3RIDES
3RIDES GmbH is a Bielefeld-based German event operator running the 3RIDES Gravel Series — multi-day and single-day gravel cycling races in Germany and Belgium, including official UCI qualifier events — serving competitive and recreational cyclists via D2C online registration.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded2021
- HeadquartersBielefeld, Germany
- Headcount1–10
- GTM typeB2C
- OfferingServices
What 3RIDES does
3RIDES GmbH is a privately held German event-operations company that organizes a portfolio of multi-day and single-day gravel cycling events in Germany and (from 2026) Belgium. Founded in 2021 and headquartered in Bielefeld, North Rhine-Westphalia, the company operates as a subsidiary of BVA BikeMedia GmbH and runs the 3RIDES Gravel Series comprising three destination events in the 2026 season: the 3RIDES Gran Fondo Südliche Weinstrasse (Schweigen-Rechtenbach, April 25, 2026), 3RIDES Gravel Winterberg (July 17-19, 2026), and 3RIDES Gravel Ostbelgien in Eupen, Belgium (September 4-6, 2026), the last being a cross-border route spanning Belgium, the Netherlands, and Germany. The Winterberg event holds official UCI Gravel World Series qualifier status for its Stage 3 race, making it a qualification pathway to the Gravel World Championships and European Gravel Championships, and the Südliche Weinstrasse event is certified under the UCI Gran Fondo World Series.
The company's core product is the 3RIDES Gravel Series, structured around two consumer SKUs: a competitive multi-day Gravel Stage Race (bookable as a full package or per stage, with leader-jersey classification and prize money, €50-€270 depending on phase and stage) and unsupported/semi-supported Gravel Rides at 100/150/200 km distances (€55-€75). Event registration and timing run on the third-party Datasport platform, digital infrastructure sits on Hetzner hosting and Cloudflare CDN, and email communications are handled via Sendinblue. The company has built a multi-channel consumer marketing presence spanning a Strava club, Instagram, Facebook, YouTube, LinkedIn, and a website architecture using location-specific subdomains for each event destination.
Monetization spans four revenue streams: event registration fees (the primary stream), branded merchandise sales via a channel partnership with CUORE of Switzerland, exhibitor and sponsor fees (Continental, SIGMA, and others), and event-day parking fees (€5-€10 per day). 3RIDES sells access primarily direct-to-consumer through self-serve online registration, with participants including both competitive cyclists pursuing UCI qualification points and recreational riders seeking supported adventure-ride experiences. The company is managed by Managing Directors Björn Müller and Nico Martin and operates with a 6-person team as of the most recent disclosure.
3RIDES firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- 3RIDES
- Legal name
- 3RIDES GmbH
- Website
- https://3rides.de
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 2021
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 1–10 employees
- Short description
- 3RIDES GmbH is a Bielefeld-based German event operator running the 3RIDES Gravel Series — multi-day and single-day gravel cycling races in Germany and Belgium, including official UCI qualifier events — serving competitive and recreational cyclists via D2C online registration.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
3RIDES industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Sports Event Services
- NAICS
- Scenic and Sightseeing Transportation, Land (48711), Tour Operators (561520)
- SIC
- Services-Racing, Including Track Operation (7948)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Cycling Events (Road Races, Gran Fondos, Sportives) (MPAKAIAC)
- akta.pro secondary industries
- Cycling, Mountain Biking & E-bike Adventures (THAJABAF), Bike Rental, Demo & Tour Operators (Retail-Adjacent) (CRAMAHAJ)
Keywords
Where 3RIDES is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Bielefeld
- HQ country
- Germany
- HQ region
- Europe
Offices1 record
Markets served
3RIDES business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2C
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Operations, Personnel, Marketing or Sales, Supply Chain, Technology or R&D, Infrastructure
Revenue model
- Event Registration Fees: Primary revenue stream from entry fees for Gravel Stage Races, individual stages, and Gravel Rides at multiple event locations. Pricing varies by registration phase with early bird discounts.
- Merchandise Sales: Sale of 3RIDES branded merchandise including jerseys and bib shorts through CUORE of Switzerland online shop.
- Exhibitor and Sponsor Fees: Revenue from exhibitors at the expo site and sponsors/partners for each event location.
- Parking Fees: Parking fees collected at event venues (€5 per day for cars, €10 per day for larger vehicles).
