The 10 Best Cycling Gran Fondos and Sportives in the World in 2027
By Kory White · Updated Oct 2026 · 5 min read
Direct answer
Maratona dles Dolomites is the best gran fondo in the world, with La Marmotte Granfondo Alpes at #2 and L’Étape du Tour de France at #3. The ranking weighs stature, route and how hard each ride is to enter, using the distance, climbing and entry rules the organizers publish. Where a price or date for 2027 is not out, the page says so.
Riders who want a gravel gran fondo in the Flint Hills
Pick by what you want
Best overall
Maratona dles Dolomites
Best Tour de France climbs
La Marmotte Granfondo Alpes
Best cobbles
We Ride Flanders
Best longest day
Mallorca 312
Best gravel
Unbound Gravel
The ranking
1
Maratona dles Dolomites
Answrs VerdictThe Dolomites gran fondo that people enter a draw to ride.
Event date: July 4, 2027 (the 40th edition)Distance: 138 km on the Maratona course; shorter 106 km and 55 km courses also runElevation gain: 4230 m of climbing on the 138 km courseEntry: Draw: pre-register October 14 to November 10, 2026 (3,00 € pre-entry fee); the draw is in the second half of November 2026Price: 165,00 € entry plus a 10,00 € chip depositField size: About 8,000 riders: 4,000 places by draw and 4,000 for tour operators, charity entries, loyal members and invitations
Maratona dles Dolomites is on July 4, 2027, its 40th edition. The Maratona course is 138 km with 4230 m of climbing, and shorter 106 km and 55 km courses also run. Entry is by draw: pre-register October 14 to November 10, 2026.
Go ifRiders who want the Dolomites passes on closed roads and can accept a lottery
Skip ifYou need a guaranteed entry without tour operator or charity places
Why #1 over #2: It is a draw-entry Dolomites ride on a 138 km course, where Étape du Tour covers 154 km.
2
La Marmotte Granfondo Alpes
Answrs VerdictThe Alpine classic that finishes on Alpe d’Huez.
Event date: Sunday June 27, 2027, in an event weekend running June 25 to 27Distance: 177 km from Bourg d’Oisans to the finish on Alpe d’HuezElevation gain: 5000 m of climbingClimbs: Glandon, Télégraphe, Galibier, Lautaret and the final climb of Alpe d’HuezEntry: Open registration through the organizer’s online form; 2027 prices are not published yetPrice: 2026 prices rose from €110 for the first 500 places to €130 for the last places
La Marmotte Granfondo Alpes is on Sunday June 27, 2027, 177 km from Bourg d’Oisans to Alpe d’Huez with 5000 m of climbing over the Glandon, Télégraphe, Galibier and Lautaret. 2027 prices are not published; in 2026 they rose from €110 to €130.
Go ifRiders who want the big Tour de France climbs in one day
Skip ifYou cannot handle 5000 m of climbing
Why #2 over #3: It climbs 5000 m in one day, where the Étape du Tour climbs 4,850 m.
3
L’Étape du Tour de France
Answrs VerdictThe amateur ride over a Tour de France mountain stage, new each year.
Event date: July 11, 2027 (the 35th edition)Distance: 154 km from Cluses to Les SaisiesElevation gain: 4,850 m of climbing and 5 major climbsKey climbs: Col de la Colombière (15.9 km at 7%) and Bisanne (12.4 km at 8.3%)Entry: General public registration opens November 2, 2026 at 2:00 p.m. CET; pre-register with a free Tour de France Club accountPrice: Not published
L’Étape du Tour de France is on July 11, 2027, 154 km from Cluses to Les Saisies with 4,850 m of climbing and 5 major climbs, including Col de la Colombière and Bisanne. General registration opens November 2, 2026.
Go ifRiders who want to ride a real Tour de France mountain stage on closed roads
Skip ifYou do not hold a licence or medical certificate: one is compulsory
Why #3 over #4: It rides a Tour de France stage on closed roads, where Cape Town Cycle Tour is 109 km.
4
Cape Town Cycle Tour
Answrs VerdictSouth Africa’s must-do ride around the Cape Peninsula.
