PART 18 GRAVEL

Version on 01.10.2026

[introduced on 01.01.2022 in PART 15: CYCLING FOR ALL] [transferred on 01.10.2026 from PART 15 to the new PART 18 and PART 9]

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PART 18 GRAVEL

Chapter I GRAVEL COMPETITIONS

  • § 1 General provision

  • 18.1.001 Gravel discipline is a form of cycling that combines elements of both road and off-road disciplines and consisting mostly of distance riding over unpaved roads.

  • § 2 Competitions

Format and course

  • 18.1.002 Gravel competitions are competitive mass-participation competitions with a mass-start (or in waves with intervals between the start groups) fully timed for all participants and split results per category and gender.

Gravel competitions may be one-day cycling competitions or multi-day cycling competitions.

Gravel competition shall have the following course’s characteristics:

  • gravel races shall take place on any type of unsurfaced roads and can include gravel, forest roads, farm roads and tracks and cobbles;

  • tarmac surfaced roads should not total more than 40% (fourty percent) of the race distance. Cobbles are not considered as tarmac surfaced roads;

  • the course should avoid grass and meadow and should always take place on existing paths and roads. Running sections should be avoided as much as possible and only occur due to bad weather conditions. The entire course should be rideable in normal weather conditions;

  • most of the course should have a width of 3 meters minimum. Singletrack sections should be kept to a minimum and only be included in the course where required to link other sections and only where an alternative route for essential race vehicles (for example medical services) is available;

  • for the sections of the course using public roads, articles 1.2.060 to 1.2.065 apply regarding safety; the organiser must provide enough materials and human resources to secure these sections.

The following obstacles used in off-road events such as mountain bike or cyclo-cross, are not allowed in gravel courses: planks (obstacles), drops, rock gardens, technical single-track sections, artificial sand sections.

The course must be signposted to a very high standard. The direction arrows should not leave any doubt about the direction to follow. Signs are written in the language of the host country and English.

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In addition to standard signs warning participants about dangers along the course or indicating the direction to follow, specific panels must also be installed on both sides of the road as follows:

  • to indicate the last: 10km, 5km, 1km, and 500m before the finish line,

  • the next feed zone,

  • all the technical characteristics of the climbs must be indicated at the bottom of all climbs; this includes: the average and maximum gradients and the length of the climb.

Course layouts where the race route crosses itself are not permitted, unless the time interval between the different passages of riders is sufficient to guarantee that no riders from different start waves will arrive simultaneously at the intersection.

The use of the same road or path for different sections of the course in opposite directions is permitted under the following conditions:

  • the road or track must have a minimum usable width of 5 meters with a safe and physical separation of the 2 sections (cones, barriers, tape, etc.),

  • neither of the 2 sections can be a descent,

  • the course design must ensure a sufficient time gap between race flows, so that riders travelling in opposite directions cannot meet on the same section under normal race conditions.

Course distances

18.1.003 Course distances should be a minimum of 50 km and a maximum of 200 km, considering course difficulty and elevation gain. Race organisers can propose a shorter distance for older age categories. There shall only be one official distance per category and per competition.

Two different types of course may be used:

  • a course consisting of multiple laps on one or more different circuits; each circuit being of minimum of 40 kilometres;

  • a point-to-point race either with the same start and finish venue, or with different start and finish venues.

Men and women must have a separate start and be considered as separate races.

Technical guide and information to participants

18.1.004 The competition’s website or a technical guide, as one single comprehensive document, written in French or English and in the official local language(s) of the country, shall include at least the following information:

  • full contact details for the organiser

  • details of the registration process

  • schedule and times of races

  • the location and times for distribution of riders’ identification numbers and/or riders’

  • pack

  • the competition’s specific regulations including the time limits

  • detailed description of the course(s) with profile, distance, specific sections and medical posts

  • identification of any section where riders are authorised or required not to ride in accordance with road traffic regulations

  • information on road closure procedures

  • description of the services provided for riders

  • timing system

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  • policing, security and emergency medical arrangements

  • access to download gps/gpx files

Moreover, at the distribution of riders’ pack or identification numbers, the organiser will make sure that the following information is provided in a practical manner:

  • category or age group of the rider

  • details on rider’s identification (number and / or electronic timing)

  • time of opening of the start area

  • exact time of the start

  • organisation’s contact details in case of emergency

  • medical services contact details in case of emergency

  • details of services available for riders at the finish.

