MEMORANDUM
PART 9 UCI WORLD CHAMPIONSHIPS Rules amendments applying on 01.10.2026
Chapter II PARTICIPATION IN UCI WORLD CHAMPIONSHIPS
§ 9 UCI Gravel World Championships
Participation
9.2.072 Participation in the UCI Gravel World Championships is open to the same riders and categories as set out in article 18.2.003 in respect of the UCI gravel world series events.
Only holders of a valid yearly license, with a UCI ID, can enter the UCI gravel world championships.
Qualification through the UCI gravel world series
9.2.073 For a given qualifier season as defined in article 18.1.009, all events of the UCI gravel world series qualify riders.
The top 25% ranked riders of each category in each UCI gravel world series event qualify individually for the next UCI Gravel World Championships. The 25% is calculated based on the number of riders who effectively take the start in each category, rounded up to the nearest whole number.
The percentage of 25% may be amended by the UCI Management Committee on a yearly basis, taking into consideration the participation in the UCI Gravel World Championships, the number of events on the UCI gravel world series and the evolution of the UCI gravel world series calendar.
Regardless of the number of riders taking the start in a given category, the first three riders of the category will qualify directly for the UCI Gravel World Championships, provided that they finish the relevant race.
Other qualifications and wilcards
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9.2.074 In each category, the following riders are qualified:
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the winner of the previous edition of the UCI Gravel World Championships in the corresponding category,
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the winner of the latest gravel continental championships in the corresponding category (as confirmed by the relevant continental confederation),
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the winner of the latest edition of the gravel national championships in the corresponding category (as confirmed by the relevant national federation).
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9.2.075 Each national federation may award, at its discretion, 5 (five) wild cards for each of the women elite and men elite categories. The figure is doubled for the national federation hosting the UCI Gravel World Championships.
National federations are required to inform the UCI of recipients of wild cards within the deadline communicated by the UCI.
In each category, the UCI may award wild cards at its discretion. The concerned national federation will be informed of wild cards issued by the UCI.
Registration
9.2.076 Qualified or wild card riders will be required to register for the UCI Gravel World Championships in accordance with the instructions communicated by the UCI.
Age group riders will also be required to pay an entry fee.
Outfit
- 9.2.077 Riders taking part in the UCI Gravel World Championships shall represent their nation and wear a cycling outfit, compliant with article 1.3.026 et seq., representing their national federation.
For elite categories, the jersey and the bib short must be those of the national federation as per articles 1.3.056 to 1.3.059. Paragraph 2 of article 1.3.056 applies to riders who are not supported by the concerned national federation, at the discretion of the latter.
For age group categories, unless otherwise specified by the rider’s national federation, riders are free to wear the bib short of their choice. The jersey must represent the nation of the rider and be similar to the official national outfit in terms of colors and design. Riders are authorised to have advertising on their jersey, subject to compliance with articles 1.1.089 and 1.1.090 of the UCI Regulations.
Start procedure
- 9.2.078 The start of the UCI Gravel World Championships will be organised per category with separate starts for men and women. For age group categories, the UCI technical delegate will determine, in consultation with the organiser, if some age groups of the same gender are merged at the start.
Each start, merging several categories or not, is called a “start wave”. The exact times and locations for the entrance in the start zone, the gap between the start of each wave and the call-up times will be fixed in the technical guide of the UCI Gravel World Championships and may be amended by means of a race communique.
The start time for all riders in a same start wave is the gun-time of that wave, and not the moment the rider crosses the start line.
Elite start order
- 9.2.079 The elite start order will be organised based on the points system defined below.
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The system cumulates the points in the events indicated in the table below as well as with 50% of the rider’s points in each of the UCI individual elite world rankings for the following disciplines: road, mountain bike cross-country (XCO), mountain bike marathon (XCM) and cyclo-cross. The respective UCI individual elite world rankings taken into account are those registered on the last Tuesday 3 weeks before the event.
| Rank | UCIGravel World Championships of the previous year (elite only) |
UCIGravel World Series (elite only) |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | 1000 | 200 |
| 2 | 750 | 180 |
| 3 | 600 | 160 |
| 4 | 500 | 150 |
| 5 | 450 | 140 |
| 6 | 400 | 130 |
| 7 | 350 | 120 |
| 8 | 300 | 110 |
| 9 | 275 | 100 |
| 10 | 250 | 90 |
| 11 | 225 | 80 |
| 12 | 200 | 70 |
| 13 | 180 | 65 |
| 14 | 160 | 60 |
| 15 | 140 | 55 |
| 16 | 120 | 50 |
| 17 | 100 | 45 |
| 18 | 80 | 40 |
| 19 | 70 | 35 |
| 20 | 60 | 30 |
| 21 | 50 | 25 |
| 22 | 40 | 20 |
| 23 | 30 | 15 |
| 24 | 20 | 10 |
| 25 | 10 | 5 |
Age groups start order 9.2.080 The start box of each age group is made with:
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a priority box including the riders ranked in the top 3 of each UCI gravel world series and the outgoing UCI world champion;
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a second box with all other riders.
In these 2 boxes, there is no further start order is applied. These boxes will be merged just before the start.
There shall be no priority box when:
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there are less than 100 starting riders in the age group,
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several age groups are merged in a start wave, regardless of the cumulated number riders in that start wave.
Signposting
9.2.081 All signage on the UCI Gravel World Championships course must be placed at least the Monday before the competition to allow riders to train on the course.
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The signs to indicate the start boxes for each category must be installed the day prior to the race.
Timing
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9.2.082 The timing during UCI Gravel World Championships must be provided via:
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active transponders for the elite races,
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active or passive chips for age groups.
The transponder can be installed:
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on the bike,
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on one of the back numbers, or
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on the frame plate or seat post sticker.
The organiser will inform riders on how to install or use the transponder or timing chip.
The organiser may also require riders to carry a GPS tracker in accordance with article 1.3.073.
UCI World Champion titles and Awards Ceremony
9.2.083 At the UCI Gravel World Championships, medals and titles are awarded in each category for men and/or women, provided that at least one rider is registered in the respective category.
The UCI gravel world champion jersey must be worn by UCI world champions in all gravel events in the category in which they won their title, until the day prior to the following edition of the UCI Gravel World Championships.
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