Event date: Sunday, March 14, 2027Distance: 109 km around the Cape Peninsula; a 42 km route also runsEntry: Online entry; the 109 km page reads “Entries open soon”Price: R745 for PPA members, R995 general, R1225 African continent and R1815 internationalHighlights: Full road closure and the Chapman’s Peak climb, with Suikerbossie and Wynberg HillHistory: Run since 1978
Cape Town Cycle Tour is on Sunday, March 14, 2027, 109 km around the Cape Peninsula with full road closure and the Chapman’s Peak climb. The 109 km page lists fees from R745 for PPA members to R1815 for international riders and says entries open soon.
Go ifRiders who want ocean views and a huge crowd in the southern summer
Skip ifYou want a published climbing total: the page lists none
Why #4 over #5: It has run since 1978 with a 42 km option, where Mallorca 312 is 312 km.
5
Mallorca 312
Answrs VerdictThe 312 km island gran fondo on closed roads.
Event date: April 24, 2027Distance: 312 km, with two shorter courses named Mallorca 226 and Mallorca 167Elevation gain: 5,050 m of accumulated climbing on the 312 km courseField size: 8,500 participants on closed roadsEntry: Registration plus accommodation packages, or a waiting list for 2027Price: Not published
Mallorca 312 is on April 24, 2027: 312 km with 5,050 m of accumulated climbing on closed roads, with 8,500 participants. Mallorca 226 and Mallorca 167 are the shorter courses. 2027 entry is by registration plus accommodation or a waiting list.
Go ifRiders chasing a very long day on a Mediterranean island
Skip ifYou need to enter without a waiting list
Why #5 over #6: Its 312 km is longer than the 240 km of We Ride Flanders.
6
We Ride Flanders
Answrs VerdictThe Tour of Flanders cyclo, with four distances.
Event date: Saturday, April 3, 2027 (the 36th edition), the day before the pros raceDistance: 240 km from Bruges to Oudenaarde, or 80, 130 or 160 km from OudenaardeElevation gain: 2100 m+ on the 240 km, 1800 m+ on the 160 km, 1500 m+ on the 130 km and 1025 m+ on the 80 km (approximate)Entry: Open online registration until capacity is reachedPrice: €87 for the first 1000 riders, €97 for 1001 to 6000 and €107 after 6001, the same for all distancesClimbs: Oude Kwaremont, Paterberg and Koppenberg, with cobbled sections
We Ride Flanders is on Saturday, April 3, 2027, with 240 km from Bruges or 80, 130 and 160 km from Oudenaarde. The 240 km has 2100 m+ and the route includes Oude Kwaremont, Paterberg and Koppenberg. Entry is €87 for the first 1000 riders.
Go ifRiders who want cobbles and short steep climbs the day before the pros
Skip ifYou dislike rough cobbled roads
Why #6 over #7: It has cobbles on every distance, where Nove Colli is a seafront-to-hills road ride of 200 km.
7
Nove Colli
Answrs VerdictThe 200 km Romagna classic, held since 1971.
Event date: Sunday, May 23, 2027 (the 56th edition)Distance: 200 km, with a 137 km route and a 107 km gravel routeElevation gain: 3814 m on the 200 km, 1872 m on the 137 km and 1798 m on the 107 km gravel routeEntry: Open registration from Saturday December 5, 2026 at 12:00 to Monday May 3, 2027 at 12:00Price: €110 until January 15, €120 until April 15 and €130 after, or €150 on site; gravel €50Demand: The organizer’s home page records 12,000 race numbers sold in 4 minutes
Nove Colli is on Sunday, May 23, 2027: 200 km with 3814 m of climbing, a 137 km route and a 107 km gravel route. Registration opens December 5, 2026 at 12:00 and costs €110 until January 15.
Go ifRiders who want a big Italian gran fondo that starts on the seafront at Cesenatico
Skip ifYou cannot register the minute entries open
Why #7 over #8: It has a 107 km gravel option, where Paris-Roubaix Challenge has 170 km on cobbles.
8
Paris-Roubaix Challenge
Answrs VerdictThe Hell of the North for amateurs, with three distances.
