The road to the 2027 UCI Gran Fondo World Championships officially begins this weekend as riders on three continents compete for the first qualification places for next year’s World Championships. Scheduled for 22-24 August 2027 in the spectacular Haute-Savoie region of France, the championships will return to the heartland of cycling in the French Alps.
While details of the Haute-Savoie courses will be unveiled in the coming weeks, riders already have the opportunity to secure their championship place early in the season through the first three qualifying events of the UCI Gran Fondo World Series.
Australia launches qualification campaign
The first qualification race of the season takes place at Amy’s Gran Fondo on Australia’s iconic Great Ocean Road. The event returns to the roads that hosted the 2025 UCI Gran Fondo World Championships and has once again attracted a massive international field.
A total of 3,114 riders representing 11 countries will take to the start line for the 122-kilometre course. The route closely follows last year’s world championship circuit, beginning with the challenging Benwerrin climb before continuing towards the ascent of Mount Sabine, the highest point of the course. After the decisive climbing section in the second half of the race, riders will descend back towards the spectacular coastal roads of the Great Ocean Road for the finish.
With qualification places for Haute-Savoie 2027 on offer, competitors will be eager to make an early statement and secure their ticket to next year’s world championship event.
Reggio Emilia hosts first European qualifier
Only a few hours later, attention shifts to Europe where the Granfondo Matildica in Reggio Emilia opens the European qualification campaign in the Emilia-Romagna region of Italy.
The event has already attracted 1,200 registered participants from 36 different countries, with organisers expecting the final numbers to increase significantly as many riders traditionally register during the final days before the event or on site.
Riders under the age of 50 will tackle a demanding 153km course featuring 2,150 metres of climbing, while participants aged 50 and above will compete on a shorter but still challenging 126km route with 1,450 metres of elevation gain.
The Italian qualifier offers an additional incentive for many riders. Alongside qualification for the 2027 UCI Gran Fondo World Championships, Reggio Emilia also represents the final opportunity to qualify for the upcoming UEC Gran Fondo European Championships in Varese, taking place in just three weeks’ time.
Costa Rica returns after weather postponement
The third qualification opportunity of the weekend takes riders to Central America for the CRC506 Granfondo de Costa Rica.
Originally scheduled for early June, the event was postponed after severe flooding affected the region. Organisers have maintained the original course design, ensuring participants will still enjoy one of the most scenic races on the American continent.
The granfondo route covers 141 kilometres between Jacó and Quepos along Costa Rica’s Pacific coastline. Riders will travel south before turning back towards the finish, with the ocean providing a spectacular backdrop throughout much of the race.
For older age categories, qualification opportunities are offered through the mediofondo route, which starts at the course’s turning point and covers the second half of the granfondo circuit.
The Race Towards Haute-Savoie Begins
With events in Australia, Europe and Central America all taking place within the same weekend, the 2027 UCI Gran Fondo World Series qualification campaign gets underway in truly global fashion.
