Cycling Marathons Calendar
Cycling marathons has gotten complicated with all the new events, schedule changes, and overlapping races flying around. As someone who has spent years building my entire social calendar around race dates, I learned everything there is to know about when and where the best cycling marathons happen. Today, I will share it all with you.
I keep a physical calendar on my wall — old school, I know — with every major cycling event marked in different colored ink. My wife thinks I’m obsessed. She’s correct. But having this mapped out helps me plan which events to watch, which ones to ride, and which ones to dream about doing someday. Here’s the rundown, month by month.
Tour Down Under — January
The year kicks off in Australia with the Tour Down Under. It’s the first race of the UCI World Tour, which means it sets the tone for the entire season. Hot weather, enthusiastic Aussie crowds, and riders shaking off the off-season cobwebs. There’s also a people’s ride associated with it, so non-pros can get in on the action. January in Adelaide sounds pretty good when you’re freezing through a Northern Hemisphere winter.
Strade Bianche — Early March
Probably should have led with this section, honestly. Strade Bianche has become one of my favorite races on the entire calendar. Those white gravel roads through the Tuscan countryside, starting and finishing in Siena’s medieval Piazza del Campo — it’s visually stunning and tactically fascinating. The gravel sectors destroy legs and equipment, and the racing is always aggressive. March in Tuscany. Come on. Doesn’t get much better.
The Cape Epic — March
Over in South Africa, the Cape Epic is basically the Tour de France of mountain biking. Eight days across varied terrain that showcases both the beauty and the brutality of the region. It’s a team event, which adds a whole different dimension. You and your partner need to manage energy, mechanicals, and morale together. Seriously demanding stuff.
Tour of Flanders — Early April
Belgium in April. Short, steep cobbled climbs — the famous hellingen — that have broken countless riders over the decades. The Tour of Flanders sits right in the middle of Flemish Cycling Week, when the entire region basically shuts down to watch bikes. The Koppenberg, the Oude Kwaremont, the Paterberg — these climbs have names that cycling fans know by heart.
Paris-Roubaix — April
The Hell of the North. Brutal cobblestone sections, unpredictable weather, riders finishing caked in mud. I watch this race every single year without fail. There’s nothing else in cycling quite like it. The cobbled sectors are numbered and named, and each one is a potential race-ender. If the weather turns bad, which it often does, the whole thing becomes controlled chaos. Must-watch cycling, period.
Liege-Bastogne-Liege — Late April
One of the oldest races in existence, dating back to 1892. The Belgian Ardennes in late April — hilly, punchy, and relentless. The repeated climbs wear riders down gradually until only the strongest are left fighting for the win. La Doyenne (“The Old Lady”) might be old, but she still packs a serious punch.
Giro d’Italia — May
Three weeks through Italy. The Maglia Rosa (pink jersey) for the overall leader. Alpine passes, coastal roads, Dolomite switchbacks, and Italian fans who live and breathe cycling. The Giro is the most scenic of the three Grand Tours, and the racing is often the most unpredictable. May is a great time to be a cycling fan.
RideLondon — May
London and Surrey on closed roads. Professional races plus amateur rides, making it one of the more accessible events for everyday cyclists. Riding through central London without traffic is kind of surreal. The route into the Surrey Hills adds proper climbing, so it’s not just a flat city spin.
Amgen Tour of California — May
A week of racing through California’s ridiculous variety of landscapes. Coastal highways, wine country, mountain passes, inland valleys. It’s the biggest pro race on the American calendar and puts USA cycling on the World Tour map. The sunny weather and spectacular backdrops make it great viewing even if you’re not a cycling diehard.
Gran Fondo New York — May
A closed-road gran fondo in one of the world’s most iconic cities. The route crosses the George Washington Bridge twice and finishes in Fort Lee, New Jersey. The international field is impressive — this event draws riders from dozens of countries. Doing a serious cycling event with the Manhattan skyline as a backdrop? That’s a unique experience.
