How to Qualify for the 2020 UCI Gran Fondo World Championships in Vancouver
The UCI Gran Fondo World Championships gives amateurs the chance to race for the Rainbow Jersey globally
It might not be the Olympics, but the UCI Gran World Series is a bona fide World Championship, grand in scale, globally.
While sports fans around the world may not be watching, its real racing with over 56 countries represented among the 4,000 to 5,000 riders expected to take part in 2020.
This event is split into categories by gender and nine age groups from 19 to 75+, with a coveted Rainbow Jersey awarded to the winners of each category.
It’s a Mass Participation Championship, in that you have to earn your place, but doing so requires that you finish in the top 20% of your age group in one of 20 qualifying events around the world.
Qualification System For The 2020 UCI Gran Fondo World Championships in Vancouver, Canada
Participation in the UCI Gran Fondo World Championships is excluded for:
a) Any rider who has during the current year been a member of a team registered with the UCI.
b) Any rider who has taken part in a World Championships, the Olympic Games, Continental games, regional games, the Commonwealth Games, or a World Cup during the current year.
c) Any rider who scored UCI points in the year of the World Championships.
Licencing
Riders taking part in the UCI Gran Fondo World Championships must hold a valid licence issued by their respective national federation (day licences being excluded), must hold a UCI ID and must be adequately insured against accidents and civil responsibility in the country in which the UCI Gran Fondo World Championships are held.
Qualification Age Categories
Each 2020 UCI Gran Fondo World Series event grants qualification rights for the 2020 UCI Gran Fondo World Championships. Based on the results of each race, the first 20% of athletes in each age group will be qualified for the UCI Gran Fondo World Championships. The 20% is calculated based on the number of starters in each age group, and not on the number of riders having finished the race.
In addition, the first three riders of each official age category will qualify directly for the World Championships, independently of the number of starters in that age group. Riders must finish the race to gain qualification.
The age categories of the UCI Gran Fondo World Championships are:
• 19 – 34
• 35 – 39
• 40 – 44
• 45 – 49
• 50 – 54
• 55 – 59
• 60 – 64
• 65 – 69
• 70 – 74
• 75 – 79
The percentage of 20% may be reviewed by the UCI Management Committee on a yearly basis, taking into consideration the participation in the UCI Gran Fondo World Championships, the number of events in the UCI Gran Fondo World Series calendar and the evolution of the UCI Gran Fondo World Series calendar.
Age groups are defined by riders’ age on December 31st of the year of the World Championships. At the UCI Gran Fondo World Championships, medals and titles will be awarded for men and/or women as soon as 1 rider is registered in the respective
Qualification Events
• Qualifier events of the UCI Gran Fondo World Series hosting only a road race will grant qualification for both the road race and time trial at the UCI Gran Fondo World Championships.
• Qualifier events of the UCI Gran Fondo World Series hosting a time trial and a road race will grant qualification for each respective event at the UCI Gran Fondo World Championships – i.e. time trial or road race.
• Qualifier events of the UCI Gran Fondo World Series only hosting a time trial will grant qualification for the time trial only at the UCI Gran Fondo World Championships.
N.B: The names of riders having gained qualification through the UCI Gran Fondo World Series will be communicated on the UCI Gran Fondo World Series website and will receive an official email from the UCI inviting them to register for the UCI Gran Fondo World Championships via the dedicated online registration portal.
Outgoing UCI Gran Fondo World Champions
The outgoing UCI World Champions in the time trial and road race may take part in the first UCI Gran Fondo World Championships following their title, in both the time trial and road race.
Masters National Champions
All Masters national champions from the current year (in road race and individual time trial only) may enter the UCI Gran Fondo World Championships without qualification via the UCI Gran Fondo World Series. The Masters national champions in road race and time trial are confirmed to the UCI by the respective National Federation.
Masters Continental Champions
All Masters continental champions from the current year (in road race and individual time trial only) may enter the UCI Gran Fondo World Championships without qualification via the UCI Gran Fondo World Series. The Masters continental champions in road race and time trial are confirmed to the UCI by the respective Continental Confederation.
National Federation of the country of the UCI Gran Fondo World Championships
The National Federation of the country of the UCI Gran Fondo World Championships may award an additional 20 wildcards (to 10 women and 10 men), which allow athletes to participate in both the time trial and road race. These wildcards are confirmed to the UCI by the respective National Federation.
Wild cards
The following wildcards allow riders to participate directly in the UCI Gran Fondo World Championships:
• Each UCI Gran Fondo World Series qualifier events may grant 5 wildcards to riders who participated in their respective qualification event. These wildcards are confirmed to the UCI by each UCI Gran Fondo World Series organiser.
• All countries not hosting a UCI Gran Fondo World Series qualifier event may grant 10 wildcards (5 men / 5 women) to riders of their choice. These wildcards are confirmed to the UCI by the respective National Federation.
Team Relay
Riders can only take part if they are officially registered for the UCI Gran Fondo World Championships in the time trial and/or road race.
Teams are composed of 4 riders, all representing the same nation, as follows:
• One female rider of any age
• One male rider of any age
• One rider aged 40+
• One rider aged 50+
N.B: The Team Relay is not an official World Championship; it is part of the side events programme.
The maximum number of teams is 25. In principle, there will be a maximum of 1 team per country and 2 teams for the National Federation of the country of the UCI Gran Fondo World Championships.
The official registration process and relevant deadlines will be communicated by the UCI to all National Federations and registered athletes.
This information was reproduced officially under licence from the UCI. Gran Fondo Guide is an official media partner of the UCI and the UCI Gran Fondo World Series
