According to El Español - Alicante, the III Gran Fondo La Nucía is a mass-participation cycling race in La Nucía and part of the UCI Gran Fondo World Series. It will take place on Saturday 7 November, with the start at 08:30 from the Estadi Olímpic. Hundreds of cyclists are expected, and the organisers have reopened registration until Thursday 5 November. The source does not give the entry fee or say how to register.
The race was called off when it was scheduled for 18 October because of the DANA (cut-off low bringing torrential rain) Adam, on the instructions of the authorities. It now has a new date. There are two distances, and both share one route designed by Miguel Induráin. The long course is 132 km with 2,275 m of climbing, starting and finishing at "La Nucía, Ciudad del Deporte". The medium course, added this year, is 71 km with about 1,000 m of climbing. It starts in Gorga and finishes at "La Nucía, Ciudad del Deporte". Riders will cross mountain passes of the Marina, including the Puerto de Aitana and the Coll de Rates.
This is the first time the race has been part of the UCI Gran Fondo World Series. Participants can earn UCI points and put themselves in the running for a place at the 2027 UCI Gran Fondo World Championships, which will be held in France. Two former professionals, Alejandro Valverde and Stefano Garzelli, will take part. Valverde, 46, is the 2018 world champion and the current selector of Spain's national team, and he rode in the first Gran Fondo La Nucía. Garzelli won the 2000 Giro d'Italia and works as a commentator for RAI. The "Coll de Rates" prize, worth up to €3,000, goes to whoever beats Tadej Pogačar's record for the Coll de Rates climb: 11 minutes 57 seconds.
