For the first time in the five-year history of the UCI Gravel World Championships, rainbow jerseys will be contested outside Europe. This season, riders across the globe have over 45 opportunities — a record — to qualify for the 2026 UCI Gravel World Championships in Nannup, Australia, on 10–11 October. That the sport has grown so dramatically that its biggest event can now plant its flag on the opposite side of the planet speaks volumes about gravel cycling’s explosive momentum.
Nannup is not an unknown quantity to the gravel community. Since 2018, the small town of Nannup in Western Australia has been home to The Seven, a key race part of the UCI Gravel World Series. Now the rest of the planet gets to find out what Western Australian riders have known for years: this is gravel heaven.
THE VENUE
Situated on the banks of the Blackwood River, Nannup has been perfectly preserved as a historic and character-filled timber town from the early 1900s. Bullnose verandas, weatherboard shop fronts and colourful flower boxes all enhance the delightful appeal of the town, surrounded by trees, exuding peace and calm.
Recognized as Australia’s centre for wine, surfing, cycling and gourmet food, the region is also one of Australia’s most iconic international tourist destinations. Encompassing the major centres of Busselton, Margaret River and Dunsborough, the region has over 15,000 available beds — a significant logistical asset for an event of this scale.
THREE OFFICIAL COURSES
On 15 April 2026, the UCI officially unveiled the championship courses, confirming precise distances and elevation data for the Saturday and Sunday. Three distinct courses serve the various categories, all sharing the same start and finish in Nannup.
The Sunday course for Elite Men and the 19–49 male age groups is the longest and most demanding, at 140.7 km with 3,625 metres of climbing — a figure that puts it firmly in the territory of a hard Alpine road stage, only on loose, unpredictable gravel. The Saturday course for Elite Women, women 19-49 and men 50-64 measures 123.1 km with 3,100 metres of elevation gain. The shorter Saturday course, 89 km with 2,000 metres of climbing, serves women 50+ and men 65+. Racing each day starts at 10:00.
All courses are built on a minimum of 80% gravel across a wide variety of unpaved surfaces, with elevation ranging between 100 and 300 metres above sea level. The longer Sunday course adds an additional loop at the back end of the medium course; the short course takes shortcuts through the medium route.
A 9 km flat paved start section opens every race. This same paved stretch reappears in the final run to the finish banner, giving riders a brief respite. Every competitor, regardless of distance, finishes with an identical final 27 km loop incorporating two climbs. This shared closing circuit concentrates spectator action and guarantees a dramatic conclusion to each race day.
The climbs throughout the course are never very long but follow each other in rapid succession, often steep, offering little recovery time between efforts. This is not a course that rewards specialists who can isolate one big climb. It demands sustained repeatability — the ability to go hard, recover briefly, and go hard again, for hours.
RACING TIPS
PACE YOURSELF: All coursesg begin with 9 km of flat tarmac. Resist the adrenaline. With 3,625 m (men) or 3,100 m (women) of climbing spread across the day, the temptation to push early is a trap. The climbs are short but relentless — they arrive before you expect them and keep arriving. Budget your effort as if the race only begins in the final 40 km.
GEAR UP FOR 20% GRADIENTS: The UCI has confirmed climbs are never very long but come in rapid succession and are often steep. A compact chainset and wide-range cassette are not optional extras — they are the minimum sensible specification. Those who arrive undergeared will pay on the third or fourth climb.
THE FINAL 27 KM LOOP: Every category finishes with the same 27 km closing loop including two climbs. Study this section more than any other. Know where the climbs sit, how long they are and what follows them. The riders who have pre-ridden this loop will have a decisive advantage.
PRIORITISE GRIP OVER SPEED: The mix of dirt, gravel, hard-packed clay, quartz grit and mica means tyre performance varies sector to sector. Err toward volume rather than speed, with pressures on the lower end of the safe range. Tubeless with a reliable plug kit is strongly recommended; carry a spare tube regardless.
PREPARE FOR SPRING: October is the start of spring in Western Australia. Temperatures can swing from warm and dry to cool and wet within the same week. A lightweight windproof layer stowable in a jersey pocket could prove decisive if conditions turn mid-race.
BE SELF-SUFFICIENT: Know your feed zone schedule and carry what you need. Support infrastructure is available on course but riders aiming to be competitive cannot rely on it. Plan nutrition as if you are riding unsupported.
HOW TO QUALIFY
The qualification pathway is built around the UCI Gravel World Series — a global calendar of races that serve simultaneously as competitive events and as gateways to the championship. The top 25% of riders in each age and gender category at any UCI Gravel World Series event qualify for the Championships.
