47 years after Hinault’s triumph, the Road World Championships are returning to Haute-Savoie. The organisers have unveiled the routes for the races, which will take place from 24 August to 5 September 2027. More than 15,000 athletes from 206 UCI member federations will compete for 288 world championship titles.
Road race at the 2027 UCI World Cycling Championships
The road races at the 2027 UCI World Cycling Championships will start on the Route du Fayet in Sallanches, in the Pays du Mont-Blanc. The course largely follows the route used in 1980, when Bernard Hinault was crowned world champion in the men’s race and the American Beth Heiden in the women’s. The Côte de Domancy forms the central feature of each lap. The 2.5-kilometre climb, with an average gradient of 9.4 per cent, will thin out the peloton on every passage.
The elite men will complete 20 laps. This amounts to a total distance of 265 kilometres and 5,700 metres of elevation gain. The elite women will ride 12 laps covering 158.6 kilometres with 3,420 metres of elevation gain. The U23 men will also complete 12 laps, whilst the U23 women and junior men will cover 9 laps over 118.7 kilometres and 2,565 metres of elevation gain. The junior women will complete 6 laps over 78.8 kilometres with 1,710 metres of elevation gain.
The men’s race will take place on 29 August. The women’s race, on 5 September, will mark the conclusion of the road racing events. According to the organising committee, this scheduling highlights the importance attached to women’s cycling.
Bernard Hinault is serving as an ambassador for the 2027 World Championships. The 1980 world champion said he found it moving that this route was returning after 47 years. He wanted the course to be just as challenging as it was back then.
Time trial at the 2027 UCI World Cycling Championships
The time trials at the 2027 UCI Road World Championships will take place from 30 August to 2 September around Lake Annecy. The race will start in the centre of Annecy. From there, the route follows the lakeshore through Sévrier, Saint-Jorioz, Duingt and Doussard. The second section of the route offers a completely different profile: the Côte de Talloires (1.5 km at 6.5 per cent) is a short but decisive climb. After the summit, the route passes through Menthon-Saint-Bernard and Veyrier-du-Lac before returning to Annecy.
The Elite and U23 riders will complete the full route, covering 37.2 kilometres with 235 metres of climbing. The Juniors will set off from Doussard on a 20.3-kilometre course with 202 metres of climbing, which also includes the Côte de Talloires.
On 2 September, the mixed team relay will take place on the same route. The organisers are introducing a new feature: the women will ride the second stage on a different, longer and more challenging course and will finish the race. The men will kick off with a first leg of 16.9 kilometres and 63 metres of elevation gain between Annecy and Doussard. Following the official baton handover in Doussard, the route changes: the women set off on a 20.3-kilometre leg with 202 metres of elevation gain – identical to the junior route – with the Côte de Talloires as the main challenge.
Para-cycling in Rumilly
From 25 to 29 August 2027, nearly 500 para-cyclists will gather in Rumilly for five days of competition in the Albanais region. The routes feature significant elevation changes and will place high demands on the participants. The exact route details and formats for the individual categories will be presented in Rumilly over the coming days.
Martial Saddier, President of the Haute-Savoie department, highlights the importance of cycling to the region. The legendary mountain passes, valleys, lakes and villages have shaped the area’s identity. The 2027 World Championships offer a new opportunity to showcase the region’s treasures. From the shores of Lake Annecy to the Aravis Mountains, via Sallanches and the Côte de Domancy, the routes offer a glimpse into the diversity of the landscapes.
17 venues in Haute-Savoie
The UCI Cycling World Championships will take place at 17 venues: Annecy, Châtel – Portes du Soleil, Cluses, Doussard, La Clusaz, La Roche-sur-Foron, Les Gets, Morillon – Grand Massif, Rumilly, Sallanches – Domancy – Pays du Mont-Blanc, Samoëns – Grand Massif, Saint-Pierre-en-Faucigny, Scionzier, Thônes, Vétraz-Monthoux – Annemasse, Evian-les-Bains and the National Velodrome in Saint-Quentin-en-Yvelines. The event brings together 20 UCI World Championships across various disciplines.
The organising committee for the UCI Road World Championships is placing gender equality and inclusion at the heart of the event. According to the organisers, the World Championships are intended to leave a lasting legacy and support the development of cycling, the cycling industry and year-round tourism.
Kristian Bauer
Editor