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| One time/ perpetual license | One time | Gravel Stage Race (Full 3-stage competition) |
| One time/ perpetual license | One time | Individual Stage Race Stages |
| One time/ perpetual license | One time | Gravel Rides (100/150/200 km unsupported) |
| Unit Pricing | One time | Special Event Rides (e.g., Continental Gravel Ride, SIGMA Light Ride) |
Go-to-market motion1 record
Distribution channels3 records
Marketing channels8 records
3RIDES product offering
Product offeringCore offering
3RIDES organizes and operates multi-day gravel cycling events at three European destinations: Südliche Weinstrasse (Germany), Winterberg (Germany, with UCI Gravel World Series qualifier status), and Ostbelgien/Eupen (Belgium). The company sells event registrations across multiple formats including competitive multi-stage stage races (with leader jerseys, daily stages, and prize money), mass-participation Gran Fondo events, and unsupported distance rides ranging from 100 to 200 km, alongside expo area services and branded merchandise.
Product overview
3RIDES is an event series company operating a portfolio of gravel cycling events across Europe. The offering consists of three main event destinations (Winterberg, Ostbelgien, Südliche Weinstrasse) plus merchandise services. Core products include Gravel Stage Race (competitive multi-day format with UCI World Series qualification), Gravel Rides (distance cycling experiences from 100-200km), and the Expo Area (event venue with exhibitor and hospitality services). The company serves both competitive cyclists seeking race experiences and recreational riders seeking supported gravel adventures, with events offered in Germany and Belgium.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Brands
- 3RIDES Gravel Winterberg: Gravel stage race event held in Winterberg, Germany, featuring UCI Gravel World Series qualification races
- 3RIDES Gravel Ostbelgien
- 3RIDES Gran Fondo Südliche Weinstrasse
Products and services
- Gravel Stage Race (Winterberg) Multi-day competitive gravel cycling stage race with individual stages (Gravel Time Trial, Gravel Race, UCI Gravel World Series qualifier) that can be booked separately or combined for overall standings. Includes leader jersey classification, daily and overall rankings, and prize money for competitive amateur and elite cyclists.
- Gravel Rides (100/150/200 km) Unsupported or semi-supported long-distance gravel cycling experiences in three distance options (100, 150, and 200 km) featuring GPS navigation and full 3RIDES service support for recreational and adventure cyclists.
- 3RIDES Gravel Winterberg Gravel cycling event held July 17-19, 2026 in Winterberg, Sauerland region, Germany. Features the Stage Race format with prologue time trial, mountain stages, and UCI Gravel World Series qualifier, plus unsupported gravel rides in scenic Sauerland terrain.
- 3RIDES Gravel Ostbelgien Three-country gravel event held September 4-6, 2026 in Eupen, East Belgium. Features cross-border routes through Belgium, Netherlands, and Germany, including a 200 km three-country adventure ride and the Gravel Stage Race format with three bookable stages.
- 3RIDES Gran Fondo Südliche Weinstrasse UCI Gran Fondo cycling event along the Southern Wine Route held April 25, 2026 in Schweigen-Rechtenbach, Germany, featuring cross-border routes and competitive racing format with winners including Michał Podlaski and Julia Jehle in 2026.
- Expo Area Services
Companies that use 3RIDES
Customer profileNamed customers5 records
Segments1 record
Ideal customer profiles2 records
3RIDES technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
3RIDES partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
13 partnerships are on record, tiered core and supporting.
- BVA BikeMedia GmbHcoreParent company of 3RIDES GmbH. 3RIDES operates as a subsidiary of BVA BikeMedia GmbH.
- Datasport GermanycoreOfficial online registration and results portal for 3RIDES events. Handles event sign-ups, timing, and results for all 3RIDES Gravel events.
- UCI Gravel World Seriescore3RIDES Gravel Winterberg serves as official UCI Gravel World Series qualifier. Stage 3 qualifies riders for Gravel World Championships and European Gravel Championships.
- CUORE of SwitzerlandcoreOfficial clothing partner providing branded merchandise including jerseys and bib shorts for the 3RIDES collection. Products sold through CUORE's online shop.
- ContinentalsupportingSponsor of Continental Gravel Ride event featuring Marcel Meisen and Stefan Kirchmair. Provides event tent and branded activity at 3RIDES Aachen.
- SIGMAsupportingSponsor of SIGMA Light Ride event featuring Marcel Kittel. Provides event mobile and branded experience at 3RIDES Aachen.
- SportografsupportingOfficial photo service provider for all 3RIDES events. Captures and provides participant photos throughout event weekend.
- Hetzner Online GmbHsupportingExternal hosting provider for 3RIDES website and digital infrastructure.
- CloudflaresupportingContent delivery network and DNS service providing security and performance optimization for 3RIDES website.
- SendinbluesupportingNewsletter and email marketing service provider for 3RIDES email communications.
- German-speaking Community of BelgiumsupportingRegional government body hosting 3RIDES Gravel Ostbelgien event in Eupen. Minister Gregor Freches and local officials support the event.
- City of EupensupportingLocal municipality providing venue at Weser Dam and local support for 3RIDES Gravel Ostbelgien event.