Event date: April 10, 2027 (the 17th edition), a few hours before the prosDistance: 70 km, 145 km or 170 kmCobbled sectors: 8 sectors on the 70 km, 19 on the 145 km and all 30 on the 170 kmFinish: In the Roubaix velodrome; the 145 km includes the Trouée d’ArenbergEntry: Registration is open now on the organizer’s sitePace needed: On the 170 km, an average of 28 km/h on the road and 14 km/h on the cobbles
Paris-Roubaix Challenge is on April 10, 2027, a few hours before the pros, with 70 km, 145 km and 170 km routes. The 170 km rides all 30 cobbled sectors and finishes in the Roubaix velodrome. Registration is open now.
Go ifRiders who want to roll into the Roubaix velodrome
Skip ifYou are not an experienced cobble rider and want the 170 km
Why #8 over #9: It rides all 30 cobbled sectors, where GFNY NYC has climbs of 1.6 km to 3.5 km.
9
GFNY World Championship NYC
Answrs VerdictThe world championship of the GFNY series, in New York.
Event date: May 16, 2027Distance: A 100 mile long route and a 50 mile medium routeStart and finish: Starts on the George Washington Bridge, closed to cars, and finishes in Fort Lee, New JerseyClimbs: Alpine (1.6 km, +106 m), Gate Hill (3.5 km, +186 m) and Cheesecote (1.5 km, +79 m)Field: A peloton from over 90 countriesEntry: Open registration on the event site; price not published
GFNY World Championship NYC is on May 16, 2027. It starts on the George Washington Bridge, closed to cars, and finishes in Fort Lee, with a 100 mile and a 50 mile route and a peloton from over 90 countries.
Go ifRiders who want to start a race on the George Washington Bridge
Skip ifYou want a big-mountain day: the named climbs are short
Why #9 over #10: It starts on a closed bridge, where Unbound Gravel is held on gravel in Emporia.
10
Unbound Gravel
Answrs VerdictThe gravel event that grew from 34 riders to a lottery.
Event date: June 3 to 6, 2027, in Emporia, KansasDistance: The 200 mile is the flagship; XL, 100, 50 and 25 mile options also runField: 4,000 riders; the event began with 34 participants in 2006Entry: Free lottery open November 1 at 10:00 AM CT to November 15; results November 21Price: Entry fees coming soonGuaranteed routes: Training camp package, charity entry, volunteering or a qualifier race
Unbound Gravel is on June 3 to 6, 2027 in Emporia, Kansas, with a 200 mile flagship and XL, 100, 50 and 25 mile options. The free lottery is open November 1 to November 15, with results on November 21.
Go ifRiders who want a gravel gran fondo in the Flint Hills
Skip ifYou want paved roads
How we ranked these
We ranked rides on stature, route and how hard they are to enter, using the distance, climbing and entry rules each organizer publishes. Prices and dates are given only where the organizer has published them for 2027; otherwise the page says they are not out yet or shows the latest published figure. Facts are taken from each maker's own published information; check the official site before you buy.
Questions people ask
How do I enter the Maratona dles Dolomites?
By draw. Pre-registration runs October 14 to November 10, 2026 with a 3,00 € pre-entry fee, and the draw is in the second half of November 2026. Entry costs 165,00 € plus a 10,00 € chip deposit.
When can I register for L’Étape du Tour de France 2027?
General public registration opens on November 2, 2026 at 2:00 p.m. CET. You can pre-register with a free Tour de France Club account. The ride is on July 11, 2027, 154 km from Cluses to Les Saisies.
Which gran fondo on this list is the longest?
Mallorca 312 is the longest at 312 km with 5,050 m of accumulated climbing, on April 24, 2027. We Ride Flanders offers a 240 km route from Bruges.
How much does We Ride Flanders cost?
It is €87 for the first 1000 riders, €97 for 1001 to 6000 and €107 after 6001, the same for all distances. A free Gobik windbreaker worth €75 is included.
Longest course distance as the organizer publishes it in kilometers (km) at a glance
Cape Town Cycle Tour109 km
Maratona dles Dolomites138 km
L’Étape du Tour de France154 km
Paris-Roubaix Challenge170 km
La Marmotte Granfondo Alpes177 km
Nove Colli200 km
We Ride Flanders240 km
Mallorca 312312 km
Longest course distance as the organizer publishes it in kilometers (km), as published by each maker. Picks without a published figure are left off.
