by Panaracer Staff

GRAVELKING UCI Gravel World Series 2026: A Record 45 Events Worldwide

The 5th edition of the Gravelking UCI Gravel World Series — the UCI’s mass-participation gravel series where elite riders compete alongside amateurs aiming to qualify for the UCI Gravel World Championships — will feature 14 new events in 2026, bringing the total to 45. The 2026 UCI Gravel World Championships are scheduled for 10–11 October in Nannup, Western Australia. Four events have already taken place in recent weeks following the 2025 UCI Gravel World Championships, including new races in Thailand and Portugal. The strongest growth comes from South America, starting with a new event in Argentina. Vuelta Altas Cumbres Gravel, traditionally a mountain bike race, will add a gravel category on 29 March. A second event on the continent is planned in Colombia near Bogotá. Gravel Bogotá in Chía is set for 24 May. The organizers of the 2023 UCI Gravel World Championships in Italy will host a new qualifier on 20 June. Grand Tour 3 Cime Lavaredo in Auronzo di Cadore takes place in an iconic setting known for legendary Giro d’Italia battles. That same weekend, Canada’s only UCI Gravel event will be held just 35 kilometers north of the capital. OG Classique in Wakefield offers a scenic gravel course on 21 June in Quebec. Four new events are scheduled for late July and early August. Around the Pot on 25 July in Swellendam, South Africa is organized by the team behind the Cape Town Cycle Tour.One week later, Gravel Tour Hlinsko will debut on a challenging hilly course in central Czechia. Latvia will also host its first UCI Gravel event: Gravel Weekend in Tukums, featuring a 145 km loop and shorter options for older categories, on 8 August.The following day, Colombia adds a second event in Medellín, organized by the same team behind UCI Gravel races in Brazil, Chile, and Bogotá: Gravel Medellín. The 9th new race is Gravel Arteaga in Mexico, near the U.S. border, scheduled for 30 August. Denmark joins the series with The Wolf, a race on 5 September in Dronninglund on a 41 km loop that’s surprisingly undulating for the country’s flat terrain. Gravel Chile will mark the first UCI gravel event in the country, taking place near Santiago on 6 September. One week later, Lahti in Finland — host of the 2027 UEC European Gravel Championships — will organize a UCI Gravel qualifier called Falling Leaves.  An ideal moment to come and test the course. The organizers of the annual UCI Gran Fondo World Series in Tartu, Estonia, will also add a gravel event to their program: Tartu Rattamaraton, the third-to-last qualifier for the World Championships. For the first time, the UCI Gravel World Championships will be held outside Europe, in Nannup, Western Australia, on 10–11 October. Course details are still being finalized, but expect steep, short climbs and a challenging total elevation. Riders eager to preview the route can do so during the Seven qualifier on 16 May. The qualifier season for the 2027 World Championships begins one week later, with four events scheduled between mid-October and mid-November. The final new event on the calendar, Gravel of Marathon, will take place in the historic Greek city of Marathon — famously linked to the origins of long-distance running discipline. With these 45 races, the 2026 GRAVELKING UCI Gravel World Series continues to expand, blending experienced organizers with exciting new events across 32 countries and all five continents.  With the help of our partners GRAVELKING, Shimano and Santini, we will make this another great season.

by Panaracer Staff

Gravelking Named Title Sponsor of the UCI Gravel World Series for 2026–2028

Panaracer Corporation and the Union Cycliste Internationale (UCI) are proud to announce a landmark partnership that will see GRAVELKING become the Title Sponsor of the UCI Gravel World Series for the 2026, 2027, and 2028 seasons. This multi-year agreement unites one of cycling’s most storied tire manufacturers with the fastest-growing discipline in the sport, reflecting a shared commitment to competition, adventure, innovation, and exploration—the defining elements of modern gravel racing. A Global Partnership for a Global Movement The GRAVELKING UCI Gravel World Series brings together the world’s best gravel events across multiple continents, where riders compete for qualification to the UCI Gravel World Championships. Gravel racing represents a unique fusion of endurance, strategy, and technical skill, blending the spirit of road racing with the unpredictability of off-road terrain. The discipline celebrates not only the challenge of competition but also the camaraderie and shared experience that define gravel’s culture. For Panaracer, whose GRAVELKING line has become synonymous with speed, reliability, and craftsmanship, this partnership represents a natural evolution of its long-standing dedication to the global gravel community. “Gravel is at the heart of who we are,” said Ryoichi Yamato, President of Panaracer Corporation. “This partnership allows us to deepen our connection with the riders, events, and landscapes that have inspired our products for over a decade. We’re honored to support both the spirit of competition and the pure enjoyment that gravel riding embodies.” Three Years of Shared Vision The partnership spans the 2026, 2027, and 2028 seasons and will feature GRAVELKING presence across all UCI Gravel World Series events, digital platforms, and championship activations. The collaboration will highlight Panaracer’s ongoing commitment to elite competition, rider engagement, and product innovation through on-site support, athlete interactions, and exclusive showcases of the next generation of performance tires designed for the world’s toughest gravel races. “We are delighted to welcome GRAVELKING as the title sponsor of the UCI Gravel World Series,” said Erwin Vervecken, UCI Gravel World Series Manager. “Their reputation for quality and innovation fits perfectly with the competitive yet welcoming nature of gravel. Together, we will continue to elevate the series and the sport itself.” Crafted in Japan. Ridden Worldwide. Founded in 1952 and headquartered in Hyogo, Japan, Panaracer has built a reputation for crafting high-quality bicycle tires by hand at its Tamba factory. From pioneering road racing tires to leading the modern gravel movement, Panaracer’s dedication to performance, craftsmanship, and competition has made it a trusted brand among cyclists around the world. The GRAVELKING UCI Gravel World Series celebrates not only competition, but also the global community of riders who embrace discovery, endurance, and the joy of the ride.