The UCI chooses Benidorm to host its annual Cycling Gala: "it is the ideal venue"

Benidorm will continue to be one of the great showcases of international cycling. The International Cycling Union (UCI) has announced that the Alicante city will host the first UCI Cycling Gala on December 9, a new annual event with which the international body will award the best cyclists, teams, and countries of the road season.

Benidorm strengthens its bid for the Cyclocross World Championship after being chosen as the host of the UCI Cycling Gala 2026

Beyond the prestige of hosting a ceremony of this nature, the designation can be interpreted as an important institutional backing for the city at a key moment. Benidorm is a candidate to organize the UCI Cyclocross World Championships in 2031 and the UCI's decision to entrust it with this new event reinforces the close relationship that both parties have maintained for years.

A new event to recognize the best of the year

The UCI Cycling Gala is born with the intention of becoming a fixed date at the end of each season. It will recognize the male and female leaders of the UCI World Ranking, as well as the best teams and countries of the year. There will also be space to award the most outstanding performances of the season and to present the awards to the best cyclists of the year chosen by fans through a voting process conducted via the UCI's digital platforms.

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The ceremony will take place at the Cultural Center of Benidorm and will be broadcast live on television in Europe and worldwide through the official UCI YouTube channel.

A new endorsement of Benidorm's commitment to cycling

The choice of Benidorm is not a coincidence. The city has established itself as one of the major training centers for professional cycling thanks to its climate, its network of roads, and the proximity of mountain passes, factors that attract numerous WorldTour teams every winter to prepare for the season.

In addition, the organizational success of the four editions of the Cyclocross World Cup held in the locality, an event that has become one of the most highly regarded on the international calendar by riders, teams, and fans, adds to this.

Precisely this history makes this designation another strong argument for Benidorm's bid for the Cyclocross World Championship in 2031. Although the UCI has not officially linked both events, entrusting the city with the organization of an international gala of this significance represents a new show of confidence towards a venue that continues to gain prominence within the cycling calendar.

Lappartient: “Benidorm is the ideal venue”

The president of the UCI, David Lappartient, highlighted during the announcement the close connection of the city with this sport.

“Cycling enjoys the prominence it has today thanks, above all, to the cyclists, the teams, and the federations. Their achievements and dedication deserve official recognition. Thanks to its deep ties with this sport, Benidorm is the ideal venue for this new and prestigious event.”

For his part, the mayor of Benidorm, Toni Pérez, recalled the city's journey within international cycling and did not hide the importance of this choice for its future aspirations.

“For the past four years, our city has proudly hosted a UCI Cyclocross World Cup event and is now a candidate to host the UCI Cyclocross World Championships in 2031. Hosting the UCI Cycling Gala represents another important milestone that reinforces our commitment to this sport.”

Also, the president of the Generalitat Valenciana, Juanfran Pérez Llorca, emphasized the role of the Comunitat Valenciana as one of the main training destinations for professional cycling, highlighting that the arrival of this gala confirms the region's leadership as an international reference for this sport.

With the celebration of this first UCI Cycling Gala, Benidorm will add a new top-level event to a calendar that has already made it one of the cities with the greatest weight in international cycling and that can serve as a new boost to its goal of becoming the host of the Cyclocross World Championship in 2031.