About UCI Gran Fondo World Series
From Shanghai Pudong Airport (PVG) to Xianghu Lake, Hangzhou
UCI Gran Fondo World Series:
The UCI Gran Fondo World Championships qualifier series The UCI Granfondo World Series (former UCI World Cycling Tour) is a series of UCI-sanctioned races held all over the world. Some 25-35 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. After its launch in 2011, the UCI Granfondo World Series enters the 2025 season with additional events.
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.
Regulations:
The UCI Gran Fondo World Series is a ‘cycling for all’ series where cyclists from all over the world can participate in events where they can obtain their ticket for the official UCI Gran Fondo World Championships in different age groups. There are qualifier events for both road-races and time-trial. The UCI Gran Fondo World Championships will crown the new UCI Worldchampions in Road racing and Time-trial.
Definition:
UCI Gran Fondo World Series Events
A UCI Gran Fondo World Series event is a competitive mass participation event with a mass start (or in waves with intervals between the start groups) which is fully timed for all participants and split results are made per age group and gender.
A UCI Gran Fondo World Series Event has three different categories:
Full closed roads: Competitive mass participation event with a mass start in which riders can use the whole road during a certain time frame (time to be set by the organisers). Roads are closed for the full length and duration of the event for all participants. No traffic on the course (except event vehicles). Rolling road closure: Competitive mass participation event with a mass start in which riders can use the whole road during a certain time frame (time to be set by the organisers). Roads are closed from the moment the first riders approach until a dedicated time after the first riders have passed (time to be set by the organisers). Road traffic regulations must be respected for all riders being outside of the defined time set by the organiser. Open roads: Competitive mass participation event with a mass-start in which riders must respect road traffic regulations during the whole course. The UCI Gran Fondo World Championships is the last event of the series, open to riders qualified through the series.
Participation Rights
Riders can take part in the Gran Fondo World Series if they hold any of the following licenses:
No license. Some national federations require a day license which can be bought on-site. Certain countries also require a medical certificate
Amateur license
Master license
Cycling for All license
Elite license with exception of:
Any rider who has during the current year been a member of a team registered with the UCI. Any rider who has taken part in a World Championships, the Olympic Games, Continental Games, Regional Games, the Commonwealth Games, or a World Cup during the current year. Any rider who has scored UCI points in the year of the World Championships. Riders taking part in the UCI Gran Fondo World Championships must hold a valid licence issued by their respective national federation (day licences being excluded), must hold a UCI ID (from 2020 onwards) and must be adequately insured against accidents and civil responsibility in the country in which the UCI Gran Fondo World Championships are held
How to quality?
Through the UCI Gran Fondo World Series events
Each UCI Gran Fondo World Series event grants qualification rights for the UCI Gran Fondo World Championships. Based on the results of each race, the first 25% of athletes in each age group will be qualified for the UCI Gran Fondo World Championships. The 25% is calculated based on the number of starters in each age group, and not on the number of riders having finished the race.
In addition, the first three riders of each official age category will qualify directly for the World Championships, independently of the number of starters in that age group. Riders must finish the race to gain qualification.
The age categories of the UCI Gran Fondo World Championships are:
19-34
35-39
40-44
45-49
50-54
55-59
60-64
65-69
70-74
75-79
Etc…
Age groups applicable to the UCI Gran Fondo World Series are defined by the rider’s age on December 31st of the year of the qualifier event. Age groups applicable to the UCI Gran Fondo World Championships are defined by the riders’ age on December 31st of the year of the World Championships.
As qualification for the UCI Gran Fondo World Championships starts as of September in the preceding calendar year, any riders who qualify before January 1st and who change age groups during the year of the UCI Gran Fondo World Championships will qualify as per their age group during the year of the qualifier event, but will be registered in their new age category for the UCI Gran Fondo World Championships.
At the UCI Gran Fondo World Championships, medals and titles will be awarded for men and/or women as soon as 1 rider is registered in the respective 5-year age category.
Qualification for the individual time trial and road race is determined as follows:
Qualifier events of the UCI Gran Fondo World Series hosting only a road race will grant qualification for both the road race and time trial at the UCI Gran Fondo World Championships.
Qualifier events of the UCI Gran Fondo World Series hosting a time trial and a road race will grant qualification for each respective event at the UCI Gran Fondo World Championships – i.e. time trial or road race.
Qualifier events of the UCI Gran Fondo World Series only hosting a time trial will grant qualification for the time trial only at the UCI Gran Fondo World Championships.
The names of riders having gained qualification through the UCI Gran Fondo World Series will be communicated on the UCI Gran Fondo World Series website and will receive an official email from the UCI inviting them to register for the UCI Gran Fondo World Championships via the dedicated online registration portal.
Outgoing UCI Gran Fondo World Champions
The outgoing UCI World Champions in the time trial and road race may take part in the first UCI Gran Fondo World Championships following their title, in both the time trial and road race.
Masters National Champions
All Masters national champions from the current year (in road race and individual time trial only) may enter the UCI Gran Fondo World Championships without qualification via the UCI Gran Fondo World Series. The Masters national champions in road race and time trial are confirmed to the UCI by the respective National Federation.
National Federation of the country of the UCI Gran Fondo World Championships
The National Federation of the country of the UCI Gran Fondo World Championships may award an additional 20 wildcards (to 10 women and 10 men), which allow athletes to participate in both the time trial and road race. These wildcards are confirmed to the UCI by the respective National Federation.
Wild cards
The following wildcards allow riders to participate directly in the UCI Gran Fondo World Championships:
Each UCI Gran Fondo World Series qualifier events may grant 5 wildcards to riders who participated in their respective qualification event. These wildcards are confirmed to the UCI by each UCI Gran Fondo World Series organiser. All countries not hosting a UCI Gran Fondo World Series qualifier event may grant 10 wildcards (5 men / 5 women) to riders of their choice. These wildcards are confirmed to the UCI by the respective National Federation.
Awards Ceremony
Ceremony for women and men
The three first riders of every age category (women and men) will be called to the podium to be awarded prizes.
UGFWS Finisher Medal
Every rider to finish in the first 25% of his age group in the UGFWS qualifier events shall be given a medal. The organizer should set up a desk/tent where riders can collect their medal. This should also be announced in the technical guide.
UGFWS Age Group winners’ jersey
All winners of their age group get an official UGFWS jersey on the podium during the award ceremony.