Environment

18.1.005 The organiser must take all appropriate measures for the protection of the environment.

The organiser must restore the course and its surroundings to its original condition in a reasonable deadline after the competition has finished.

The organiser shall set up littering zones and be responsible for ensuring their cleanliness after the event.

§ 3 Calendar, class and season

  • 18.1.006 The UCI gravel calendar groups the gravel competitions registered as per articles 1.2.001 to 1.2.018.

  • 18.1.007 The competitions of the UCI gravel calendar are registered in one of the following classes:

  • UCI gravel world championships (CM);

  • UCI gravel world series (UGS);

  • class 1 competition (1);

  • continental championships (CC);

  • national championships (CN).

Continental championships or national championships can be organised as a standalone event or can be combined with a class 1 or a UCI gravel world series event. The following rules apply in case of combination with a class 1 of UCI gravel world series events:

  • championships is called “open championships”;

  • all provisions regarding class 1 or UCI gravel world series events must be respected. Specifically in respect of participation, the relevant rules for class 1 or UCI gravel world series shall apply with no restriction or enlargement;

  • for each category, a scratch result shall be drawn;

  • the first three riders eligible for the continental or national championships title will be invited to the championships award ceremony.

Whatever the format (stand-alone championships or open championships), the eligibility of riders to the continental or national championships is determined by the continental confederation, in compliance with the provisions of Part 10, respectively the national federation, in compliance with article 1.1.028, and shall be indicated in the competition’s technical guide or technical information.

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  • 18.1.008 The competitions of the UCI gravel world series calendar are affected to a season that can overlap two civil years.

A season starts with the first round of the UCI gravel world series qualifying for the next UCI gravel world championships and finishes with the last round of the UCI gravel world series qualifying for the same next UCI gravel world championships.

  • § 4 Participation
Age

18.1.009 A rider’s age shall be determined by the difference between the year of the season as defined in article 18.1.008 and the year of his birth.

Gravel events are open to riders of the age of 19 years and above.

Races for riders of the age of 18 years and below may be organised and governed by the national federation concerned. Such races may be combined with an event registered on the UCI gravel calendar.

Subject to and without prejudice to the above, organisers of gravel events are free to determine the age categories and categories of competition (U23, elite, age groups), except for UCI world championships, UCI gravel world series events, continental championships and national championships.

Licenses
  • 18.1.010 Participation in gravel competitions is open to the holders of a valid annual license.

Unless provided otherwise, participation in gravel events is also open to the holders of a temporary licence issued by the organiser's national federation, if such licences are authorised by the national federation and made available for the relevant event. The temporary licence shall clearly set out the dates of validity. The national federation issuing the temporary license shall ensure that for the concerned duration, the holder benefits from the bodily injury and third-party liability insurance, pursuant to article 1.1.022 points 16 and 17 and any provision of the national federation’s regulations.

For age group categories and unless provided otherwise, national federations may provide for rules allowing participation of riders without a licence, subject to specific regulations being established and covering medical and insurance requirements as well as acceptance of the event rules and the UCI Regulations.

§ 5 Equipment and assistance

Equipment
  • 18.1.011 Articles 1.3.001 to 1.3.010 of Part 1: General Organisation of Cycling as a Sport shall apply. The wearing of a hard-shell helmet, in accordance with article 1.3.031, is mandatory for all events and in all categories.

Given that gravel racing combines road and off-road sections within the same event, the bike and its equipment shall be such as to allow the rider to negotiate this variety of terrain in safe conditions throughout the race.

During gravel races, any type of gravel, road, mountainbike and cyclo-cross bike frame shall be permitted. Tandems, e-bikes and recumbent bicycles are not allowed.

