ECONOMICIMPACTREPORT
With 35 events held across 23 countries and 6 continents, the UCI Gravel World Series is the premier global series of gravel events governed by the Union Cycliste Internationale (UCI).
In its inaugural year, the series attracted approximately 6000 participants. This number surged to 17000 riders in the second year and reached 25000 participants last season. As gravel cycling continues its rapid growth in popularity, it is anticipated that participation will further increase in the coming years.
This series offers gravel specialists and enthusiasts the opportunity to qualify for the UCI Gravel World Championships, where they can compete for the coveted rainbow jersey in both elite and age group categories. This unique platform allows participants to race alongside their idols from the Tour de France.
The series debuted in 2022 with 11 events and quickly garnered media attention following the highly successful first edition of the UCI Gravel World Championships, which featured numerous top athletes. The series expanded to 18 qualifier events in its second year, further growing to 27 events in year three and reaching 35 events this year.
Beyond the sporting aspects, these events provide significant economic benefits to the host regions. Visitors, including family and friends, contribute to the local economy through hotel stays, dining in restaurants and bars, and purchasing souvenirs from local shops.
CONCEPT
TheUCIGravel World Series, launched in 2022,hasrapidly become the world’s leading gravelracing series, marked by its exceptional level of competition, global reach, and the participation of top-tier cyclists from all disciplines.
Thisseries features raceson unpaved roadsand uniquely allows both elite and amateur riders, categorizedby agegroups, to compete for the prestigious UCIrainbow jersey within the same race, with separate results for each category.
Riders qualify for the UCIGravel World Championshipsby placing within the top 25%of their category in qualifying events held worldwide. With races organized acrossall continents, the series boasts atruly global presence, solidifying its position at the forefront of gravel racing.
NATIONALITIESATTHESTARTIN2024
Afghanistan
Algeria
Andorra
Argentina
Armenia
Australia
Austria
Barbados
Belgium
Bermuda
Bosnia
Brazil
Bulgaria
Canada
Chile
China
Colombia
Costa
Croatia
Cuba
Cyprus Czech
Guinnee
Roumania
Russia
Rwanda
Singapore
Slovakia
Slovenia
South
Spain
Sweden
Switzerland
Tanzania
Thailand
Trinidad
Turkey
UAE
Uganda
Ukraine
USA
Venezuela
Zimbabwe
BIGGESTEVENT 2024UCIGRAVELWORLDCHAMPIONSHIPS
MOSTINTERNATIONALEVENT
3RIDESGRAVELAACHEN
EXPENSES-RETURN
The business model depends on a lot of different factors. First of all are the expenses very diverse and depend on whether you have to pay for volunteers and if you work with contractors or a local club doing all logistics.
On the income side, there is the direct income of registration fees, merchandising, sponsorships and fundings. The fundings are justified by the economic benefits for the regions like
• Overnight stays
• Meals, drinks
• Souvenirs –local spendings
• Local transport (taxi, public transport, car rental)
• Bike shop / bike rental
• Combination of the event with holidays in the region
• City marketing -Word of mouth–social media coverage
80-85% of the events are funded by entities/local authorities to promote tourism in a region/country
HOUFFAGRAVEL
Example of an classic event in 2024
Based on a survey, we know that riders stayed in hotels / bed&breakfast / appartments / campingsite according to the following details
• Most riders from Wallonia and surroundings come from home in the morning
• Flemish, Dutch and German riders generally stay for one night. Also riders from Luxemburg and the north of France stay for one night
• Riders from the following countries usually stay two nights : south of France, UK, Denmark, Italy, Ireland, Switzerland, Austria, Spain, Portugal, Norway, Poland, Czech Republic, Sweden and Ukraine
• There are also a few riders from countries a bit further away like USA, South Africa, Canada, Colombia, China and Mexico who stay an average of 4 nights
• We learn from a survey that most participants travel with a group which counts an average of 1.6 people (including the rider).
NUMBER OF OVERNIGHT STAYS
OTHERECONOMICBENEFITS
• Food
• Drinks
• Shops
• Car Rental
• Bike shops/ Bike Rental
• Wellness
• Retail
• Registration fee
• City marketing
• Word of mouth
• Social media
ECONOMICRETURNFORTHEREGION
SEVEN–NANNUP–WESTERNAUSTRALIA
Example of an event where lots of riders are travelling
NUMBEROFOVERNIGHTSTAYS2613
ECONOMICRETURNFORTHEREGION
GROWTHOFEVENTSYEARPERYEAR
Seven Wish One Gravel Gravel Grit'n Grind Gravel Adventure Houffa Gravel Monsterrando Gravelista World Championships
CALENDAR 2025
