“Finally we’re off!” exclaimed gran fondo organiser Renato Angioi on Sunday at Gran Fondo Valtidone after months of disappointment, cancellations and postponements. With over a year of Italian gran fondo fasting now done, riders were ready for a challenging grand gran fondo with 1000’s of participants and a traditional post-ride pasta party.

“This day wants to be the great restart after a bad period that we would like to leave behind us,” Pianello Val Tidone Deputy Mayor Simone Castellini proclaimed at the start.

Part of the seven race Coppa Piemonte Cup series in the Piemonte region, Gran Fondo Valtidone started over 1000 participants who road either the 121km gran fondo or 91km medio fondo from Pianello Val Tidone.

The gran fondo race came down to a field sprint from a group of ten riders who rode away from a splintered field early on. Federico Pozzetto continued his winning ways from 2019 and sprinted to victory by a bike length over Matteo Milanesi and Marco Provera who earned the final podium steps.

Annalisa Prato showcased her strong post-pandemic fitness by finishing over 13 minutes ahead of Sabrina De Marchi and Valentina Castellino to win the Women’s race.

Alessio Gasperin (Men) and Samatha Arnaudo (Women) won the 91 kilometre medio fondo races.

Next up the the series is Granfondo Mangia e Bevi in Vercelli Monferrato on 16 May.

Complete Gran Fondo Valtidone results here.

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