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  • The following specific rules apply for the UCI Gravel World Championships, in all categories:

  • mountain bike frames are not allowed;

  • − the handlebar must be a drop handlebar, of the same general shape as the traditional handlebar defined in Part I, Chapter III, but without being subject to the dimensional standards set out in article 1.3.022 (cf. also article 1.3.011);

    • time trial extension handlebars are not allowed.

Gravel bikes are not subject to the provisions of article 1.3.011 et seq.. Nevertheless, the commissaires panel may refuse the use of any item of equipment that it considers to manifestly compromise the safety of the rider or of other riders.

Technical assistance

18.1.012 Mechanical assistance can be provided everywhere throughout the course. Any person providing assistance shall be stationary on the side of the road of vehicle circulation.

Mechanical assistance may be provided during the race for:

  • repairing or replacing a dysfunctional or broken part or item

  • changing a wheel

  • cleaning the bike

A bike change during the race is forbidden. Every rider must finish with the frame they used at the start. The organiser can require riders to wear an identification tag on the bike frame.

Where the course includes more than 20% of surfaced roads, technical assistance shall be on paved sections only.

Feeding

  • 18.1.013 Feeding during gravel races is organised following two principles:

  • official feed zones are provided and signposted every 25-30 km by the organiser, who is in charge of providing food and drinks,

  • teams’ and riders’ assistants can hand out food and drinks to riders.

Feeding from teams’ and riders’ assistants is allowed:

  • anywhere on the course, including outside of official feed zones, except on downhill sections,

  • until 10 kilometers from the finish.

Where the course includes more than 20% of surfaced roads, feeding shall be on surfaces sections.

The organiser will indicate in the technical guide or technical information the exact location of the official feed zones (name of the road / street plus GPS coordinates); these zones will be signposted along the course with:

  • feed zone in 100 meters,

  • start feed zone,

  • end feed zone.

The organiser will indicate in the technical guide or technical information the recommended locations for the feeding by teams’ and riders’ assistants.

Waste

18.1.014 The official feed zones are also the only waste zones. Throwing away bottles, food waste or packaging outside these zones shall lead to disqualification.

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§ 6 Conduct of participants

  • Entries and responsibility of participants

  • 18.1.015 Advance registration with the organiser is obligatory.

By the act of entering, the participant confirms that they accept and undertake to respect the regulations of the UCI and the national federation, as well as the specific regulations for the competition.

He also undertakes to comply with the directions of the organisers and the safety and emergency services.

Each participant shall accept the risks involved in taking part, including health risks, the risk of falls and collisions, and risks relating to road traffic and bad weather conditions.

Health
  • 18.1.016 It is the responsibility of each rider to ensure before riding a race that they are in perfect health and capable of the physical effort required to take part in the race which they enter.

The organiser may require participants to give written confirmation that they are aware of the inherent risks of such a race and that they are fully responsible for any health problems. They may also require each participant to provide a medical certificate to the effect that there is no contraindication to the practice of cycle sport, in accordance with the regulations of their national federation.

In no event may the UCI be held responsible for accidents or health problems suffered by a rider in the context of their participation in a gravel race.

  • In-race conduct

  • 18.1.017 Participants must at all times respect the relevant road traffic regulations, unless explicitly authorised or instructed. The organiser shall be responsible for identifying in the specific rules for the competition any area or section where riders are authorised or required not to ride in accordance with the road traffic regulations. The organiser shall also ensure proper signposting of any such section.

  • 18.1.018 Participants shall demonstrate a proper sporting spirit. Collusion between riders from separate starts i.e. separate categories is forbidden.

  • 18.1.019 Participants shall behave in a manner which respects the environment.

  • 18.1.020 Each participant must observe all the provisions of the UCI Regulations and the technical guide of the competition. Every participant shall comply with the instructions of the organisation and appointed commissaires/officials as well as any penalties that may be applied.

Without prejudice to the rules of conduct outlined in articles 1.2.079 to 1.2.083 of the UCI Regulations, each participant agrees that fair-play and respect are essential values and commits to abide by those fundamental principles when taking part in gravel competitions.

  • 18.1.021 Without prejudice of Part 12 of the UCI Regulations, infringements related to race incidents and failure to abide by the UCI Regulations or by the competitions rules set out

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in the technical guide of the competition may result in a participant being awarded time penalties, warning, exclusion or disqualification of the race. Penalties will be decided and imposed by the appointed commissaires/officials.

