How to Qualify for the 2027 UCI Gran Fondo World Championships
To ride the 2027 UCI Gran Fondo World Championships in Haute-Savoie, France, you need to finish in the top 25% of your age group at one of the UCI Gran Fondo World Series qualifiers events before the Worlds. There are about 20 qualifiers worldwide between September 2026 and May 2027, including the Tour de Brisbane on 4 April 2027, and riders of every nationality can qualify. The Worlds Time Trial is on 22 August 2027 and the Gran Fondo on 24 August, both starting in Thônes and finishing in La Clusaz.
This guide explains how qualifying works, lists the remaining qualifiers, and covers what to do once you've earned your spot.
How qualifying works
The Gran Fondo Worlds are the amateur world championships, raced in age and gender groups. You can't buy an entry: you earn it by racing a qualifier.
Finish in the top 25% of your age group. At each UCI Gran Fondo World Series event, the top 25% of riders in each age and gender category qualify. AusCycling notes the 25% is counted against starters, not finishers.
Road race or time trial. Qualifiers include road gran fondos and time trials. Many events run a shorter "medio fondo" course for older age groups, which also counts.
Age groups. Riders race in five-year bands (35–39, 40–44 and so on), with one band for the youngest riders and open-ended bands at the top. Your age is taken as at 31 December of the race year; check the exact bands in the UCI rules.
Amateurs only. Riders on UCI-registered teams or who have recently scored UCI points can't qualify; they can usually ride the event's recreational category.
Licence and UCI ID. Australians need an annual AusCycling "Race All Discipline" licence (day licences don't count) and a free 11-digit UCI ID. For the 2026 Worlds, AusCycling required the licence to run to 31 December of the race year; expect the same for 2027.
Which country you ride for. You represent the nationality on your UCI ID, which can differ from the federation that issues your licence.
If you just miss out, ask the organiser of the qualifier you rode about wild cards: typically organisers can access a small number of wild cards.
Qualifiers still to come
Thirteen qualifiers with confirmed dates remain (as at 10 November 2026), and the Tour de Brisbane on 4 April 2027 is the last one in Australia. The calendar is still being added to, so check the official UCI Gran Fondo World Series calendar before you plan around a date.
Date | Event | Location |
14 Nov 2026 | Granfondo Ecuador | Salinas, Ecuador |
21–22 Nov 2026 | Gran Fondo 7 Lagos | Villa la Angostura, Argentina |
29 Nov 2026 | Granfondo Colombia | Medellín, Colombia |
6 Dec 2026 | Granfondo La Guadeloupe | Îles de Guadeloupe |
11–13 Dec 2026 | Gran Fondo Hainan | Hainan, China |
20 Dec 2026 | AD Ports Group Gran Fondo Abu Dhabi | Al Ain, UAE |
7 Feb 2027 | Spinneys Dubai 92 | Dubai, UAE |
14 Mar 2027 | Millars Gran Fondo | Castellón, Spain |
26 Mar 2027 | Gran Fondo Cyprus | Pafos, Cyprus |
3 Apr 2027 | Istria Gran Fondo | Umag, Croatia |
4 Apr 2027 | Tour de Brisbane | Brisbane, Australia |
10 Apr 2027 | 3 Rides | Silence-Rechtenbach, Germany |
9 May 2027 | Sudety Tour | Broumov, Czechia |
To be confirmed | Granfondo Chile | Los Ríos, Chile (postponed) |
Please note: at the time of writing, the official UCI calendar lists qualifiers only up to December 2026. The 2027 dates above come from earlier calendar announcements and the events themselves, and may change. Before you enter, confirm the date and qualifier status on the event's own website.
Already run for 2027: Amy's Great Ocean Road Gran Fondo (Lorne, 13 September 2026), Granfondo Matildica (Italy), the CRC 506 Gran Fondo of Costa Rica, the Tre Valli Varesine (Italy, 3–4 October), Gran Fondo Greece (1 November), Granfondo Antalya (Turkey, 6–8 November), Granfondo La Nucía (Spain, 7 November) and Granfondo Brazil (8 November). If you finished in the top 25% at one of those, you're already qualified.
