Pekan Classics
Date
Sunday 22.06.2025Distances
93 - 162 kmCity
Pekan
Country
MalaysiaPekan Classics is a new event in the UCI Gran Fondo World Series organized for the first time in 2025. The race is held on both borders of the Pahang river and is mainly flat and fast.
General
Pekan, the Royal Town of Pahang, is a charming and historically rich town nestled in the Pekan District of Pahang, Malaysia. Situated near the mouth of the Pahang River, it serves as the royal capital of the state and is home to the Pahang Sultanate. Its official status as the royal residence was declared long ago by the royal family.
While generally tranquil throughout the year, Pekan comes alive with pomp and pageantry each July and August to celebrate the birthday of HRH the Sultan of Pahang. Local lore suggests the town was named after the Bunga Pekan, a flowering plant once abundant along the banks of the Pahang River.
Pekan is located 45 km south of Kuantan, Pahang’s capital, and approximately 130 km north of Mersing on Johor’s east coast of Peninsular Malaysia. As the home of Pahang’s royal family, the town boasts several impressive structures, including the royal palace, a variety of museums, numerous mosques, and a luxury hotel. Beyond its historical significance, Pekan offers an excellent food scene, with a diverse range of restaurants, eateries, and local dishes to explore.
Road race
Pekan Classics has two distances. A long 162km granfondo as qualifier distance for all men 19-59 and women 19-49 while the shorter 93km mediofondo distance makes a shortcut halfway, skipping the undulating part to finish after 93km.
Start and finish are in the royal town of Pekan. The course follows the borders of the Pahang river on the south side going out of town for the first 41km to then turn left towards the more hilly part of the course. The road is slightly going up and down, but with a highest point of only 89m above sea level, still mainly flat.
The course comes back next to the river after 92km to cross the river after 110km for a final 50km on the north side of the same river going back to Pekan.
With 1072m of elevation, this course is flat and fast.
The mediofondo skips the part between km 41 and 110 and has only 470m of elevation.
