Costa Rica’s Pacific coast will once again play host to one of the region’s premier road cycling events, as the UCI CRC 506 Gran Fondo returns for its fourth edition on Sunday, June 7, drawing national and international riders to the Jacó–Quepos corridor.
The competition will follow the Jacó–Quepos–Jacó route, a course organizers say combines scenic coastal views with a serious athletic challenge. The event forms part of the Union Cycliste Internationale calendar and carries the endorsement of the Costa Rican Cycling Federation, racing under the UCI Gran Fondo World Series banner and its “Cycling for All” program aimed at amateur riders worldwide.
The 2026 edition offers two official distances: the Gran Fondo at 141.4 kilometers and the Medio Fondo at 69.8 kilometers. The Gran Fondo departs at 6:00 a.m. from the Centro Cívico por la Paz in Garabito, neutralized for the first two kilometers along Route 34, while the Medio Fondo starts at 7:30 a.m. from the Quepos park. Both distances finish at the Centro Cívico por la Paz in Garabito.
Beyond local bragging rights, the race carries international stakes. The top 25 percent of riders in each age category will qualify for the UCI Gran Fondo World Championship, set for August 26–30 in Niseko, Japan. Registration is open at the official site.
For visitors and residents planning around the Central Pacific in early June, the event is a useful date marker. Road closures and traffic management along Route 34 between Garabito and Quepos are likely on race morning, and the influx of competitors and spectators makes it a notable point on the high-season tourism calendar for Jacó, Herradura, and Manuel Antonio
