Bentang Jawa KELANA (KELANA from here on) is an unsupported, self-navigated cycling race through Central Java. It heads north to south before turning back north again. Riders can enter as individuals (Solo) or as a two-rider team (Pair). Along the way, riders will explore 167 KM of the North Serayu Mountains, with 3,600 M of elevation gain.
Unlike previous editions of KELANA, which ran over multiple stages, KELANA Vol. 4 is a single-stage race with just one checkpoint.
There is only 1 (one) checkpoint on the route, at its midpoint, where riders must validate their brevet card by getting it stamped. Throughout the event, riders must also make sure their GPS tracker stays on at all times.
The race starts on Sunday, November 8th 2026 at 04.30 WIB (TBC) and ends on Sunday, November 8th 2026 at 23.59 WIB.
As in previous editions, the start & finish will be in Pekalongan, Central Java.
Anyone applying to ride KELANA must read, understand, and follow the race rules.
RACE COURSE
The Serayu range is one of the main mountain chains of Central Java. Its northern arm divides coastal towns such as Pekalongan from towns along the Serayu depression such as Banjarnegara, while its southern arm rises like a rampart behind coastal towns such as Kebumen and Cilacap.
The KELANA route takes riders along village roads and trails across the North Serayu highlands.
Along the way, riders pass through dense, lush tropical forest, broken up by pine forest and the plantations typical of the highlands, tea estates among them.
Roughly 40–45% of the route is gravel, loose-stone macadam, and single track. The other 50–55% is provincial and regency roads, asphalt or concrete, in varying condition.
WHO IS KELANA FOR?
KELANA is open to all Indonesian citizens and foreign nationals who are at least 17 (seventeen) years of age at the start of the race. It may be called a “race”, but the route is really designed in the spirit of adventure and exploration. Distance and elevation are not the goal but the means to it: showing riders a different side of Central Java.
Most of the KELANA route runs through mountainous terrain, so it demands a higher level of overall fitness and technical bike handling. For a rough idea, here is how KELANA compares with Bentang Jawa and GRAVENTURE.
| GRAVENTURE | BENTANG JAWA | KELANA | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Daily fitness level | * * | * * * * | * * * * |
| Bike handling skill | * * | * * | * * * * |
| Multiple day fitness level | * | * * * * | * * * |
| Minimum tire size | 700 x 32 (semi slick) | 700 x 23 (slick) | 700 x 35 (semi slick) |
| Recommended tire size | 700 x 38 (knobbies) | 700 x 32 (slick) | 700 x 42 650 x 47 (knobbies) |
| Recommended bike type | Gravel | Road/Touring/Gravel | Gravel, MTB |
Another thing to consider is whether you like, enjoy, and can cope with riding on your own. Remember that, like Bentang Jawa, KELANA must be completed solo or as a pair, with no assistance from the Bentang Jawa team or any support crew.
If you mostly ride in groups, or simply don’t enjoy riding alone, it’s worth giving it a try before you decide to sign up.
CUT-OFF-TIMES
- Start: mass start, November 8th 2026, 04.30 WIB (TBC)
- CP1: TBC
- Finish cut-off-time: November 8th 2026, 23.59 WIB
- Riders who reach CP1 after its cut-off-time will be scratched.
- The route and the CP1 cut-off-time will be confirmed 1 (one) week before the start.