Riders set for an experience like no other on Gran Fondo routes

Breathtaking scenery, rolling hills and beautiful beaches will provide the perfect setting for the Gran Fondo events at the 2023 UCI Cycling World Championships. Details of the Gran Fondo routes were unveiled today.  

The 2023 UCI Cycling World Championships will bring together 13 existing UCI World Championships into a new mega event in Glasgow and across Scotland from 3 – 13 August. 

The Gran Fondo and Medio Fondo road races will take place on Friday 4 August, the second day of the UCI Cycling World Championships, in Perth and Kinross, while the Gran Fondo time trials will take place on Monday 7 August in Dundee and Angus. All areas were previously confirmed as host regions on 23 March 2023.  

Gran Fondo (which translates as “Big Race”) is a long-distance, mass participation event that celebrates competitive cycling. The top 25 percent of riders from 27 qualifying events held around the world earned the right to compete in Scotland as part of the 2023 UCI Cycling World Championships. 

The Gran Fondo, taking place over 160km with more than 1,600m of climbing, will see riders take in some of Scotland’s most beautiful scenery. Starting and finishing in Perth, riders will set off from Tay Street in the city centre, riding up the River Tay before turning left on to Charlotte Street and past the Perth Art Gallery on the way to Methven and Glenalmond.  

From there, the riders will go through the picturesque Perthshire countryside, passing Sma’ Glen and Amulree towards Aberfeldy and Weem, then on to Tummel Bridge in the Tay Forest, past Munros along the shores of Loch Tummel and by the famous Queen’s View lookout, to Pitlochry, in the heart of Scotland.

The course will then take riders out to Kirkmichael before heading back towards Perth, travelling through Bridge of Cally, Blairgowrie, Guildtown and Scone, before crossing over the River Tay via Smeaton’s Bridge and on to the finish line back at Tay Street.   

Following a similar starting course to the Gran Fondo, Medio Fondo riders will tackle 85.7km and 777m of climbing. Starting and finishing in Perth, riders will follow the same course out to Methven before turning east at Buchanty and heading through Chapelhill, Bankfoot, Caputh, Murthly, and Spittalfield, on the way to Blairgowrie and Rattray, where riders will then follow the same course back to the finishing line in Perth on Tay Street. 

 
Women aged 19 to 49 and Men 19 to 59 will take part in the Gran Fondo, while qualified riders in the Women 50+ and Men 60+ age categories will complete the Medio Fondo course. 

All riders qualified for the time trial will compete over the same course across Dundee and Angus: 22.8km with 89m of climbing. Starting on West Grange Road east of Dundee, riders will head north-east along Arbroath Road (part of the A92) towards Arbroath, turning at Salmon’s Muir and heading back down the A92 to the finish line near Dundee.

The route will take riders through some of the stunning coastal scenery of Angus including, passing Camustane Hill, near the Firth of Tay and Carnoustie, home to one of the venues on The Open golf rota, the Carnoustie Golf Links, creating a memorable event for everyone taking part.  

Paul Bush OBE, 2023 UCI Cycling World Championships Chairman, said:  

“We are delighted to be announcing the detailed routes of the Gran Fondo for the 2023 UCI Cycling World Championships. From the picturesque Perthshire countryside to the beautiful Tay coastline, Perth and Kinross, and Dundee and Angus will provide the perfect stage for the riders and spectators alike. 

“The 2023 UCI Cycling World Championships is set to be the biggest cycling event ever held, bringing visitors and spectators from around the world to our host regions, while delivering a unique and memorable event for participants, local businesses and communities.” 

David Lappartient, President of the Union Cycliste Internationale said: “The UCI has been awarding rainbow jerseys to the best amateur riders in the world for more than ten years. This year, our Gran Fondo UCI World Champions will have the additional honour of being crowned during the UCI Cycling World Championships. The Gran Fondo routes unveiled today are as beautiful as they are challenging and will undoubtedly leave all riders with incredible memories of their participation in the biggest cycling event in the history of our sport.” 

Culture Secretary Angus Robertson said: “It‘s great to have this mass participation event as part of the UCI Cycling World Championships that Scotland is hosting in August. The routes will take cyclists through some of the most stunning scenery in Perth, Kinross, Dundee and Angus which will bring the buzz of the UCI Cycling World Championships to more local communities across the country.     

“This is a wonderful opportunity for locals and visitors to be inspired by some of the world’s top amateur cyclists who are taking part in this mega event.”  

Councillor Andrew Parrott, convenor of Perth and Kinross Council’s Environment, Infrastructure and Economic Development Committee, said: “This is an unprecedented opportunity for our local communities to welcome international athletes and showcase what our region has to offer to cyclists.   

“A predicted £2.7 million boost to Perth’s economy is anticipated and we are honoured and excited to host such a high-calibre sporting event.” 

Mark Flynn convener of Dundee City Council’s city development committee said: “It is great that Dundee is a part of what is one of the major events in the cycling calendar, creating an opportunity to showcase some of Dundee’s beautiful, engaging and sometimes challenging parcours to the top 25 percent of the world’s non-professional competitive cyclists.     

“Events such as this go to show that competitive cycling isn’t just for professional athletes with big teams behind them and I am sure that this route will offer not just the riders a unique opportunity, but also encourage spectators from across the world to come back to Dundee and join local people on their bikes!”  

Communities Convener of Angus Council, Cllr Mark McDonald: “We are looking forward to welcoming international cycling to Angus, and to showcasing our beautiful countryside which I’m sure will challenge and delight competitors. Cycling is already popular in Angus both as a leisure activity and a method of active travel, so we hope that spectators will be inspired to try it for themselves, if not already converted.”  

Full details, including routes, technical information and course maps can be found on the 2023 UCI Cycling World Championships website. GPS files of the route courses can be downloaded at these links: Gran Fondo, Medio Fondo, and Gran Fondo time trial.  

Please note, that routes may be subject to change by the event organiser. Any changes will be shared in advance of the race.   

Race spectators, visitors and local communities are encouraged to prepare by making travel plans ahead of the event, with more information about traffic management available on Traffic Scotland’s website. 

For those taking part in the Gran Fondo races, Sportive Breaks, the official fan and amateur participant travel and experiences provider of the 2023 UCI Cycling World Championships, have packages on offer now offering a large selection of ideally located hotels that cater for a range of budgets.

Plus, Sportive breaks are offering VIP and hospitality throughout the 2023 UCI Cycling World Championships offering participants the chance to extend their visit and experience some of the other disciplines from the best seats in the house. More information on packages can be found on the 2023 UCI Cycling World Championships website.  

With something for everyone to enjoy, the 2023 UCI Cycling Worlds will feature 13 high-adrenaline, exciting UCI World Championships including Track and Para-cycling Track at the Sir Chris Hoy Velodrome, BMX Racing at Glasgow BMX Centre, BMX Freestyle (Park and Flatland) and Trials at Glasgow Green, Indoor Cycling (artistic cycling and cycle-ball) at the Emirates Arena, Mountain Bike Cross-country, and Cross-country Marathon in Glentress Forest, Tweed Valley, Mountain Bike Downhill in Fort William and Road and Para-cycling Road across Scotland (a full list of the UCI World Championships is included in the Notes to Editors).  

Tickets are on sale from as little as £8, with concessions from £5, plus there are many free events to watch throughout the Championships including the Gran Fondo road races and Gran Fondo time trials.