It looks like the UCI, cycling's governing body, (link is external) is getting into gravel racing in a big way, with rumours of a 2020 Gravel Grand Fondo series swirling about. Following in the boots of the road Gran Fondo series (link is external), it's likely to have multiple rounds across the world, leading up to a World Championships.

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Although we've reached out to the UCI's press office for a response and got nothing back as of yet, we have it on good authority that existing gravel race organisers have been approached to gauge their interest in being part of a new 'Gravel Fondo' series for 2020.

A road Gran Fondo is basically a combination of race and sportive, with anyone who's not a pro cyclist being able to take part, whether that's to just have a fun day out on the bike or mix it with the pointy elbows up the front.

The UCI's site says the concept is: "...focusing on both very competitive riders who either just miss the skills and talent to become a Pro Elite rider or who still want to compete at a high level at a later age, but also to fun riders who like to keep fit and finish the event."

From the qualifier events, the top 25% of riders in each age group are able to enter a World Championship event, with the winners being able to wear a much-coveted rainbow jersey.

It'll be interesting to see whether some of the big US events such as the Dirty Kansa decide to get involved - the road series essentially piggybacks onto existing events, so it'd make sense to do the same here. There's certainly enough decent gravel riding in the UK - Wales in particular - to support a round here, so fingers crossed.

We'll update this as we get more information but it'll be interesting to see which direction the UCI tries to steer it the format. 

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