Gran Fondo World Championship 2026 (Almaty)

The Gran Fondo World Championship is an international amateur road race (gran fondo) in Almaty — a qualifier of the amateur world series (UWCT) for amateurs and veterans. It takes place on 16 August 2026 on closed roads of the city and its eastern foothills. Start and finish are at the Halyk Bank parking lot, 40 Al-Farabi Avenue.

Three distances with a common mass start for all categories:

— MTB — 37 km (1 lap), mountain bikes only;

— Media Fondo — 50 km (a 37 km lap + a 13 km lap), road bikes only;

— Gran Fondo — 95 km (a 37 km lap, then three 15 km laps and a final 13 km lap), road bikes only.

The course runs along Al-Farabi Avenue and the Eastern Bypass Road (VOAD) towards the Talgar tract, with turnaround loops near VOAD and a return to the finish. It is a hilly route — climbs, long drags and fast descents against the backdrop of the Zailiysky Alatau foothills.

Schedule for 16 August:

— 04:00–05:30 — transponder pick-up (Al-Farabi 40, Halyk Bank parking);

— 05:30 — pre-race briefing;

— 06:00 — mass start for all categories;

— 11:00 — awards ceremony.

Open to riders aged 18 and over, with no upper age limit; a helmet is mandatory for the whole race. Registration is on the organizer's website. Organizer: Almaty Cycling Federation (phone +7 708 170 80 13, +7 771 45 255 45, e-mail granfondokaz@gmail.com)

Note: road closures apply on race day (Al-Farabi Ave, VOAD / Talgar tract and adjacent sections) roughly from 05:30 to 10:30.