The 2027 road racing calendar features a number of new additions, and two of them in particular will set the tone for the start of the season. Even before the WorldTour gets underway on 19 January with the Tour Down Under, points will already be up for grabs at new UCI races. These include events in Mexico, the USA and the Canary Islands.
New UCI race in the Canary Islands: Vuelta Ciclista a Canarias (14–17 January)
The first professional stage race in the Canary Islands kicks things off. Four stages are on the programme, two each on Gran Canaria and Tenerife. The route includes a coastal stage, a low-mountain stage, a mountain stage and, to round things off, a mountain finish. Many teams are already preparing on the islands anyway, so now they can combine their training camp directly with a race. For some riders, this is likely to be a genuine alternative to the long journey to Australia. In the long term, the organisers aim to extend the UCI race to six days.
Clásica de la República (17 January) and MEX Tour (19–23 January)
Mexico is returning to the international stage with a double bill of UCI races. First up is the Clásica de la República, a one-day race in Mexico City, followed two days later by the start of the MEX Tour. It follows on from the long-established Vuelta a México, which was first held in 1948 and last took place in 2015. The comeback is driven by the buzz surrounding Isaac del Toro. The 22-year-old finished third in the 2026 Tour de France and recently won the Deutschland Tour as well. Whether he will compete in his home race, however, remains to be seen. That decision rests with his team, UAE Emirates-XRG, and may be made at the team meeting at the end of October. The organisers are likely to do everything in their power to ensure their superstar takes to the start line as the main face of the new UCI races.
USA: Battenkill (22 May) and Capitol Cup (5 June)
There’s also plenty happening in North America. The Battenkill race in New York State is returning to the UCI calendar after a 13-year absence. Due to its numerous gravel sections, it is often compared to the Belgian classics. In addition, the Armed Forces Cycling Classic in Washington, D.C. will host a men’s UCI road race for the first time.
All the newly announced UCI races are classified in the world governing body’s second category and are therefore not part of the WorldTour.
Leon Weidner
Editor
