2026 Cycling Events in Korea — First Half
Your Guide to Races, Gran Fondos & Rides: March–June
Whether you're a weekend warrior or training for your first century ride, Korea has a packed cycling calendar. Here's every event worth knowing about in the first half of 2026 — with the info you actually need.
Note: Most Korean cycling events don't have English registration. If you need help signing up, stop by Platoon Cycles — we can walk you through it.
Last updated: March 2026. We'll update this post as new events are announced or registration status changes.
March (3월)
천호 벚꽃라이딩 챌린지 — Cheonho Cherry Blossom Riding Challenge
| Date | March 27 (Fri) – April 2 (Thu), 2026 |
| Location | Cheonho Bike Street → Han River, Seoul (서울 강동구 천호자전거거리) |
| Distance | 30 km (riding) / 1.5 km (walking) |
| Difficulty | Easy — flat Han River path |
| Entry Fee | ₩5,000 |
| Registration | Open |
| Website | cheonho-bike.co.kr |
The most beginner-friendly event on this list. A week-long cherry blossom ride along the Han River — ride anytime during the event window. Completion medal included. You can use your own bike, a rental, or even Seoul's Ddareungi (따릉이) bike share. Great for a casual outing, not a race.
April (4월)
공룡나라 그란폰도 — Dinosaur Land Gran Fondo
| Date | April 4 (Sat), 2026 — 07:00 start |
| Location | Goseong Sports Complex, Gyeongnam (경남 고성군 종합운동장) |
| Distance | Gran Fondo / Medio Fondo (details TBA) |
| Difficulty | Moderate |
| Registration | Dec 23, 2025 – Jan 20, 2026 (check availability) |
| Website | speedagency.kr |
Ride through the southern coast countryside of Goseong — famous for its dinosaur fossil sites.
예천 저수령 그란폰도 — Yecheon Jeosuyeong Gran Fondo
| Date | April 18 (Sat), 2026 |
| Location | Yecheon Stadium, Gyeongbuk (경북 예천군 예천스타디움) |
| Distance | Challenge A: 103.6 km / Challenge B: 93.3 km |
| Difficulty | Hard — multiple mountain passes (Jeosuyeong, Buljae, etc.) |
| Entry Fee | ~₩70,000 |
| Website | jsrgf.com |
A climber's gran fondo. Back-to-back mountain passes through the Gyeongbuk countryside. Not for the faint of leg.
홍천 클래식 그란폰도 — Hongcheon Classic Gran Fondo
| Date | April 25 (Sat), 2026 — 08:00 start |
| Location | Hongcheon Sports Complex, Gangwon (강원도 홍천군 종합운동장) |
| Distance | Gran Fondo / Medio Fondo (details TBA) |
| Difficulty | Moderate–Hard |
| Registration | 1st round: Feb 13–14 / 2nd round: Feb 20–29 (check availability) |
| Sponsors | Wheeler, iGPSPORT |
Springtime in Gangwon-do. Rolling hills and river valleys through one of Korea's most scenic rural counties.
투르 드 진안고원 — Tour de Jinan Plateau
| Date | April 26 (Sun), 2026 |
| Location | Jinan-gun, Jeonbuk (전북 진안군) |
| Distance | Gran Fondo: 128 km / Medio Fondo: 76 km |
| Difficulty | Moderate–Hard (plateau terrain) |
| Entry Fee | ₩70,000 |
| Age | 19+ |
| Website | jtvplus.com |
High-altitude plateau riding in Jeonbuk. The 128 km course covers serious elevation through Jinan's highland roads.
춘천 배후령 힐클라임 — Chuncheon Baehuryeong Hill Climb
| Date | April 26 (Sun), 2026 |
| Location | Chuncheon, Gangwon (강원도 춘천시) |
| Distance | Medio Fondo / Hill Climb |
| Difficulty | Hard — it's a hill climb |
Pure climbing. If you want to test your legs against a Korean mountain, this is it.
May (5월)
UCI MTB 월드시리즈 — UCI Mountain Bike World Series: Race of South Korea
| Date | May 1 (Fri) – 3 (Sun), 2026 |
| Location | Mona Yongpyong, Pyeongchang, Gangwon (강원도 평창군 용평리조트) |
| Events | Downhill (DHI), Cross-Country Olympic (XCO), Cross-Country Short Track (XCC) |
| Prize | ₩300,000,000 total |
| Website | ucimtbworldseries.com |
Spectator event. The first-ever UCI XCO/XCC World Cup in Asia, held at the 2018 Winter Olympics venue. This is a pro race — you can't enter, but you can watch world-class mountain biking on a stunning Gangwon-do course. Korea is hosting this for 3 consecutive years (2026–2028).
정읍 내장산 그란폰도 — Wiawis Jeongeup Naejangsan Gran Fondo
| Date | May 16 (Sat), 2026 — 07:00–15:00 |
| Location | Naejangsan Waterpark area, Jeongeup, Jeonbuk (전북 정읍시 내장산) |
| Distance | Gran Fondo / Medio Fondo |
| Difficulty | Moderate–Hard |
| Entry Fee | ₩70,000 (includes medal, supplies, timing chip) |
| Registration | CLOSED |
| Website | thebike.co.kr |
Ride around Naejangsan National Park — one of Korea's most famous fall foliage spots, equally beautiful in spring green. Registration sold out.
