The best riders from the UCI Gran Fondo World Series today battled in the UCI Cycling World Championships with 20 titles up for grabs in the Medio Fondo and Gran Fondo road races, ahead of the individual time trials on Monday.
Three rainbow jerseys for both Team GB and for the Belgians, two each for the French and Norwegians, and another for Israel along with a silver medal for Venezuela… riders from all around the planet shone in Scotland as they tackled the road races of the Medio Fondo and Gran Fondo at the 2023 UCI Cycling World Championships. Almost 2000 riders competed across the different categories in Perth & Kinross.
While last year’s UCI Gran Fondo World Championships in Trento (Italy) favoured the climbers, the British course was more suited to powerful and explosive riders, leading to many changes at the top of the amateur hierarchy.
Belgium’s Lars Van Coppenolle (Men 19-34) and Great Britain’s Mary Wilkinson (Women 40-44) set the fastest times on the Gran Fondo (respectively 3:51:20 and 4:30:27 over the 160.3km course). Norway’s Jørn Fjeldavlie (Men 60-64) and the USA’s Amy Philips (Women 50-54) were the fastest on the Medio Fondo (with respective times of 2:14:57 and 2:27:48 for the 85.7km course).
Some of the racing highlights
Men’s Medio Fondo
60-64: Norway’s Jørn Fjeldavlie (2:14:57) narrowly got the better of two British riders, Rob Pears and Mike Twelves.
65-69: Israel’s Sylvan Adams showed he’s not only a well-known cycling philanthropist and investor, but also a strong rider, claiming gold ahead of Venezuela’s Arnaldo Salazar and the Netherlands’ Ron Paffen.
70-74: two Frenchmen led the way, with Liberto Correas taking the rainbow jersey ahead of Bernard Siguenza. Spain’s Luciano Mitxelena claimed bronze.
75-79: Another French gold, as André Petipas won from Australia’s John Horsburgh, and Great Britain’s Rob Stones.
80-84: American James MacDonald got the better of the local contenders, taking gold ahead of Great Britain’s John Jones and Robert McGowan.
Women’s Medio Fondo
50-54: The USA’s Amy Philips powered to victory with a time of 2:27:48, ahead of Switzerland’s Jutta Stienen and Italy’s Michela Gorini.
55-59: Belgium’s Annick Van Leuven showed her craft to win from a reduced bunch in the final 100 metres, taking gold just ahead of Germany’s Ina Pfuhler and Ireland’s Julie Rea.
60-64: Luxembourg’s Suzie Godart took victory ahead of the USA’s Lillian Pfluke and Denmark’s Marianne Hesselbjerg Hald.
65-69: Great Britain’s Linda Dewhurst edged the defending champion, French icon Jeannie Longo, with Kathryn Churchill completing the British triumph.
70-74: The USA’s Vanessa Cooney opened a gap of 1’37’’ to France’s Gisèle Thureau, with Australia’s Mary Cullen taking bronze.
Men’s Gran Fondo
19-34: Belgian Lars Van Coppenolle powered to a spectacular solo victory, 14’’ ahead of Italy’s Matteo Cigala and Switzerland’s Matthias Studer.
35-39: in a tight finale, Poland’s Wojciech Sczepanik got the better of Belgium’s Fabio Porco and Austria’s Stefan Kirchmair, the winner in last year’s 19-34 category.
40-44: former professional Johnny Hoogerland (NED) re-claimed the UCI World Champion title he previously won in 2021. Denmark’s Jeppe Heinfelt Tolbøll and Belgium’s Carlo Porco joined him on the podium.
45-49: Norway’s Jone Ellingsen dominated a two-man sprint against Portugal’s Carlos Brito, with Belgium’s Peter Verstraete a close 3rd.
50-54: Kazakhstan's icon Alexandr Vinokurov showed his power and experience to take gold ahead of Spain’s Raul Patiño and Poland’s Adrian Jach.
55-59: Germany’s Michael Schaeffer retained his UCI World Champion title with a narrow victory ahead of Belgium’s Lieven Van de Perre and Canada’s Pascal Hervé.
Women Gran Fondo
19-34: Emily Proud didn’t fumble when she sprinted to victory for Team GB ahead of Ireland’s Marine Lenehan and Canada’s Michelle Gagnon after an intense finale.
35-39: Wies De Jong brought victory to the Netherlands as she got the better of Belgium’s Kim Knaeps and Slovenia’s Petra Pasar in a small group that put more than 3 minutes to the rest of the field.
40-44: Great Britain’s Mary Wilkinson took glory in impressive fashion as she set the best female time on the Gran Fondo to win ahead of Switzerland’s Claudia Sutter and Slovenia’s Lina Cepak.
45-49: Belgium’s Ils Van der Moeren showed her dominance, with only Canada’s Esta Bovill (2nd) able to match her pace. Great Britain’s Helen Jackson took bronze 3’13’’ further back.
Action in the UCI Gran Fondo World Championships will continue on Monday with the individual time trials in Dundee & Angus.