Frequently Asked Questions
2021 UCI Gran Fondo World Championships
How do I qualify for the UCI Gran Fondo World Championships?
You qualify when you finish within the top 25% of your age group in one qualifier event of your choice during the 2019-2020 season or 2020-2021 season. The age groups are: 19-34, 35-39, 40-44, 45-49, 50-54, 55-59, 60-64, 65-69, 70-74… for both males and females. As soon as there is one registered rider in a certain age group, the World title will always be awarded. If you qualify, you’ll receive an invitational email from the UCI inviting you to register for the World Championships. In races with only a road race, you can qualify for both the time trial and the road race World Championships. In races with both a time trial and road race event, you will have to qualify in both disciplines separately. If you think you qualified but didn’t receive an invitational email, you can contact the UCI directly at info@ucigranfondoworldseries.com
I qualified for the 2020 UCI Gran Fondo World Championships in Vancouver (CAN) who have been cancelled. Is my qualification still valid?
Yes. All riders who qualified in the Whistler Granfondo, Amy’s Granfondo, Tre Valli Varesine and Dubai Spinneys 92 Cycling Challenge at the end of 2019 or the Granfondo Casablanca and Bathurst Cycling Classic early 2020 will again be invited for the 2021 UCI Gran Fondo World Championships in Istocno Sarajevo. Their qualification will be transferred to this year’s World Championships.
I received the official invitation mail but we used that email for different riders. Who is qualified?
You can check the official list of qualified riders per discipline on www.ucigranfondoworldseries.com -> Qualified Riders
I'm having my birthday in between the qualifier event and the World Championships. In what age group do I need to start?
All riders must start in the age group of the age they will be on the 31st December 2021.
What license do I require to ride in the UCI Gran Fondo World Championship in Istocno Sarajevo?
All riders need a (national) license from a UCI affiliated cycling federation. You can find the list on https://www.uci.org/inside-uci/governance/continental-confederations-and-national-federationsAccepted licenses are: masters, cycling for all, amateurs and elite license with exception of:
• Any rider who has during the current year been a member of a team registered with the UCI.
• 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.
• Any rider who has scored UCI points in the year of the World Championships in any cycling discipline.
Do I need to bring a medical certificate?
No, a medical certificate won’t be asked for the World Championships in Bosnia and Herzegovina. A valid year license from a UCI federation is enough.
I have a national license and my federation told me I have to buy an international license to participate in the World Championships?
For UCI, a national license from a UCI affiliated federation is enough. It is however your own responsibility to check if the national license is covering you with insurance for races outside your country. UCI will check the license at registration, not an (eventual) insurance.
Is the national jersey mandatory? My country doesn’t sell an official jersey...
It’s not mandatory to wear the “official” national cycling kit of your country for the World Championships however it is strongly recommended. The National Federation of your country will be able to provide you with details on how to obtain your countries’ official kit. If you decide not to wear the official jersey, you must wear a similar design of the official jersey in the same colors. Club or private sponsors are allowed on that jersey. Mind that a team jersey with a flag is not a national jersey and won’t be accepted. If you are uncertain, you can submit your jersey via info@ucigranfondoworldseries.com for approval.
I live for many years in another country and have a race license there, but still hold the nationality of the country where I was born? Can I register with a race license from another country than the country of my nationality?
Riders must represent the country of their nationality and wear the national outfit of that country. You can however register using a license from another country as most riders buy a race license in the country where they live and race.
I qualified for the Time Trial but not for the Road Race or vice versa. Can I register for both?
No, in UCI Gran Fondo World Series events with both a Time Trial and a Road Race, you have to qualify in both disciplines separately in order to get the ticket for that specific discipline. However, in events with only a Road Race, the qualified riders from these events can register for the Time Trial and the Road Race.
Are there wildcards?
Yes, we do have 5 different types of wildcards:
• Defending World Champions are qualified automatically
• All UCI Granfondo World Series qualifier events get 5 wildcards per organized discipline that they can use for riders who would normally have qualified but didn’t make it due to circumstances (crash, mechanical problems…)
• All countries not hosting a qualifier event get 10 wildcards (5 males/5 females) for their best riders. The wildcards are being distributed by the National Federations.
• All countries can send their Masters National Champions (road/time trial) without qualification. Some countries do organize masters’ national championships for other disciplines (criterium, hillclimb, granfondo) but they will not be considered for wildcard allocations. Also continental masters champions are qualified directly.
• The host nation can benefit from an additional 20 wildcards (for both Time Trial/Road Race). These wildcards are being distributed by the National Federation.
I just missed qualification by a few places. Is there still a recall made?
No, to ensure safety in the growing start pelotons at the start of the World Championships, UCI has decided a few years ago not to invite riders who just missed qualification to replace those riders who aren’t using their qualification ticket.
I know a rider who qualified twice... Will his second qualification be transferred to the next rider in the ranking of the qualifier event?
No, riders who are qualified twice aren’t replaced in the qualified riders list by the next riders in the ranking.
I have won UCI points in 2021 in track/mountainbike/cyclocross... Can I participate in the World Championships?
No, all riders who have UCI points at the moment of the UCI Gran Fondo World Championships in whatever discipline cannot take part in the World Championships.
When is the deadline for registering?
Registration for the UCI Gran Fondo World Championships closes on the 2nd of October. It’s not possible to register on-the-spot for either of these events.
Is there doping control at the World Championships?
Yes, there is always control for both Time Trial and Road Races. There will also be out-of-competition controls in the weeks and months before.
Are bikes checked before the start of the World Championships?
In the World Championships, all bikes will be checked for compliance with the UCI’s regulations. For more information see:
Summary of the bike regulations:
• The minimum weight of the bike shall be 6.8 kilograms (without bottles and computers)
• The peak of the saddle shall be a minimum of 5 cm to the rear of a vertical plane passing through the bottom bracket spindle. For morphological reasons, the rider may request to place the peak of his saddle up to 0cm from the bottom bracket axle.
• For time trials, a fixed extension may be added to the steering system; in this instance, the height difference between the elbow support points and the highest and lowest points of the handlebar extension (including gear levers in the most vertical position) must be less than 10 cm.
• The distance between the vertical line passing through the bottom bracket axle and the extremity of the handlebar extensions may not exceed 75 cm. For morphological reasons, the rider may request to place the extensions up to 80cm from the bottom bracket axle. In any case, the rider must choose between positioning the saddle to 0cm, or place the extensions up to 80cm, because only one morphological exception is granted.
• For a rider who is 190cm tall or taller, it is possible to place the extensions up to 85cm. In that case, it is necessary to present itself to the Commissaires’ Panel sufficiently in advance before the start of the race, in order that the commissaires proceed to a verification of the size of the rider.
I have registered but cannot participate anymore. Is a refund of my registration fee possible?
Refunds will only be issued to riders when they submit a medical certificate.
Will there be a technical guide with more specific information?
Yes, a technical riders guide will be sent to all registered riders in September with more detailed information on program, locations, courses and UCI regulations
Do I ride the Medio Fondo on Saturday or the Gran Fondo on Sunday?
- The Medio Fondo on Saturday is only open to female riders who are 50 years or older and male riders who are 60 years or older on the 31st of December 2021. The Gran Fondo race on Sunday is only for female riders under 50 or male riders under 60.
I have another specific question. Who can I ask?
alegranfondo@gmail.com for all questions about accommodation, merchandising, questions for the local organizer
info@ucigranfondoworldseries.com for all questions about qualification status, registration status, wildcards and regulations