The spirit of NGNM's United We Are Gravel Camp

When we held the first United We Are Gravel camp three years ago, our goal was simple: to create a space where our international, borderless peloton could come together, push their limits, and explore new terrain. While gravel riding has been gaining popularity, there was a noticeable absence of multi-day experiences in Europe curated specifically for women. We saw an opportunity to change that.

“I wanted to give women from around the world the chance to ride together off-road,” explains our founder Milly De Mori. “We already had the United We Are Tour for road cycling in Italy, but it was time to branch out into gravel. When we started, gravel wasn’t yet mainstream, and there were no camps focused on women.”

Our experience with No Gods No Masters had already shown us the power of creating female-focused spaces. When we first launched the brand, there were very few high-end cycling labels designed by women, for women. It’s been the same with gravel camps—until now.

Each year, we move locations for all our events, which gives us the freedom to scout fresh routes. “Gravel is all about exploration,” Milly continues. “I think it’s important to reflect that sense of adventure in the camp. By changing the setting each year, it brings a different flavour and keeps things fresh for returning participants. I was really excited to introduce riders to Friuli this year, with four point-to-point stages through the middle part of the region, which is rich with gravel roads and outstanding venetian villas and castles to visit.”

This year’s camp truly highlighted the broad appeal of women-led, women-only gravel camps. “We had participants aged 30 to 67, from Europe, the USA, Canada, and even Australia, all amazing women, independent, fun and inspiring” says Milly. “One participant, Catherine (65), it was her first time at a multi-day gravel camp. She was amazing—despite a couple of scratch-less minor falls, she just kept smiling and inspired everyone around her. We also got into a storm on the first day, and it was amazing to see how everyone kept their spirits up and we all went through deep puddles of water and mud together and made it safely to the hotel. Huge kudos to my guides Claudia and Paola for the outstanding job leading their groups and ensuring everyone was seen, heard, and catered to.”

We’re also proud & thankful of the way our partners engage with the camp. Hammerhead, for example, sent Casey Wytaske along again this year to introduce everyone to their new outstanding Karoo (gps cyclo-computer), facilitate the onboarding with the Karoo demo units we have at the camp for those who want to try a different device or those who don't have a computer with maps & turn-by-turn navigation, and run a workshop on transitioning to tubeless tires, fixing flats, and other essential trailside mechanics. Oakley gifted everyone a pair of their newest sunglasses, 3T provided award-winning Exploro RaceMax bike rentals for those who wanted to travel light, and Komoot offered access to their premium platform for everyone to upload and navigate the routes during the camp.What’s a typical day like at UWAG?

“Breakfast is at 7 AM, and we’re on the bikes by 9 AM,” Milly explains, sharing a glimpse into the daily routine, which sees everyone’s luggage transported from hotel to hotel while they’re out riding. “Midway through the course, there’s a feed station for refuelling—plenty of vegan, gluten-free, and lactose-free options, whatever you need. We finish the day’s ride at a new hotel around 1:30 or 2 PM, followed by lunch, time to relax, a massage, and maybe grab a gelato. In the afternoons, we offer optional yoga sessions. Evenings are about unwinding—drinks, an early dinner, and a debrief of the day’s ride.”

What mindset do we hope riders take away from the experience?

“I always tell participants, ‘We arrive as strangers, but we leave as sisters,’” Milly says. “Over five or six days, you see these bonds form, and it’s truly heartwarming. UWAG creates a community that transcends age, ethnicity, religion, body shapes, and background. It’s a space where women build confidence in themselves and in each other, breaking down barriers through shared experiences.”

In a world that often feels divided, Milly sees cycling as a metaphor for life. “What we learn on the bike translates into how we live day to day. With so much divisive talk in the world right now, we need spaces that bring people together—a space where shared experiences and looking out for each other are at the core, and this is what NGNM believes in and brings to the table.”Looking ahead: Where do we see women’s gravel riding in five to ten years?

Gravel riding is incredibly versatile, blending different terrains and experiences, and that’s what makes it so appealing. We expect more women to choose gravel over road cycling because of its accessibility and sense of freedom. As this happens, we believe stronger networks of women cyclists will emerge naturally, creating a more supportive and connected global community of female riders, in general, and around NGNM, who will continue to catalyze change in the industry and for emancipating women via cycling.