Isle of Man Gran Fondo pivots to off-road format for 2026 edition
Organisers say the shift to gravel and mountain bike racing reflects the sport’s evolving landscape and aims to showcase the island’s natural environment.
The 2026 Gran Fondo Isle of Man is set to return this weekend, introducing a significant structural change to the event that has defined the island’s cycling calendar for over a decade. Moving away from its traditional road-based format, the festival will now feature an off-road, multi-surface challenge. Organisers describe this transition as the most substantial alteration in the event’s 10-year history, designed to align with the growing popularity of gravel cycling while highlighting the island’s diverse terrain.
The flagship races, the Gran Fondo Gravel and Gran Fondo XC MTB, will take place on Sunday. Riders will depart from Ramsey at 09:30 BST for a point-to-point route covering approximately 60 miles (100km), concluding in Port Erin. The course traverses the island’s northern tip before heading south through farmland, wetlands, moorland, forests, and coastal scenery. The route incorporates 30 designated off-road and C-road sectors, including Ballacorey Farm, The Curraghs, and Bradda Head, which features a final climb and technical descent into the finish line.
Saturday will serve as a preparatory day with two warm-up events. The 'Minisculo Fondo' begins at 11:00 on a fully closed half-mile circuit around Mooragh Park in Ramsey, targeting children and families. This is followed at 13:00 by the Gran Fondo Challenge, a non-competitive 30-mile (50km) event starting and finishing in Ramsey, intended for riders seeking a shorter off-road experience or a warm-up for the main races.
The event operates as a qualifying competition for the UCI Gran Fondo World Series. The UCI adopted the "Gran Fondo" nomenclature to connect with continental mass-participation cycling traditions, a term originating in Italian cycling that denotes endurance challenges. The Isle of Man has hosted large-scale cycling events since 2016, initially under the Isle of Man Cyclefest banner, attracting participants ranging from first-time cyclists to professional riders such as Sir Mark Cavendish, Ben Swift, Lizzie Holden, and Anna Christian.
To ensure safety and logistical feasibility, several temporary road closures will be enforced across the island. On Saturday, North Shore Road will be closed between 10:00 and 12:00. Sunday closures are more extensive, affecting multiple routes including Ballacorey Road, Smeale Road, and Bride Coast Road between 09:00 and 12:00. Additional closures will impact Brack A Broom Lane and Sloc Road between 10:00 and 15:00, while Station Road, Strand Road, and Shore Road will be closed from 10:00 to 18:00.