설악그란폰도 — SENA Seorak Gran Fondo
| Date | June 20 (Sat), 2026 |
| Location | Inje-gun, Gangwon (강원도 인제군 상남면) |
| Distance | Gran Fondo: 208 km / 3,800 m elevation / 12-hour limit |
| Medio Fondo: 105 km / 1,700 m elevation / 7-hour limit | |
| Difficulty | Extreme — Korea's toughest gran fondo |
| Entry Fee | GF ~₩60,000–70,000 / MF ~₩50,000–60,000 |
| Participants | ~5,000 (sold out in 2 minutes in 2025) |
| Registration | CLOSED |
| Website | granfondo.co.kr |
The big one. Korea's most iconic cycling event. The gran fondo course includes Guryongnyeong Pass (6.4 km at 10.9% average) and reverse Guryongnyeong (20.5 km, HC-rated). Sold out almost instantly — if you want to ride this next year, set an alarm on registration day.
June (6월)
삼척 그란폰도 x ITT — Samcheok Gran Fondo x ITT
| Date | June 6 (Sat), 2026 — 08:00 start |
| Location | Maengbang Beach, Samcheok, Gangwon (강원도 삼척시 맹방해변) |
| Distance | Gran Fondo / Individual Time Trial |
| Difficulty | Moderate–Hard |
| Registration | March 3 – March 24, 2026 |
| Website | speedagency.kr |
Start at the beach, ride into the Gangwon mountains. The ITT (Individual Time Trial) format adds a competitive twist — it's you against the clock.
Korea Epic Ride (코리아 에픽 라이드)
| Date | June 6 (Sat) – 21 (Sun), 2026 — 16-day window |
| Location | Start: Yangyang-gun, Gangwon (강원도 양양군) |
| Distance | 300 km / 500 km / 1,000 km (choose your course) |
| Difficulty | Hard — self-supported bikepacking |
| Entry Fee | ₩100,000 |
| Participants | Limited to 100 riders |
| Website | koreaepicride.kr |
The adventure option. A self-supported bikepacking event — no team cars, no SAG wagons, just you and your bike for up to 1,000 km through Gangwon-do's mountains. English website available, foreigner-friendly. If the cross-country route felt too easy, this is your next challenge.
여주 세종대왕 자전거랠리 — Yeoju King Sejong Cycling Rally
| Date | June 7 (Sun), 2026 — 07:00–14:00 |
| Location | Yeoju Ceramic World & Yeoju area, Gyeonggi (경기도 여주시) |
| Distance | Road / MTB courses |
| Difficulty | Moderate |
| Registration | Open from February 27, 2026 |
| Website | thebike.co.kr |
A cycling rally through Yeoju — the city on the cross-country route known for ceramics and King Sejong's tomb. Road and MTB options available.
경기도 친환경 자전거 축제 — Gyeonggi Eco-Friendly Cycling Festival
| Date | June 13 (Sat), 2026 |
| Location | Gyeonggi Province (exact venue TBA) |
| Difficulty | Easy — community festival |
A family-friendly cycling festival. Details to be announced.
정선 동강 그란폰도 — Jeongseon Donggang Gran Fondo
| Date | June 28 (Sun), 2026 — 07:00–15:00 |
| Location | Jeongseon Gymnasium & Jeongseon area, Gangwon (강원도 정선군) |
| Distance | Gran Fondo / Medio Fondo |
| Difficulty | Moderate–Hard |
| Age | 20+ |
| Registration | Open from March 6, 2026 (first-come, first-served) |
| Website | jeongseongranfondo.co.kr |
| Contact | 032-322-3379 |
Ride along the Donggang River valley in Jeongseon — the same area famous for rafting and its dramatic limestone cliffs.
How to Register as a Foreigner (외국인 접수 안내)
Most Korean cycling events use Korean-only registration systems. Here's how to deal with that:
- Use a Korean friend or coworker — the fastest solution. Registration usually takes 5 minutes if you can read Korean.
- Papago or Google Translate — use your phone's camera to translate the registration page in real time.
- Payment — some events require Korean payment methods (domestic card, bank transfer). International cards may not work. Ask a Korean friend to pay and reimburse them.
- Come to Platoon Cycles — we can help you navigate registration, especially for events with limited spots.
- Korea Epic Ride is the most foreigner-friendly event — it has a full English website and accepts international payments.
At a Glance: First Half 2026
| Date | Event | Distance | Difficulty | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Mar 27–Apr 2 | Cheonho Cherry Blossom Ride | 30 km | Easy | Open |
| Apr 4 (Sat) | Dinosaur Land Gran Fondo | GF/MF | Moderate | Check |
| Apr 18 (Sat) | Yecheon Jeosuyeong GF | 93–104 km | Hard | Check |
| Apr 25 (Sat) | Hongcheon Classic GF | GF/MF | Mod–Hard | Check |
| Apr 26 (Sun) | Tour de Jinan Plateau | 76–128 km | Mod–Hard | Open |
| Apr 26 (Sun) | Chuncheon Hill Climb | Hill Climb | Hard | Check |
| May 1–3 | UCI MTB World Series | Spectator | — | — |
| May 16 (Sat) | Jeongeup Naejangsan GF | GF/MF | Mod–Hard | Closed |
| May 30 (Sat) | Seorak Gran Fondo | 105–208 km | Extreme | Closed |
| Jun 6 (Sat) | Samcheok GF x ITT | GF/ITT | Mod–Hard | Open |
| Jun 6–21 | Korea Epic Ride | 300–1,000 km | Hard | Check |
| Jun 7 (Sun) | Yeoju King Sejong Rally | Road/MTB | Moderate | Open |
| Jun 13 (Sat) | Gyeonggi Cycling Festival | Festival | Easy | TBA |
| Jun 28 (Sun) | Jeongseon Donggang GF | GF/MF | Mod–Hard | Open |
Want to ride one of these events? We can help you pick the right one for your level, get your bike ready, and even help with registration.
Platoon Cycles
📍 157, Pyeongseongdaegyo-gil, Paengseong-eup, Pyeongtaek-si
📞 070-8845-7351
🌐 www.platooncycles.com
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