All you need to know about the 2026 off-road Gran Fondo

Jul 24, 2026 - 05:55

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All you need to know about the 2026 off-road Gran Fondo

On a green lane, a line of cyclists ride gravel bikes — Following 10 years of road cycling events, organisers are now focusing on gravel and MTB challenges rather than traditional road routes [Gran Fondo Isle of Man]

The Gran Fondo Isle of Man returns this weekend with a new off-road format, marking the biggest change in the event's 10-year history.

Taking place on Saturday and Sunday, the cycling festival has moved away from its traditional road route in favour of a multi-surface challenge featuring gravel tracks, green lanes, forest trails and historical railway lines.

Organisers said the redesigned course had been created to reflect the Island's landscape and the growing popularity of gravel cycling, while remaining true to the event's focus on endurance and participation.

New Routes

The flagship Gran Fondo Gravel and Gran Fondo XC MTB races take place on Sunday, with riders setting off from Ramsey at 09:30 BST before finishing about 60 miles (100km) later in Port Erin.

The point-to-point route takes competitors to the island's northern tip before heading south through farmland, wetlands, moorland, forests and coastal scenery.

It features 30 designated off-road and C-road sectors, including Ballacorey Farm, The Curraghs, The Kella, Ballacarnane Farm, Archallagan Plantation and Eary Cushlin, before a final climb over Bradda Head and a technical descent into Port Erin.

Organisers described it as "a route shaped by the island itself", rather than adapting an existing road course.

Weekend Programme

The event begins on Saturday with two warm-up events.

The 'Minisculo Fondo' starts at 11:00 on a fully closed half-mile circuit around Mooragh Park in Ramsey, offering children and families the chance to take part.

It is followed at 13:00 by the Gran Fondo Challenge, a non-competitive 30-mile (50km) event that starts and finishes in Ramsey and is designed for riders looking for a shorter off-road experience or a warm-up ahead of Sunday's races.

Why is it called Gran Fondo?

The name Gran Fondo has its origin in Italian cycling, and points to endurance challenges and long distance.

The Isle of Man Gran Fondo is a qualifying competition for the UCI Gran Fondo World Series.

The UCI Gran Fondo World Series said it adopted the "Gran Fondo" name to connect with a continental mass-participation cycling tradition.

Why off-road?

The Isle of Man Gran Fondo has organised large-scale cycling events on the Island for more than a decade, beginning with the Isle of Man Cyclefest in 2016 before launching the Gran Fondo series.

The event has previously attracted riders ranging from first-time cyclists to professional racers, including Sir Mark Cavendish, Ben Swift, Lizzie Holden and Anna Christian.

After hosting road-based events for 10 years, organisers said the move to gravel and mountain bike racing reflected "the sport's changing landscape" while "showcasing more of the Island's natural environment".