The ninth EPIC Gran Canaria sees a surge in participation, reaching 680 cyclists from 28 countries
The EPIC Gran Canaria RIU Hotels & Resorts faces a record edition in 2026, with participation growing to 680 cyclists from 28 countries, in an event that takes place on 7 and 8 February and is packed with new features. This represents a huge leap from last year's 500 cyclists from 23 countries, with a 36% increase in participation.
The most popular cycle touring race in the south of Gran Canaria is strengthening its position in the sporting calendar by taking on new challenges that mark a turning point, while maintaining its recognition as one of the major events in high-level amateur cycling, as it forms part of the official calendar of the International Cycling Union (UCI) and the prestigious Gran Fondo World Tour, a guarantee that places it among the most important cycling events in the world.
This ninth edition comes with new features in its route, changes that will allow participants to ride along sections that run alongside the sea, incorporating the coastal landscape into the traditional mountain route of the event. This new approach gives EPIC 2026 a different character. The first stage will return to the RIU Palace hotel via the GC-500 with a time trial 2 starting from the area known as Alto del Salto del Perro, covering 29 kilometres from Pasito Blanco to the top and a neutralised descent to Mogán along the coastal road.
The EPIC Gran Canaria transcends the strictly competitive, establishing itself as a meeting point between the current cycling elite and great historical figures of the sport. The 2026 edition features the confirmed presence of Swiss cyclist Nikolas Ginter, one of the big favourites, as well as the participation of former professional cyclists Haimar Zubeldia, Alessandro Ballan and Massimo Stefani. Alongside them, previous editions of the EPIC have featured illustrious names such as Mario Cipollini, Abraham Olano, Claudio Chiappucci, Iban Mayo and Javier Guillén, forming a sporting legacy that reinforces the prestige of the event.
During that weekend, Gran Canaria becomes the epicentre of international cycling, bringing together top-level cyclists, former champions, experienced amateurs and personalities from the world of sport. The EPIC has exclusive use of some of the island's most iconic and popular cycling routes, helping to position Gran Canaria as a world-class destination for road cycling.
Tomorrow, Friday, 'social ride'
The EPIC Gran Canaria 2026 event will begin on Friday, 6 February, with the arrival of participants, the collection of race numbers and a welcome day that will include a social outing and the first official events, designed as a space for cyclists, organisers and guests to get together.
The first competitive stage will take place on Saturday 7 February, a demanding route that will combine timed mountain sections with strategic sectors that will be decisive for the overall classification, on a day that will mark the first differences between the favourites.
The event will conclude on Sunday, 8 February, with the second stage, which will include the revamped route with sections along the sea before tackling the decisive final climb. The finish line will give way to the awards ceremony and the official closing of a weekend in which Gran Canaria will once again project itself as one of the great stages of international cycling with a grand celebration that has become the hallmark of the event.
Growing with new challenges
Yojanán Reyes, organiser of the event, celebrated the arrival of a new edition, with which the event is now approaching its tenth anniversary ‘growing and with new challenges’, as well as new features and the incorporation of Mogán. The commissioner of the Gran Fondo World Tour, Daniel Buyo, highlighted the importance of the event in positioning the destination, with a race that has a great return and allows Gran Canaria to be promoted internationally through cycling.
Linked to the event since its first edition, Maurice Damen, sales director for the Canary Islands and Madeira at RIU Hotels, celebrated the fact that EPIC Gran Canaria ‘continues to surpass itself every year, this year with more participants, nationalities and organisation’, allowing us to ‘enjoy cycling and the island, which is at its best’ this weekend.
This is the idea highlighted by Carlos Álamo, councillor and president of Gran Canaria Tourism, who emphasised that EPIC Gran Canaria ‘continues to grow year after year, taking small but steady steps’ in helping to ‘raise the profile of the island as a magnificent place for sport all year round, especially for winter cycling’. This was also emphasised by the mayor of San Bartolomé de Tirajana, Marco Aurelio Pérez, who highlighted the municipality's ‘natural setting’, which makes it a ‘competitive destination 365 days a year’. The Councillor for Sports in Mogán, Luis Becerra, emphasised that cycling on dry, safe roads all year round is a combination of elements that makes the island of Gran Canaria unique, offering guarantees in a sport that promotes our destination as an open-air gym.
Professional cyclists Alessandro Ballan and Haimar Zubeldia and athlete and content creator Ana González agreed on the beauty of the island, which they ‘fell in love with’ years ago and to which they return for an event that is now a ‘tradition’ in their annual calendar.
EPIC Gran Canaria RIU Hotels & Resorts is supported by the Gran Canaria Island Council Sports Institute, Gran Canaria Tourism, Canary Islands Tourism, Maspalomas Costa Canaria, RIU Hotels & Resorts, Mogán Tourism, Hospiten, Free Motion, Coca-Cola, Aquabona, Greenwood, Gold Nutrition, Sport Dealer, Sonocom, AVIS Canarias, Esenat Escuela Especializada en Salud y Bienestar, Xtravans, Tirma, Romantic Corp, Fund Grube, Maspalomas 24h and Gran Fondo Guide, among others.
