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With the rise and rise of gravel racing on the global stage the sport has steadily attracted attention from a growing number of sponsors, enabling an increasing number of riders to take part in an expanding event calendar.
Athletic Affair – the Girona-based agency which connects people, brands and collectives – has seen an opportunity to further amplify the profile of gravel racing, for fans, riders competing, the events in which they race, and the sponsors who make it all possible.
To collectively raise the profile of the sport requires a blend of things, including, regular fan interaction taking place between races and events.
It’s here that the team at Athletic Affair have introduced an established format, long successful in other sporting sectors, to the world of gravel racing.
Fantasy Gravel puts the athletes front and centre, with a digital hub designed specifically to enhance riders’ profiles, and, with the gamification, create a unique link with the gravel enthusiast.
Just as with fantasy football, this format creates an easy and extremely engaging way to discover and track riders as they compete and take part in the gravel season, whilst also building a community in which Fantasy Gravel fans feel actively involved.
The Fantasy Gravel platform offers a unique digital hub, providing fans with an ‘in your hands’ source for all the rider stats, and race schedules, as well as an enhanced awareness of the most relevant gravel leagues to follow.
Apple users can download the app here
Engagement grows the audience. The audience grows the sport
Fantasy league-style games have become immensely popular around the world, attracting millions of participants who enjoy the competitive and interactive nature of the games. Fantasy sports enthusiasts often cite the opportunity to test their sports knowledge, and engage with friends and fellow fans as reasons for participating in fantasy games.
Gravel has an advantage over other sports, elite riders, and amateurs can ride the same races, which generates a unique connection with fans, and the game goes wider because you can pick your favourite athletes, as well as being able to track the progress of fellow gravel riders around the world.
Athletic Affair and Gravel
Athletic Affair, a Sports Marketing & PR agency based in Girona, specialises in cycling and running, working with brands like Sram, Fulcrum, 3T, Alba Optics, Gobik, Velocio and others globally offering creative services.
As a business which has been developing and working for the gravel sector since day one Athletic Affair, through launching the Fantasy Gravel app, is focused on engaging with and connecting new gravel fans, enabling the established community, and growing a wider audience, helping everyone to discover new riders and races.
For event organisers, the app will also provide a space for post-race information, enabling sponsors, event organisers, racers and fans alike to stay engaged and connected even after the race is over.
