The third edition of the Gran Fondo La Nucía amateur cycle race will be held in La Nucía on Saturday 7 November 2026, TodoAlicante reports. The start is at 08:30. The long course starts and finishes at the Estadi Olímpic de La Nucía, Ciudad del Deporte.
The long course is 132 km with 2,275 m of climbing. A medium course is new this year: 71 km with about 1,000 m of climbing, starting in Gorga and finishing in La Nucía. The route was designed by Miguel Induráin and takes in Marina passes, including Aitana and the Coll de Rates.
The guests of honour are Alejandro Valverde and Italy's Stefano Garzelli. Valverde, the 2018 road race world champion and now Spain's national team selector, also took part in the first Gran Fondo La Nucía. Garzelli rode as a professional from 1997 to 2013 and won the 2000 Giro d'Italia with Mercatone Uno. He now works as a commentator for the Italian broadcaster RAI.
This year the race joins the UCI Gran Fondo World Series, its international debut. It counts towards qualification for the 2027 UCI Gran Fondo World Championships in France, and riders can earn points towards selection. A prize of up to €3,000 goes to anyone who beats Tadej Pogačar's record on the Coll de Rates climb, 11min 57sec.
The race was previously cancelled because of DANA Adam (a cut-off low bringing torrential rain). It is now being held on the route originally planned. The source does not give the entry fee, road closures along the route, the programme for the day or the conditions for claiming the prize.