Note that Amy's Gran Fondo in September 2027 qualifies riders for the 2028 Worlds, not 2027.
After you qualify
Once results are confirmed, the UCI emails qualified riders a link to enter the World Championships. You don't enter through AusCycling or the qualifier's organiser.
Watch your inbox (and spam folder) for the UCI entry email after your qualifier's results are final.
Check your licence and UCI ID are current and that the nationality on your UCI ID is the country you want to ride for.
Enter before the deadline in the UCI email. Entry fees and closing dates for 2027 haven't been published yet.
Book accommodation early. The Gran Fondo finishes in La Clusaz, a small ski village, and the wider Super Worlds runs 24 August to 5 September, so beds near the course will go fast.
Gran Fondo Essentials hotel at the finish in La Clusaz
Key dates and courses for 2027
Both Gran Fondo Worlds races start in Thônes and finish in La Clusaz, in the Aravis mountains of Haute-Savoie.
Race | Date | Course |
Individual Time Trial | Sunday 22 August 2027 | 12.7 km uphill from Thônes to La Clusaz via Saint-Jean-de-Sixt, 432 m climbing |
Gran Fondo | Tuesday 24 August 2027 | 115 km, 3,256 m climbing: Plateau des Glières (with a ~2 km gravel sector), Col des Fleuries, the Brizon climb and the Col de la Colombière |
Medio Fondo (older age groups) | With the Gran Fondo | 80 km, 2,150 m climbing: the Brizon climb and the Col de la Colombière |
The Gran Fondo Worlds are part of the UCI "Super Worlds", which bring together world championships across disciplines in Haute-Savoie from 24 August to 5 September 2027, including the Elite road race at Sallanches–Domancy and Downhill MTB at Les Gets.
Planning your trip
Higher Ground Travel & Events runs four fully supported packages built around the race days, with accommodation, dinners, guided rides, dedicated mechanics and race-day support. Gran Fondo Essentials and Gran Fondo Premium are the Official AusCycling Travel Packages for the 2027 UCI Gran Fondo World Championships, and every package is open to riders and supporters of all nationalities. You arrange your own race entry once you qualify; we handle everything else.
Package | Dates | Based in | From (per person, twin share) |
15–20 Aug 2027 | La Clusaz | AUD 2,880 rider · AUD 2,080 supporter | |
20–25 Aug 2027 | La Clusaz (finish village) | AUD 3,340 rider · AUD 2,790 supporter | |
19–25 Aug 2027 | Talloires, Lake Annecy | AUD 4,870 rider · AUD 4,090 supporter | |
25–30 Aug 2027 | Arâches-la-Frasse | AUD 4,940 rider · AUD 4,590 supporter |
Combine two programs and save AUD 300 per person, or three and save AUD 450. Places are limited to 26 guests (riders and spectators) per tour (46 on Essentials).
Not qualified yet? You can still book now and ride a qualifier in the meantime. Tell us which tour interests you and we'll keep you posted.
FAQs
Do I need to qualify to join a Higher Ground tour? No. Supporters and non-racing riders are welcome on every package. You only need to qualify to race the Worlds itself.
Are these official AusCycling packages, and can riders from other countries join? Gran Fondo Essentials and Gran Fondo Premium are the Official AusCycling Travel Packages for the 2027 UCI Gran Fondo World Championships. All four tours are open to riders and supporters of every nationality.
Can I still qualify if I'm in Australia? Yes. The Tour de Brisbane on 4 April 2027 is a qualifier, and you can also qualify at any overseas event on the calendar.
Does the 25% apply to the whole field or my age group? Your age and gender group, counted against starters.
Can I race both the Time Trial and the Gran Fondo? Qualifiers include both formats. Check your UCI entry email for which races you're qualified for, and whether one qualification covers both.
I qualified for the 2026 Worlds in Niseko. Does that count for 2027? No. Each Worlds has its own qualifying season, so you need a result from the 2026–27 qualifiers.
What if I'm a few places outside the top 25%? Ask the qualifier's organiser about wild cards. Amy's Gran Fondo an
d the Tour de Brisbane each typically have a few.
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