VIDEO: International EPIC Gran Canaria will crown “New World Champions” at the Gran Fondo World Tour® Championship

One of the most popular early season cycling events in Europe on the south side of Gran Canaria island, the EPIC Gran Canaria RIU Hotels & Resorts, returns for its 2024 edition next February 9 - 11, 2024

The EPIC Gran Canaria Hotels & Resorts will crown "New World Champions at the 2024 Gran Fondo World Tour® Championship.

The seventh edition of the EPIC Gran Canaria open registrations in style, picking up the baton from previous GFWT host events including; Styrkeproven (Oslo-Norway) 2018, Rollfast Gran Fondo (Carmel-Indian-USA) 2019, Gran Fondo Encamp (Andorra) 2022 and the Seorak Giant Gran Fondo (South Korea) 2023.

2023 saw the first first global cycling series with world ranking for competitive amatuer cyclists. Gran Canaria will now determine the 2024 World Champions.

Host candidates for 2025 are already being evaluated, including; 719 Ride in Colorado Springs in the United States, the Gran Fondo of Kazakhstan in the city of Taldykurgan (Kazakhstan) and the Amashova Durban Classic in Durban (South Africa).

“Hosting the World Championships in Gran Canaria with our friends at the Epic Gran Canaria by Riu Hotels, a top winter cycling destination, changes our traditional rules of having the finals at the end of the season. The series is changing to an all year round calendar around the world.” stated Dani Buyo CEO and Founder of the Gran Fondo World Tour ®.

Gran Fondo World Tour® offers the opportunity for non-professional cyclists, with the option of participating in quality events on different continents, pedaling up the Galibier - Madeleine, touring Central Asia, the South African hills of the Natal Zulu region, the Californian coast, the mountains of Korea, the sun, limate and different cities of Spain or the landscapes of Norway. Gran Fondo World Tour®is a world ranking which brings together a whole series of unique challenges to form a great international series.

The EPIC Gran Canaria RIU Hotels & Resorts will have two incredible stages, which run along several of the most popular routes on the island, with a first stage of 115 km and two timed sections. Starting from the Mirador de las Dunas de Maspalomas at the RIU Palace Maspalomas, the course will test the athletes on a climb that starts at the foot of the Maspalomas Dunes to take the competitors upwards through Arteara, Fataga, Tirajana and El Pajar to Pasito Blanco.

The first timed section of this stage goes from Aqualand to Ayagaures, with the finish line at the Pedro González summit in a 12.3 km time trial with 470m of climbing, which will leave cyclists breathless in the fight against the average gradient of 4.4%, and a cut-off time of 50 minutes.

The second stage will challenge athletes face to face with the road from Pasito Blanco on its way up to Ayacata, 45 km with 1,304m of climbing and an average gradient of 4.7%, this time trial will push the participants to the limit as they climb through El Pajar, Cercados de Espino, Soria, Barranquillo Andrés, the Las Niñas dam and culminates at the top of Ayacata.

One of the most popular early season cycling events in Europe on the south side of Gran Canaria island

Fast and demanding

The second stage promises a fast and dynamic sporting spectacle, all or nothing in a single timed section. The second stage has 75 kilometers of route, with a 22-kilometer time trial that will adjust the times to the podium. Departing from the RIU Palace Maspalomas hotel, the cyclists will face a competition section that goes from the Mirador to Fataga and Tirajana, with 925 meters of altitude, in a slope of 810 meters and average slopes of 4%. This timed section will decide the titles, and will put the finishing touch on one of the most iconic cycling routes on the island, exclusively for the EPIC Gran Canaria RIU Hotels & Resorts.

This non-competitive stretch is a two-wheeled sports paradise and one of the attractions that attracts thousands of amateur and professional cyclists to the island every year. With step by Santa Lucía, La Era, Vecindario, Doctoral and Bahía Feliz and with the GC-65 and the GC-500 at the disposal of the participants, the trophy presentation will be the place to meet again and celebrate a great sports festival with a show and live music.

This non-competitive stretch is a two-wheeled sports paradise and one of the attractions that attracts thousands of amateur and professional cyclists to the island every year.

Sports Tourism

The EPIC Gran Canaria RIU Hotels & Resorts has consolidated itself in the sports calendar, firm in its objective that sport adds quality to the offer of Gran Canaria as a destination, is a tourist attraction and encourages enjoying the island from a healthy perspective, putting in value its natural heritage.

The EPIC Gran Canaria RIU Hotels & Resorts has the support of the Insular Sports Institute of the Cabildo de Gran Canaria, Maspalomas Costa Canaria, RIU Hotels & Resorts, Turismo Gran Canaria, Hospiten, Free Motion, Nektium, Coca-Cola, Aquabona, and Esenat, among others.

This year the 2024 Gran Fondo World Tour ® Championship will be hosted at Epic Gran Canaria, presented by Riu Hotels, next February 10 -11. No qualification is required, direct entry into the World Championship for your age category. Age categories include; Junior 16-18, Senior 18-39, Masters 40, 45, 50, 55 and 60+ for both men and women.

In addition there will be an overall ranking crowning the 2024 Gran Fondo World Tour® Champions with special custom World Championship Jerseys.

Check out the registration options with a special travel pack or just the registration fee.