The first pedal strokes of the 2026 UCI WorldTour are about to be turned in Australia, with the 26th edition of the Santos Tour Down Under (20-25 January) serving as a traditional season opener. As the new year begins the peloton prepares to conquer plains and peaks around the world, with 36 events adding up to 162 race days from Australia to China, where the season will close with the Tour of Guangxi (13-18 October). In the meantime, stars of the UCI WorldTour will battle in the UAE, in Europe’s most iconic venues and in Canada, home to the UCI Road World Championships this year (Montréal, 20-27 September).
From Down Under to Europe, via the UAE
Many of the riders competing in the Santos Tour Down Under will remain in Australia until 1st February to make the most of a double header completed by the Mapei Cadel Evans Great Ocean Road Race - Men. The one-day race has been part of the UCI WorldTour since 2017, and as one of the youngest events on the calendar it has quickly left a distinctive mark. This year will be extra special as it is the last race for Australia’s own Simon Clarke.
From Australia, the UCI WorldTour will head to the UAE Tour, for a full week (16-22 February) of challenges through the desert and luxuriant oases. Hot on the heels comes the Belgian opening weekend, with the Omloop Nieuwsblad (28 February) to set the tone for the Classics campaign, ahead of Strade Bianche (7 March). Living its 20th edition this year, the Italian race has already achieved iconic status and should see the return of Wout van Aert – injured during the cyclo-cross season -, while Tadej Pogačar chases his fourth win in Sienna.
The beginning of spring is always a busy period in Europe, with historic events such as Paris-Nice (8-15 March) and Tirreno-Adriatico (9-15 March) attracting an interesting mix of champions ahead of the first Monument of the season, Milano-Sanremo (21 March).
Prestigious Classics will follow in Belgium – Ronde Van Brugge -Tour of Bruges (25 March), E3 Saxo Classic (27 March), In Flanders Fields - from Middelkerke to Wevelgem (29 March), Dwars door Vlaanderen - A Travers la Flandre (1 April), and Ronde van Vlaanderen (5 April) – and give way to Paris-Roubaix (12 April). In the meantime, climbers and punchers will battle in the Volta Ciclista a Catalunya (23-29 March) and Itzulia Basque Country (6-11 April).
Constant thrills
As the Amstel Gold Race (19 April), La Flèche Wallonne (22 April), Liège-Bastogne-Liège (26 April) and Eschborn-Frankfurt (1 May) close the spring Classics campaign, stage racers will turn their sights to the Tour de Romandie (28 April-3 May) ahead of the first Grand Tour of the season, Giro d’Italia (8-31 May). Among the riders awaited for a historic Grande Partenza – Bulgaria has never previously hosted a UCI WorldTour event – Jonas Vingegaard will aim to complete his list of Grand Tour achievements, after wins in the Tour de France and La Vuelta Ciclista a España.
The action will remain in Europe throughout June, with the Tour Auvergne - Rhône-Alpes (formerly known as the Critérium du Dauphiné – 7-14 June); Copenhagen Sprint (14 June), whose list of winners was opened by Jordi Meeus in 2025; and Tour de Suisse (17-21 June), the last UCI WorldTour event before the Tour de France (4-26 July). Defending champion Pogačar and his rivals will start from Barcelona and cross the Pyrénées early as they make their way to France.
Spain will take centre stage again with Donostia San Sebastian Klasikoa (1 August) and La Vuelta (22 August-13 September). Meanwhile, there will be more stage racing action in the Tour de Pologne (3-9 August) and Renewi Tour (19-23 August) while Classics specialists will illuminate the ADAC Cyclassics (16 August) and the Bretagne Classic-CIC (30 August).
Stars will then head to Canada, first for the 15th editions of the Grand Prix Cycliste de Québec (11 September) and Grand Prix Cycliste de Montréal (13 September), and then for the UCI Road World Championships starting a week later. The winner of the road race will have opportunities to show his rainbow jersey at Il Lombardia (10 October) and the Tour of Guangxi (13-18 October) before we turn to 2027.