2023 UCI Gran Fondo World Championships

Sportive Breaks were the official fan and amateur participant travel and experiences provider of the 2023 UCI Cycling World Championships in Glasgow and Scotland.

The UCI Gran Fondo World Championships took place on Friday 4th August. As part of the Super Cycling World Championships in Scotland there was also the opportunity for amateur cyclists to become world champions and wear the Rainbow Jersey for a year. Two days before the Elite Men who took to the roads of Edinburgh and Glasgow on Sunday 6th August it was the turn of the amateurs in Perth.

Sportive Breaks welcomed 300 riders in Perth who stayed at several hotels in and around Perth.

Throughout 2022 and 2023 amateur riders had the opportunity to qualify for the World Champs in Perth by qualifying in the top 25% of their age group at a series of qualifier events worldwide. Former Olympic champion Aleksandr Vinokourov won gold in the men aged 50 to 54, while 64-year-old French cycling legend Jeannie Longo took silver in the women’s race.

Vinokourov who is the general manager of Mark Cavendish’ current team Astana Qazaqstan wasn’t the only team boss who won gold. Sportive Breaks client Sylvan Adams of team Israel-Premier Tech was victorious in the 65 – 69 age category. Former Dutch Pro rider Johnny Hoogerland of 2011 Tour de France barbed wire fame also won his age group.

2024 UCI Gran Fondo World Championships

The 2024 UCI Gran Fondo World Championships will take place in Aalborg, Denmark. The event brings together qualifying cyclists from all over the world. The winner in each age group will have the honour of wearing the coveted rainbow jersey for a year as official UCI Gran Fondo world champion.

Launched in 2011, the UCI Gran Fondo World Series (formerly known as the UCI World Cycling Tour) is a series of UCI-sanctioned road races held all over the world. Throughout the 2022-2023 season, a series of events will qualify the top 25% in each age group for the UCI Gran Fondo World Championships. The age group winners of the UCI Gran Fondo World Championships are awarded the UCI rainbow jersey. The qualifier events are open to riders of all levels: those who aim to make the podium and others who wish to cross the finish line in the best possible time.  For more information: http://www.ucigranfondoworldseries.com/

Who can take part?

Each UCI Gran Fondo World Series event of the 2023-2024 seasons grants qualification rights for the 2024 UCI Gran Fondo World Championships. Events Calendar available here. Based on the results of each race, the first 20% of athletes in each age group will be qualified for the UCI Gran Fondo World Championships. The 20% 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 UCI Gran Fondo World Championships, independently of the number of starters in that age group. Riders must finish the race to gain qualification.

All rules are available here

Jersey is obligatory

It is mandatory for a rider to wear their national kit at the UCI Gran Fondo World Championships Time Trial, Team Relay and Road Race. Although the official national jersey is not required, a jersey representing their country with a similar design and colours as the original national team jersey is required. Private or club sponsors are allowed to be featured on the national jersey.