The UCI is proud to present a new series of worldwide mass participation gravel events with races in 4 continents where riders can qualify for the new UCI Gravel World Championships who will take place for the first time in the first weekend of October 2022 in Tuscany on the famous “Strade Bianche”.
Born in the US Midwest some 15 years ago under the name of Gravel Grinders, gravel events are the new highlight in cycling where riders are looking for new challenges. After the States, other continents have embraced the concept in recent years and the gravel market is currently booming worldwide.
The plans for the series have been based on the existing and very successful UCI Gran Fondo World Series where riders can also earn their spot for a yearly World Championship. In the new UCI Gravel World Series, the top 25% per age group and gender qualify for the UCI Gravel World Championships where the new world champions will be crowned with the coveted rainbow jersey in the different UCI age categories. These age categories are 19-34 and then further per 5 years, 35-39, 40-44, 45-49 etc.. up to the oldest rider at the start. The only difference with Gran Fondo is that also top level pro riders can take part and battle for the world titles. National federations can also send a national team to bring their best elite riders at the start without prior qualification.
The new calendar will start with a race in the Philippines where the new UCI Gravel World Series calendar will be launched on April 3rd for a XXkm gravel event. The series will have a total of 16 events with 3 races in the States, 2 in Australia and Canada and one event in France, Poland, Mexico, Sweden, Belgium, Italy, Holland and Spain.
The UCI has chosen to not make the regulations too strict in the first years allowing any bike at the start (gravel bike, cyclocross bike, mountainbike, road bike…) to further evaluate in the upcoming years.
UCI president David Lappartient : « Quote »
TREK UCI GRAVEL WORLD SERIES
Trek will become the new title partner of the Trek UCI Gravel World Series. The bike brand is pleased to connect their name to the Gravel series as they see gravel growing exponentially in the last few years and believe that a gravel bike will be a new experience for both competitive as leisure riders and the perfect bike who can be used for different purposes.
The Trek UCI Gravel World Series will be managed by Belgian Sports Marketing company Golazo who has also coordinated the UCI Gran Fondo World Series since 2011. In the new gravel series, both competitive and non-competitive riders share the same roads and experience the joy of exploring nature while riding a bike to feel like a pro for one day…