The 2026 qualifier calendar lists over 45 events spread across 32 countries and all continents — the largest in the championship’s history. Elite riders qualify via the series, the UCI points system or their national federation. This inclusivity is what makes gravel unique: it is the one cycling discipline where amateurs line up with professionals, all chasing the rainbow jerseys.
For riders based in Australia or hoping to qualify on the championship course itself, two domestic options are available. The SEVEN Gravel Race in Western Australia on 16 May runs on the medium championship course — confirmed by the UCI as the course for Elite Women and most age group categories. This makes it both a qualification event and a dress rehearsal preview of the world championship course. Devils Cardigan in Tasmania in June provides a second home-soil opportunity.
ENTRY INFORMATION
Registration requires a confirmed qualification from a UCI Gravel World Series event. Once qualified through the top 25% rule, riders can complete their registration via the official UCI Gravel World Championships portal.
To participate, riders must hold a valid racing license issued by their UCI affiliated national cycling federation (one-day licenses are not accepted).
Race pack collection opens at the Event Village in Nannup on Friday 9 October, with windows continuing into race weekend. The official rider briefing is held prior to racing — attendance is strongly advised, as course-specific information is provided that is not replicated in written race notes.
EVENT SCHEDULE
The full event runs from Sunday 4 October through Sunday 11 October 2026, with the championship race days anchoring the final weekend.
Sunday 4 October — Rainbow Rides Gravel Adventure begins. Non-competitive participation riding opens.
Monday–Thursday 5–8 October — Rainbow Rides riding days. Course open for pre-ride exploration.
Friday 9 October — Preparation Day. Expo open from 09:00. Race pack collection from 08:00. Guided course preview rides. Official rider briefing in the evening.
Saturday 10 October — Race Day 1. Elite Women, Women 19–49, Women 50+, Men 50–64, Men 65+. All races start 10:00 a.m. Expo open from 08:00.
Sunday 11 October — Race Day 2. Elite Men and Men Age Groups 19–49. Race starts 10:00 a.m. Awards ceremony and closing event.
TRAVEL TIPS
Perth is the entry point for almost all international competitors. Perth Airport (PER) has direct long-haul connections from Singapore, Dubai, Doha, Hong Kong, Tokyo and various other international hubs. Most European and North American travellers will connect through one of these cities.
From Perth, the drive south to Nannup takes approximately three hours. Car hire at Perth Airport is readily available and is the most practical option, given limited public transport in the South West. Nannup is approximately 40 minutes from the major regional centres of Busselton, Bridgetown and Margaret River.
If you do rent an auto you must drive on the left side of the road, adhere to strict speed limits (often 50 km/h in residential areas, 100-110 km/h on highways), and wear seatbelts at all times. Key rules include giving way to the right at roundabouts, zero tolerance for drug driving, and a strict (0.05%) blood alcohol limit for drivers.
Accommodation in Nannup itself is already sold out. Competitors should secure rooms in Busselton, Margaret River or Dunsborough — all 40 to 60 minutes from Nannup — as soon as possible. Shuttle services between Busselton and Nannup operate on race days.
• Book accommodation immediately. The Margaret River region is a popular spring tourist destination and rooms go fast.
• Confirm bicycle carriage policies before purchasing airline tickets. Policies and fees vary significantly by carrier.
• Build in adequate acclimatisation time. October spring conditions in the region can feel warm to Northern Hemisphere riders used to autumn temperatures.
• Check Australian visa requirements for your nationality well in advance via the Department of Home Affairs.
• Sportive Breaks, the official travel partner, offers packages including guided warm-up rides, mechanical support and airport transfers from Perth.
• Western Australia operates on AWST (UTC+8). Plan jet-lag management accordingly — the race starts at 10:00 a.m. sharp.
FUTURE CHAMPIONSHIPS
For those already thinking beyond October 2026, the next chapter is compelling. The 2027 “super-sized” UCI Cycling World Championships will take place in the Haute-Savoie department of France from 24 August to 5 September 2027, bringing together all UCI World Championships disciplines at 12 sites, including the UCI Gravel World Championships.
Qualifying for 2027 begins almost immediately after Nannup concludes. Four more qualifying events are planned between mid-October and mid-November 2026, including races in Belgium, Portugal, Australia, Thailand and Greece.
FINAL WORD
The UCI Gravel World Championships have matured from an experimental format into one of cycling’s most compelling cycling world championships. The rainbow jerseys that are pulled on in Nannup in October will have been earned on one of the most demanding courses this championship has yet produced.
As event details may change be sure to check ucigravelworldseries.com or gravelchampswesternaustralia.com for the latest information.
Photo Credit: The SEVEN
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