Last updated October 24, 2025
The 2026 event date is not confirmed yet… The UCI Gravel Fondo World Championship 2026 is one of the world’s most amateur cycling championships and the culmination of the UCI Gravel World Series. The event is organized by the Union Cycliste Internationale (UCI) and is the pinnacle of amateur gravel cycling and brings together amateur cyclists worldwide to compete in a series of races on challenging courses. Participants must first qualify for the event by placing high enough in one of the annual 25+ Series events held worldwide. The UCI Gravel World Championship 2026 attracts a wide range of participants, from recreational cyclists to serious amateurs who train year-round for the event. It offers a unique opportunity for amateur cyclists to compete on a world stage and experience the thrill of racing at an elite level. The event is also a competition and a celebration of cycling culture, with a festival-like atmosphere and a host of activities for participants and spectators alike.
Qualification
The qualifications of the UCI Gravel World Championships are determined through the Trek UCI Gravel World Series events. Riders who place in the top 25% of their category at any event qualify for the Championships. Additionally, regardless of the number of starters, the top three finishers in each official category directly qualify. Qualified riders will be notified via official UCI email and must hold a valid license from their national federation to register. Age groups range from 19 years up to 75+ in five-year increments, with specific rules for elite riders regarding category participation.
About the UCI Gravel World Series
The UCI Gravel World Series is a global series of 25+ gravel bike racing events sanctioned by the Union Cycliste Internationale (UCI), the international governing body for the sport of cycling recognized by the International Olympic Committee (IOC). These events are part of the broader push by the UCI to formalize and structure gravel racing, a discipline of cycling that has seen significant growth in popularity over recent years.
Gravel racing involves riding on a mix of terrain, including gravel roads, dirt paths, and sometimes even pavement sections, making it a unique blend of road cycling, cyclocross, and mountain biking. Due to the variability of the terrain and the long distances typically covered in races, this type of racing emphasizes endurance, bike handling skills, and strategic planning.
The UCI Gravel World Series aims to bring new recognition and organization to gravel racing, culminating in a World Championship event. This championship allows amateur and professional cyclists worldwide to compete for the prestigious rainbow jersey, symbolizing world championship status across cycling disciplines. The series features races in various countries, offering diverse challenges due to each location’s unique landscapes and gravel conditions.
Participants in the series compete in various age and gender categories, and the events are designed to be inclusive, welcoming all levels of cyclists, from the elite to the enthusiast. By incorporating the UCI Gravel World Series into its calendar, the UCI aims to standardize race formats, ensure rider safety, and promote gravel racing as a legitimate and internationally recognized cycling discipline.
Related Events
You can see the full roster of UCI Gravel World Series events here. Strambecco reviews the Highlands Gravel Classic and the Blue Mountains Gravel Fondo, which are the only North American series events. We also review The Gralloch in the UK and La Monsterrato in Italy.
The UCI Gravel World Series is a sister series of the UCI Gran Fondo Series, a similar international series of 20+ events-races culminating in the UCI Gran Fondo World Championship. Strambecco reviews the only North American event in the series, the highly regarded Cheaha Challenge, which also doubles as a Gran Fondo National Series event.[/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row]
