit and in the seven events. The final round does not require qualifying and is open to all.

Overall winners will be selected in the male, female, and non-binary categories. Top finishers will also be awarded in the Under 23 and Masters age categories, provided there are at least five participants in each category.

A rating system developed by the organizers will divide the event into three categories based on factors such as difficulty, total distance, elevation gain, and "event prestige". The rider in each category with the fastest time in the first six races will receive 6,000 to 12,000 top points, as determined by the event rating. Scores for the remaining finishers will be determined by a system being developed by the organizers that takes into account the number of participants in the event. The maximum score for the final event is 18,000 points.

The series will start in late April at The Traka, followed six weeks later by events in France and Kenya. The Nature is Bike Gravel Festival in western France will feature a new 200 km course with a timed section on June 18. The Migration Gravel Race in Kenya will take place from June 20 to 23 with four stages covering 650 km.

The Octopus Gravel, on July 2, will traverse 155 km through the Swiss Alps; on July 22, the Lift Gravel Race will traverse Iceland, featuring remote scenery including lava fields and a rugged 200 km route; on August 12 Sweden hosts the 180-km Bergslagen, one of five events in the Nordic Gravel Series.

"Every event must promote gravel in a positive way and stimulate communities throughout the region. As a result, there will be six events in six different countries, each with different dates and formats, plus the Earth Finals. The "Gravel Earth Series courses are designed to find true contact with the Earth in remote areas rarely visited by the general public.

Based in Girona, Spain, Classmark has been organizing environmentally friendly sports projects such as trail running and off-road cycling events for the past 12 years. In six of the seven events publicized during the inaugural season, Classmark operates "The Traka."