Any licence holder who is responsible for a serious race incident which affects the sporting fairness, the integrity of the competition, the safety of other riders or spectators or the image of cycling and/or the UCI may receive the following sanctions:

  • relegation;

  • exclusion or disqualification; or

  • time penalty.

Any participation in an event contrary to eligibility rules or with unauthorised equipment shall lead to exclusion or disqualification.

§ 7 Timing and results

18.1.022 A gravel race is timed for all the participants, for the entire length of the course.

The start time is synchronized with the gun shot and not when each individual rider crosses the start line.

Riders starting in the wrong start wave will be ranked as follows, whether they are responsible for the incorrect placement or not:

  • rider starting earlier than the due time or due wave: disqualification,

  • rider starting later than the due time or due wave: his/her start time will be the gun time of the start wave he/she should have started with.

The timekeeping service must produce an overall result for all riders starting at the same start time and separate results per category and gender as defined by the organiser.

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Chapter II UCI GRAVEL WORLD SERIES

  • 18.2.001 The UCI gravel world series and all related rights shall be the exclusive property of the UCI.

  • 18.2.002 The UCI gravel world series is composed by individual gravel cycling competitions.

A UCI gravel world series competition is a competitive mass-participation competition with a mass-start (or in waves with intervals between the start groups) fully timed for all participants and split results per category and gender. Riders are protected by a rolling road closure or fully closed roads during a certain time frame.

A UCI gravel world series competition shall present a course which complies with the requirements of article 18.1.002 and 18.1.003.

Eligibility and categories

18.2.003 UCI gravel world series competitions are open to anyone aged 19 or above.

The categories are as follows, for each gender men and women:

  • elite,

  • age groups: ▪ 19–34 years ▪ 35–39 years ▪ 40–44 years ▪ 45–49 years ▪ 50–54 years

  • 55–59 years

  • 60–64 years

  • 65–69 years

  • 70–74 years

  • ▪ 75–79 years etc.

Riders from a UCI registered team of any discipline and any rider who has one or several UCI points in the latest UCI individual world ranking prior to the UCI gravel world championships in any discipline shall only be entitled to compete in the elite category.

Riders with an amateur, cycling for all or masters license, or riders with a day license shall only be entitled to compete in their respective age group and not in elite.

Course distances

18.2.004 Course distances must be compliant with article 18.1.004.

All course distances in UCI gravel world series competitions must be approved by the UCI.

Awards

18.2.005 The top 3 riders of each category must attend the awards ceremony of the event. During the ceremony:

  • a jersey will be awarded to the winner of each category,

  • a qualifier medal will be awarded to the top 3 riders.

The organiser will distribute qualifier medals to the finishing riders that are qualified for the UCI gravel world championships as per article 9.2.073.

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Protection of the series
  • 18.2.006 Cycling competitions that are part of the UCI gravel world series shall not be part of or otherwise linked to any other international series of cycling events.
Date protection
  • 18.2.007 The dates of UCI gravel world series events shall be approved by the UCI. Only one UCI gravel world series competition per continent shall be held on any given weekend. A second event may be approved by the UCI subject to agreement of both organisers.

In the UCI gravel world series, only two events per country are allowed per season, except for the United States of America, Canada, China and Australia where three competitions may be registered. When a continental championships is part of the UCI gravel world series, it can be added in addition to said quotas.

  • 18.2.008 The right to use the UCI gravel world series logo is granted by the UCI to the organiser, subject to the conditions set out in this section and by the UCI gravel world series organiser’s guide in force. No commercial exploitation of the UCI gravel world series logo and any related mark is allowed without obtaining the prior authorisation from the UCI.
Organiser’s guide
  • 18.2.009 The UCI gravel world series organiser’s guide sets out the conditions for inclusion and the special regulations and requirements for the series.

Inclusion in the series implies acceptance by the organiser of the UCI gravel world series organiser’s guide and an undertaking on their part to organise the competition in accordance with UCI Regulations and other applicable provisions.

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