Trans-Sylvania Mountain Bike Epic — May
Multi-day mountain biking in Pennsylvania. Technical trails through beautiful forest and stunning views. If you’re a mountain biker in the eastern US, this is one of the marquee events. The trails are challenging enough to keep things interesting without being impossibly technical.
Criterium du Dauphine — June
That’s what makes the Dauphine endearing to us cycling obsessives — it’s the crystal ball for the Tour de France. Same climbs, similar demands, and all the Tour favorites are there testing their legs. If someone crushes the Dauphine, you know they’re going to be dangerous in July. If a favorite struggles here, alarm bells go off. Essential viewing for Tour prediction nerds like me.
Tour de Suisse — June
Similar purpose to the Dauphine, different country. Swiss mountains, varied stages, and riders fine-tuning their form for the Tour. The climbing here is gorgeous — Swiss passes with green valleys and snow-capped peaks. A high-quality race that quietly delivers great racing every single year.
Granfondo Stelvio Santini — June
The Passo dello Stelvio is one of the most famous climbs in all of cycling. This granfondo finishes at the top. That sentence alone should tell you everything about how challenging and rewarding this event is. The endless switchbacks of the Stelvio, seen from your own handlebars? That’s a lifetime memory for any cyclist.
Maratona dles Dolomites — June
One of the most beautiful and punishing cycling marathons anywhere. The Dolomites provide a backdrop that looks photoshopped, and the 4,000+ meters of climbing ensure you earn every view. Entry is by lottery because demand is insane. If your number gets called, do not hesitate. Drop everything and go.
Tour de France — July
The big one. Three weeks, roughly 3,500 kilometers, always finishing on the Champs-Elysees in Paris. The yellow jersey is the most coveted prize in cycling. The route changes every year but always includes a mix of flat stages, mountain stages, and time trials through diverse French landscapes. July is Tour month, and for cycling fans, nothing else matters.
Etape du Tour — July
Amateur riders get to tackle an actual Tour de France mountain stage on closed roads with full support. It’s the closest most of us will ever get to the real thing. Thousands of riders from around the world show up for this, and the atmosphere is electric. You’re climbing the same switchbacks you watched the pros suffer through just days earlier.
Leadville Trail 100 MTB — August
A hundred miles at altitude in the Colorado Rockies. This mountain bike race is legendary in the MTB community. High-altitude air makes everything harder, the terrain is rugged, and finishing is considered a genuine achievement. A real badge of honor for serious mountain bikers.
Vuelta a Espana — Late August to September
The final Grand Tour of the season. Spanish mountains, searing heat, and climbing stages that regularly produce dramatic shake-ups in the general classification. The Vuelta often surprises with unexpected leaders and late-season form surges. It’s the perfect way to close out Grand Tour season.
Tour of Britain — Early September
A week-long race through various UK regions. The changing scenery — from English countryside to Welsh mountains to Scottish highlands — keeps every stage visually fresh. Competitive racing with broad appeal, and a growing event on the international calendar.
Il Lombardia — October
The Race of the Falling Leaves. The final Monument of the season, held in northern Italy when the autumn colors are at their peak. Challenging climbs, technical descents, and a bittersweet feeling because you know the European racing season is ending. A beautiful way to close out the year.
The Dirty Kanza (Unbound Gravel) — Late Spring
One of the premier gravel races in the world. Kansas gravel roads, harsh conditions, and a gravel cycling community that keeps growing every year. The Flint Hills are beautiful in their stark, rolling way, and 200 miles of unpaved riding will test absolutely everything. The rebrand to Unbound Gravel hasn’t changed the essential character of this race one bit.
Recommended Cycling Gear
Garmin Edge 1040 GPS Bike Computer – $549.00
Premium GPS with advanced navigation.
Park Tool Bicycle Repair Stand – $259.95
Professional-grade home mechanic stand.
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