UCI Gran Fondo World Series
Istria Granfondo
A World Series qualifier on the Adriatic coast. Road race only, with no time trial listed for 2027.
2027 date
3 Apr
Location
Umag
Distance
105 km
Climbing
≈ 1,700 m
Format
Road
2026 route
Istria Granfondo 2027: date, course and qualifying
The Istria Granfondo is a UCI Gran Fondo World Series qualifier on the Adriatic coast of Croatia. It starts and finishes at the Stella Maris resort in Umag, next to the tennis stadium, and heads inland to the hill towns of northern Istria. The 2027 edition is on Saturday 3 April. No time trial is listed for 2027.
Race at a glance
Date: Saturday 3 April 2027
Start and finish: Stella Maris, Umag, Croatia
Gran Fondo: 105 km, for women 19 to 49 and men 19 to 59
Medio Fondo: 80 km, for women 50 and over and men 60 and over
Entries close: 1 April 2027, with a full refund available until 31 January
The Istria Granfondo course
The first 30 km run flat along the coast, so expect a fast start. The two courses share the road to Šterna at about km 52, where the Medio Fondo turns for home. The key climb is Oprtalj, about 6 km at an average close to 8% with steeper sections, topping out at 378 m. It is the highest point of the day, and the Gran Fondo climbs it twice. There are feed zones at Antonci and Oprtalj, and the organiser flags the descents from Krasica and from Završje to Livade as the technical sections.
Climbing figures vary by source. The 2026 Gran Fondo route on RideWithGPS shows about 1,550 m, and the UCI gave about 1,700 m. The 2026 race had a record 1,324 entries from 35 countries.
Race info and route files
The organiser’s 2027 race info has the feed zones, timing and rules. The routes from 2026 are on RideWithGPS: the Gran Fondo route and the Medio Fondo route, where you can export a GPX. Entry is through Protime.
Qualifying for Gran Fondo Worlds at Istria
Under the current UCI Gran Fondo World Series rules, the top 25% of riders who start in each age group qualify for the World Championships, and the first three always qualify. A good result here earns a place at the 2027 UCI Gran Fondo World Championships in Haute-Savoie. Whether a road-only qualifier also counts for the Worlds time trial will be confirmed in the 2027 UCI rules.
Racing Istria with reset cc
Istria is a race on our calendar, not a team camp. It gives riders a second chance to qualify three weeks after The Millars. You enter and travel directly, and your coach plans the build, pacing and fuelling with you. Read how Craig Ferguson qualified for Worlds with the team in 2026.
Istria Granfondo FAQ
When is the Istria Granfondo 2027?
Saturday 3 April 2027 in Umag, Croatia. Online entries close on 1 April 2027.
How hard is the Istria Granfondo?
The Gran Fondo is 105 km and the Medio Fondo 80 km. The main climb is Oprtalj, about 6 km at close to 8%, which the Gran Fondo climbs twice. Published climbing figures for the 2026 Gran Fondo range from about 1,550 m to 1,750 m.
Is the Istria Granfondo a qualifier for Gran Fondo Worlds?
Yes. It is a UCI Gran Fondo World Series event, and the top 25% of starters in each age group qualify for the 2027 UCI Gran Fondo World Championships in Haute-Savoie.
Is there a time trial at the Istria Granfondo?
No time trial is listed for 2027. The event is a road race.
