CYCLING: UCI Gran Fondo Calendar 2025/2026

Qualifiers 2025-2026 & Qualifiers 2026-2027

Source: https://ucigranfondoworldseries.com/en/calendar/

UCI Gran Fondo World Series: The UCI Gran Fondo World Championships qualifier series

The UCI Granfondo World Series is a series of UCI-sanctioned races held all over the world. Some 35 qualifier events will qualify the top 25% in each age group to the UCI Granfondo World Championships, the former UCI Masters Road World Championships, where the champions are awarded with the coveted rainbow jersey. The UCI Granfondo World Series was launched in 2011.

While promoting high level competition for Masters and Amateurs, one of the aims of this series is the globalization of “Cycling for All”. With that in mind, the geographical spread of the events is very important, alongside with strict organizational and sporting criteria, and a certain tourism interest.

The UCI Gran Fondo World Series concept is focusing on both very competitive riders who either just miss the skills and talent to become a Pro Elite rider or who still want to compete at a high level at a later age, but also to fun riders who like to keep fit and finish the event.

In a partnership with renown Belgian sports marketing agency Golazo, the UCI has created the UCI Gran Fondo World Series. This partnership will be responsible for the overall organization, coordination and marketing aspects of the UGFWS qualifier events.

^{Source: https://www.instagram.com/ucigranfondoworldseries/}

Qualifiers 2025-2026

Qualifiers 2026-2027

🚴 About the UCI Gran Fondo World Series

The UCI Gran Fondo World Series (UGFWS) is an international series of mass-participation road cycling events organized by the Union Cycliste Internationale (UCI), the world governing body for cycling.

What it is:

• Mass Participation: The events are open to both competitive and recreational cyclists, including those with or without a professional license. It embodies the spirit of a “Gran Fondo” (Italian for “Big Ride”), which is a long-distance cycling event.
• Qualifier Series: The primary function of the World Series events is to serve as qualifiers for the ultimate event: the UCI Gran Fondo World Championships.
• Events: Each World Series event typically includes a Road Race (Gran Fondo) and an Individual Time Trial. Some events may offer a shorter road race option called a Medio Fondo for older age categories.
• Qualification: Riders who finish in the top 25% of their respective age/gender category in a qualifier event earn the right to compete in the UCI Gran Fondo World Championships later that year.
• Age Categories: Competition is based on Masters age/gender classifications (e.g., 19-34, 35-39, 40-44, etc., with ages determined as of December 31st of the competition year).

📜 History

• Origins of Gran Fondo: The concept of a Gran Fondo originated in Italy, with the first major event, the Nove Colli, held in 1970. The events are defined by their long-distance, mass-start format, often with competitive timing.
• Launch of the Series: The UCI officially launched the series in 2011, originally known as the UCI World Cycling Tour (UWCT).
• Evolution: The series was rebranded to the UCI Gran Fondo World Series to better reflect the traditional name of the events it encompasses.
• World Championships: The series culminates in the UCI Gran Fondo World Championships, where qualified riders compete for the coveted UCI Rainbow Jersey in their age categories for the Road Race and Time Trial disciplines. Since 2023, the World Championships have been integrated into the larger, multi-discipline UCI Cycling World Championships held every four years.

In essence, the UCI Gran Fondo World Series provides a structured, worldwide platform for amateur and master cyclists to compete at the highest level and earn a chance to become a UCI World Champion.