One need look no further than the 2026 calendars published by the UCI for their amateur Gravel World Series and Gran Fondo World Series to see a monumental shift in the sport of cycling.

In only a short few years the UCI Gravel World Series has surged in popularity, while its older road sibling, the Gran Fondo World Series, stagnates.

The UCI Gravel World Series now consists of 45 events across the globe including 15 new races in 2026. It has grown 36% since last season and 80% since 2024. Now tens of thousands of graveleurs (elite and age group) worldwide have the opportunity to participate and potentially qualify for the annual UCI Gravel World Championships.

On the other hand, the long running asphalt based UCI Gran Fondo World Series has seen little to no growth for years, with the total number of events sitting around 32. While the allure of winning a UCI Gran Fondo World Champion’s jersey remains high, many riders are opting to join the booming gravel side of the sport.

Why?

Riders we talked with report gravel offers more safety, inclusivity and adventure, while still providing competitive racing. It leaves behind the risks associated with racing on open roads surrounded by speeding cars, replacing it with isolated gravel roads (or paths) to explore and navigate.

Unlike road events where some elitists look down upon riders if they are not on a $10K pro racing bike, gravel events typically welcome all skill levels, body types, bike styles (even single speed) while fostering a communal competitive spirit based on shared suffering, camaraderie, and personal achievement.

Plus, for event organizers gravel is much easier to host than a road gran fondo because it uses low or no traffic dirt/gravel roads, reducing the need for expensive road closures, police support and complex permiting.

Maybe it’s time to give gravel a go in 2026…

Photo Credit: 3 Rides Aachen

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