Over 4,500 cyclists qualify for 2023 UCI Gran Fondo World Championships in Scotland
After hosting 22 qualifying events worldwide, over 4500 cyclists have qualified to participate in the 2023 UCI Gran Fondo World Championships taking place August 4-7th in Dundee and Perth in Scotland
Over 500 riders qualified at the Schleck Granfondo in Luxembourg, and nearly the same at the final edition of the Tour of Cambridgeshire in the United Kingdom, with over 350 riders qualifying at the Tour de Brisbane.
The Gran Fondo Isle of Man in the United Kingdom this July 22-23 is the final event for 2023 qualification.
Moving into 2024 season, 7 qualifying events have already been announced for the 2023 UCI Gran Fondo World Championships taking place in Aalborg, Denmark September 2024. It will be the second time Aalborg has hosted the gran fondo world championships, the first being in 2015.
Link to 2023 UCI Gran Fondo World Championships Qualified riders: https://ucigranfondoworldseries.com/en/qualified-riders
Riders set for an experience like no other on Gran Fondo routes
Breathtaking scenery, rolling hills and beautiful beaches will provide the perfect setting for the Gran Fondo events at the 2023 UCI Cycling World Championships. Details of the Gran Fondo routes were unveiled.
The 2023 UCI Cycling World Championships will bring together 13 existing UCI World Championships into a new mega event in Glasgow and across Scotland from 3 – 13 August.
The Gran Fondo and Medio Fondo road races will take place on Friday 4 August, the second day of the UCI Cycling World Championships, in Perth and Kinross, while the Gran Fondo time trials will take place on Monday 7 August in Dundee and Angus. All areas were previously confirmed as host regions on 23 March 2023.
Gran Fondo (which translates as “Big Race”) is a long-distance, mass participation event that celebrates competitive cycling. The top 25 percent of riders from 27 qualifying events held around the world earned the right to compete in Scotland as part of the 2023 UCI Cycling World Championships.
UCI Gran Fondo Course
The Gran Fondo, taking place over 160km with more than 1,600m of climbing, will see riders take in some of Scotland’s most beautiful scenery. Starting and finishing in Perth, riders will set off from Tay Street in the city centre, riding up the River Tay before turning left on to Charlotte Street and past the Perth Art Gallery on the way to Methven and Glenalmond.
From there, the riders will go through the picturesque Perthshire countryside, passing Sma’ Glen and Amulree towards Aberfeldy and Weem, then on to Tummel Bridge in the Tay Forest, past Munros along the shores of Loch Tummel and by the famous Queen’s View lookout, to Pitlochry, in the heart of Scotland.
The course will then take riders out to Kirkmichael before heading back towards Perth, travelling through Bridge of Cally, Blairgowrie, Guildtown and Scone, before crossing over the River Tay via Smeaton’s Bridge and on to the finish line back at Tay Street.
UCI Medio Fondo Course
Following a similar starting course to the Gran Fondo, Medio Fondo riders will tackle 85.7km and 777m of climbing. Starting and finishing in Perth, riders will follow the same course out to Methven before turning east at Buchanty and heading through Chapelhill, Bankfoot, Caputh, Murthly, and Spittalfield, on the way to Blairgowrie and Rattray, where riders will then follow the same course back to the finishing line in Perth on Tay Street.
Women aged 19 to 49 and Men 19 to 59 will take part in the Gran Fondo, while qualified riders in the Women 50+ and Men 60+ age categories will complete the Medio Fondo course.
UCI Time Trial Course
All riders qualified for the time trial will compete over the same course across Dundee and Angus: 22.8km with 89m of climbing. Starting on West Grange Road east of Dundee, riders will head north-east along Arbroath Road (part of the A92) towards Arbroath, turning at Salmon’s Muir and heading back down the A92 to the finish line near Dundee.
The route will take riders through some of the stunning coastal scenery of Angus including, passing Camustane Hill, near the Firth of Tay and Carnoustie, home to one of the venues on The Open golf rota, the Carnoustie Golf Links, creating a memorable event for everyone taking part.
Full details, including routes, technical information and course maps can be found on the 2023 UCI Cycling World Championships website. GPS files of the route courses can be downloaded at these links: Gran Fondo, Medio Fondo, and Gran Fondo Time Trial.
Please note, that routes may be subject to change by the event organiser. Any changes will be shared in advance of the race.
Race spectators, visitors and local communities are encouraged to prepare by making travel plans ahead of the event, with more information about?traffic management available on Traffic Scotland’s website.