After lessons learned during the UCI’s first gravel season, cycling’s world governing body has announced several new rules and procedures for 17 events in the 2023 Gravel World Series, including the 2023 UCI Gravel World Championships.

With the first gravel event and opportunity to qualify for the World Championships just four weeks away, the UCI has confirmed that the Top 25% of participants in each age/gender category will automatically qualify to attend the 2023 UCI Gravel World Championships.

For 2023 a new “priority start box” for the “best” riders will be available at qualifying events, with a maximum of 25 riders assigned to the box. Individual event organizers, not the UCI, will decide who is awarded this benefit. Riders must submit a cycling resume, results and official request to each organizer prior to the event to be considered for priority starting status.

New technical regulations specify only bikes with dropped handlebars are permitted in UCI Gravel World Championship events. Though, at qualifying events almost any type of bike can be used (excluding E-bikes, time trial bikes, recumbents and tandems).

Also, at the UCI Gravel World Championships, the starting grid for Elite male and female riders will now be set based on a points system which is the sum of the following:

  • Points won at UCI Gravel World Series events in the overall male/female result per race for Top 25: 200-180-160-150-140-130-120-110-100-90-80-70-65-60-55-50-45-40-35-30-25-20-15-10-5 points.
  • Points won at the most recent UCI Gravel World Championships in the Elite category for the Top 25: 1000-750-600-500-450-400-350-300-275-250-225-200-180-160-140-120-100-80-70-60-50-40-30-20-10 points.
  • 50% of UCI points accumulated in road, mountain bike cross country, mountain bike marathon and cyclocross.

Non-elite riders (i.e. amateur age/gender categories) participating in the UCI Gravel World Championships will still line up in their respective category starting grids on a first come, first serve basis.

Photo Credit: DCImages Milano

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