One need look no further than the latest UCI Gravel World Championship series calendar to see the explosive growth of gravel bike racing. The exciting worldwide series now includes over 50 confirmed events, up from a meager 12 in 2022.
With several new races just added, the 2026 season offers 47 events across the globe for gravel cyclists to qualify for the UCI Gravel World Championship taking place in Australia in October, plus 5 events are already confirmed for the 2027 season.
The newest addition to the calendar is Canada’s famous Ghost of the Gravel race just outside of Calgary on 27 June 2026. Twice used to host the Canadian National Gravel Championships, the event is now the fifth world championship qualifying race available in North America.
Gravel Classic Yakurai on 22 August 2026 is the first ever event in Japan for future gravel world champions to showcase their abilities and qualify for the worlds. The event takes place in Kami, Miyagi Prefecture on a challenging forested route with upwards of 8000 feet of climbing.
Also confirmed and added to the calendar for the 2027 season is Gravelista in Seymour, Australia on 25 October 2026, followed by the first edition of Marathon of Gravel in Marathon, Greece on 15 November 2026.
Competitors finishing in the top 25% of their age/gender category at any event on the UCI Gravel World Championship series calendar automatically qualify to race in the world championships.
Photo Credit: CODY SHIMIZU
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