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2026 UCI Pro Calendar Unveiled: New Races, Category Shifts, and a Changing Landscape
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The Union cycliste Internationale (UCI) has announced its professional road cycling calendar for 2026, bringing a wave of new races, adjustments to existing events, and a reshuffling of category levels. The upcoming season promises a dynamic shift in the sport’s global footprint, with a notable expansion in Asia and strategic changes across Europe.
A Global Expansion: New Races Join the UCI Calendar
A notable feature of the 2026 calendar is the influx of new events,particularly in Asia. Turkey is poised to become a hotspot for one-day races, with numerous competitions scheduled throughout August and September. “Turkey definitely having a big portion of one-day races on the schedule” signals a growing investment in cycling within the region. India will also host a new stage race in January, a surprising addition that demonstrates the sport’s increasing reach.
Europe is also seeing expansion, with the Tour of Bosnia and Herzegovina opening the nation to more international racing opportunities. Italy adds several new one-day races to its roster, most notably the Lyon – Torino, which will uniquely begin in France and cross the border – a departure from the norm for one-day races.
Category Upgrades Reflect Growing Prestige
Several high-level events are set to climb the ranks, reflecting their increasing importance within the professional cycling world. The AlUla Tour,Surf Coast Classic,muscat Classic,Région Pays de la Loire Tour,and Czech Tour will all be elevated to ProSeries status. This upgrade signifies a higher level of competition and attracts more prominent teams and riders.
Calendar Adjustments and Clashes
While the overall changes are considerable, a senior official stated that the calendar adjustments are “nothing meaningful” in terms of major disruptions. Though,several races have been repositioned,leading to potential clashes. O Gran Camiño has shifted from a February-April preparation race to an April event. The Tour of Hellas and several Western European classics will now take place in May, coinciding with the Giro d’Italia. The Tour de l’Ain and Tour of Denmark may clash with the Tour de France in July, and the Giro d’Abruzzo has been moved from April to September. The Copenhagen Sprint will be mo
- January: India Stage Race (2.2)
- February 11: Jaén Gran Premio (1.2)
- February 12: Gran Premio de Valencia (1.2)
- February 13: Gran Premio de Valencia (1.2)
- February 14: Volta a la Comunitat Valenciana (2.Pro)
- February 15: Volta a la Comunitat Valenciana (2.Pro)
- February 16: Volta a la Comunitat Valenciana (2.Pro)
- February 17: Volta a la Comunitat Valenciana (2.Pro)
- February 18: Volta a la Comunitat Valenciana (2.pro)
- February 22: Classic de l’Ardèche (1.Pro)
- February 23: Royal Bernard Drôme Classic (1.Pro)
- March 1: Strade Bianche (WorldTour)
- March 2: GP Larciano (1.2)
- March 5-9: Paris-Nice (WorldTour)
- March 7-16: Tirreno-Adriatico (WorldTour)
- March 19: Milan-San Remo (WorldTour)
- March 22: GP Indurain (1.pro)
- March 23: La Flèche Wallonne (WorldTour)
- March 26: Amstel Gold Race (WorldTour)
- April 13: Paris-Roubaix (WorldTour)
- April 16: La Roue Tourangelle (1.2)
- April 17: GP de Denain (1.Pro)
- April 18: Liège-Bastogne-Liège (WorldTour)
- April 20-26: Tour of the Alps (2.Pro)
- April 26: Gran Premio della costa degli Etruschi (1.Pro)
- may 1-4: Tour de Romandie (WorldTour)
- May 8-11: Eschborn-Frankfurt (1.Pro) & 4 Jours de dunkerque (2.Pro)
- May 15-18: Tour of Hellas (2.Pro)
- May 21-June
