Taking place in Bad Dürrheim, a small town in Germany’s Black Forest, RiderMan is one of Europe’s most anticipated and competitive gran fondo stage races.  It is an annual autumn affair, attracting some of the best amateur racers in Europe who compete for individual stage victory as well as the overall general classification.

This year the 3-day/3-stage amateur event return after a 2020 pandemic pause with 550 riders taking to the start house for a 16 kilometre time trial on Friday 17 September.

On a fast undulating time trial course that twisted through the Black Forest on glass smooth asphalt, 27 year-old German Valentinn Szalay (pro-juventute.org p/b PERCY MASH) clocked the fastest time of 20:38 to pull on the yellow leaders jersey.  Cycling coach and former pro Marcel Wyss (CU WindowMaster p/b Wyss Training) was next in 21:09, while UCI Gran Fondo Vosges champion Simon Betz (MRSC Ottenbach) finished third in 21:11. 

In the Women’s category German Julia Schallau (Rose Beastmode) crossed the finish line in 23:54 to take the yellow jersey and GC lead.  Finishing just a few seconds back, Jutta Stienen (Velo 67 Racing Team) at 24:04 and Larissa Drysdale (Heerenveen) at 24:19 are within striking distance of taking the GC lead during the road stages on Saturday and Sunday.

Stage 2 on Saturday is a 121 kilometre circuit with 2990 metres of vertical gain, with the final stage on Sunday a 100 kilometre course including 1006 metres of vertical gain. 

PHOTOS: RiderMan

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