- Stefan Kirchmairsupporting3RIDES ambassador and Gran Fondo ambassador who co-led Continental Gravel Ride event.
Scale indicators4 records
Recent moves8 records
Expansion highlights5 records
3RIDES competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- Belgian Waffle Ride: California-based premium gravel/road cycling event known for high entry fees, professional rider fields, and multi-distance formats. Closely comparable to 3RIDES' positioning around pro-cyclist draw and tiered competitive offerings.
- Haute Route: Multi-stage, multi-day cycling event series held in iconic European destinations, serving amateur cyclists seeking a structured stage-race experience. Closely comparable to 3RIDES' Gravel Stage Race product (time trial + mass start + UCI qualifier) and European event footprint.
- Unbound Gravel: The flagship U.S. gravel cycling event (formerly Dirty Kanza), offering mass-participation long-distance gravel rides and competitive racing. Directly comparable to 3RIDES as a multi-distance, multi-tier gravel race organizer with phased pricing and global brand recognition in the amateur gravel segment.
- Rad am Ring: Germany-based 24-hour cycling endurance event held at the Nürburgring, serving amateur cyclists with multiple distance options. Closely comparable to 3RIDES as a domestic German mass-participation cycling event organizer with a destination venue format.
- The Mid South: Oklahoma-based gravel endurance event offering multiple distances and emphasizing community-driven, mass-participation gravel culture. Comparable to 3RIDES as an iconic single-venue gravel race with phased entry pricing and strong Strava/social-media-driven community engagement.
- Maratona dles Dolomites: Italy's premier gran fondo road cycling event, drawing thousands of amateur cyclists to a single iconic destination with multiple distance options. Comparable to 3RIDES' Gran Fondo Südliche Weinstrasse as a destination mass-participation cycling race with phased registration and significant amateur-prestige positioning.
- Gravel Worlds: Nebraska-based long-running gravel cycling event owned by Life Time, offering multiple distances and a major mid-summer gravel race. Comparable to 3RIDES as a destination gravel event series targeting amateur and competitive riders.
- SBT GRVL: Steamboat Springs-based gravel cycling event with multi-distance race formats and significant pro-cyclist participation. Comparable to 3RIDES in offering competitive gravel racing plus recreational distance options at a single iconic destination.
Broad incumbents
- IRONMAN: Global mass-participation endurance event operator (triathlon, running, cycling). Comparable to 3RIDES as a large-scale endurance event organizer with phased pricing, expo areas, sponsor ecosystems, and merchandise — but operates at far greater scale and across multiple sports.
- L'Étape (by Tour de France / ASO): Amateur cycling event series produced by Amaury Sport Organisation, organizer of the Tour de France, allowing riders to compete on closed road stages. Comparable to 3RIDES as a UCI-licensed mass-participation road/gravel cycling event with global brand authority, but with broader geographic and financial reach.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat5 records
Key risks6 records
Key highlights6 records
Customer concentration
3RIDES social profiles
Digital presence3RIDES financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
3RIDES leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles2 records
3RIDES funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
3RIDES M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about 3RIDES
What does 3RIDES do?
3RIDES organizes and operates multi-day gravel cycling events at three European destinations: Südliche Weinstrasse (Germany), Winterberg (Germany, with UCI Gravel World Series qualifier status), and Ostbelgien/Eupen (Belgium). The company sells event registrations across multiple formats including competitive multi-stage stage races (with leader jerseys, daily stages, and prize money), mass-participation Gran Fondo events, and unsupported distance rides ranging from 100 to 200 km, alongside expo area services and branded merchandise.
Is 3RIDES a public or private company?
3RIDES is a private company. It is classified as corporate owned and is currently operating.
When was 3RIDES founded?
3RIDES was founded in 2021. It employs 1 to 10 people.
Where is 3RIDES based?
3RIDES is headquartered in Bielefeld, Germany, in the Europe region.
How does 3RIDES make money?
Four revenue lines are on record. Event Registration Fees are the primary driver. The others are merchandise Sales, exhibitor and Sponsor Fees and parking Fees.
Who are 3RIDES's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are Belgian Waffle Ride, Haute Route, Unbound Gravel, Rad am Ring, The Mid South, Maratona dles Dolomites, Gravel Worlds and SBT GRVL. Broad incumbents are IRONMAN and L'Étape (by Tour de France / ASO).
Does 3RIDES have an API?
No public API is recorded for 3RIDES.
What industry is 3RIDES in?
3RIDES's product category is Sports Event Services. Its primary akta.pro industry code is MPAKAIAC, Cycling Events (Road Races, Gran Fondos, Sportives), with a secondary code of THAJABAF, Cycling, Mountain Biking & E-bike Adventures. Its NAICS code is 48711 and its SIC code is 7948.