Tour of Ayrshire secures UCI Gran Fondo World Series status (+ video)

The Tour of Ayrshire has become part of the UCI Gran Fondo World Series (UGFWS) meaning top performers will qualify for the UCI Gran Fondo World Championships next August. Places in the event can be reserved from today.

Taking place over the weekend of April 29-30 2017, the Tour of Ayrshire Festival comprises a 20km time trial and the 137km Marmotte Écosse Gran Fondo. Both events will be held on fully closed roads in and around Kilmarnock.

The top 25 per cent of each UCI Masters age/gender classification will also receive an invitation to participate in the UCI Gran Fondo World Championships which will take place in Albi in France (August 24-27).

The Tour of Ayrshire is one of eight new events out of 19 included on the 2017 UGFWS calendar. The Tour of Cambridgeshire, which shares the same organisers and format, is the other UK event.

‘Pre-registration’ for the Tour of Ayrshire Gran Fondo is open from midday today (Tuesday) and you can sign up here. Pre-registration is an expression of interest, not an entry. It entitles you to a guaranteed early bird price of £55 which can then be taken up between midday on November 28 and midday on December 1. The price will increase to £65 after that.

Tom Caldwell, CEO of Tour of Ayrshire organisers Golazo Cycling, said:

“The UGFWS presents real cyclists with the opportunity to go to an officially recognised World Championships and compete for a genuine UCI rainbow jersey for their age/gender classification.  We believe this format of competition is the way forward.  It is the cycling equivalent of a big city marathon with a race at the front and more of a sportive style ride towards the back. 

“The format allows organisers to put on top quality events because of the scale it allows. We are cyclists at heart and want to offer top quality rider experience in a safe, traffic free environment.  The Tour of Ayrshire allows Scottish cyclists the same opportunity as those in England enjoy from the Tour of Cambridgeshire in being able to qualify in a great event on home turf.”

Craig Burn, Chief Executive of Scottish Cycling said:

“Scottish Cycling is always delighted to see well organised, safe and accessible mass participation events come to Scotland, but to have a UCI sanctioned Gran Fondo coming is particularly exciting.

“Securing major events such as this in Scotland is fundamental to achieving our inspiration to participation strategy. These mass participation events help us to build strategic partnerships with Scotland's local authorities and other stakeholders to drive our wider cycling ambitions with regards to getting more people riding bikes, be it through local clubs, participation programmes, competition or social cycling."

The Tour of Ayrshire festival is supported by Scottish Cycling, East Ayrshire Council and the Braveheart Cycling Fund.

Tour of Ayrshire - An easy ride around the Marmotte Ecosse from David Street on Vimeo.