Since 2013, the Team Relay has evolved from a side event at the UCI's Gran Fondo World Championships into a prestigious competition. In 2024, Aalborg, the host city for the World Championships, elevates it from a side event to a primary event with official world championship jerseys up for grabs. This development adds another layer of excitement for cyclists aiming to qualify for the Worlds and a coveted world title.
© UCI Gran Fondo World Series
Riders qualified for the Time Trial World Championship, gran fondo, or medio fondo can form a four-member Team Relay. Up to 25 teams can participate, ideally one per country. Creating a balanced team requires strategic thinking. Each team must include:
Teams decide their starting rider. Each member completes three laps of a roughly two-kilometer course. Conventional road bikes used, and drafting is permitted. The Aalborg course spans 2.2 kilometers, flat and relatively straightforward with four turns and extended straightaways. The relay format involves consecutive three-lap segments by each cyclist. The first team to cross the finish line with their fourth rider becomes the world champion. Teams must self-monitor their lap count; historically, miscounts have altered race outcomes.
© UCI Gran Fondo World Series
Standard UCI rules apply, including bike specifications. Notable incidents include Italy's disqualification in 2018 for a bike weight violation and Belgium's subsequent title. Champions over the years include Canada (2015), Slovenia (2016, 2021, 2022), with events occasionally disrupted by roadworks, Covid-19, or scheduling conflicts.
The Netherlands last competed in 2018, suggesting a timely opportunity for Dutch athletes to re-enter the fray, especially when countries like Mongolia have successfully fielded teams.
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