Just a few days before the start of the 2021 UCI Gran Fondo World Championships, the 2022 UCI gran fondo season got underway at UCI Tre Valli Varesine Gran Fondo in Italy, while UCI Amy’s Gran Fondo in Australia announced the event has been cancelled.

In Varese, just under 1000 riders took to the starting corrals on Sunday morning in pouring rain.  Another 900 riders did not start, opting to stay warm, dry and safe at home.  Route options to qualify for the 2022 World Championships taking place in Trento, Italy included an 82 kilometres Medio Fondo with 1300 metres of altitude difference, and 112 kilometres Gran Fondo with almost 2000 meters in altitude. 

The fastest time in the Medio Fondo was ridden by Francesco Di Bratto in 2:16:40 and among the women by Tamara Rollini in 2:41:12.  In the Gran Fondo the best time was that of Matteo Cigala in 3:11:06 after winning a 9 man sprint to the line, Michela Gorini in 3:38:31 was the fastest women.  Riders finishing in the top 25% of their age group automatically qualified for the World Championships.

Kerstin Brachtendorf had the fastest female time in the 22 kilometre time trial race, winning with an average speed of 40.1 km/h.   The fastest male was 2018 UCI Gran Fondo Time Trial World Champion Fabien Secondo with an average speed of 46.35 km/h.

UCI Amy’s Gran Fondo originally scheduled 24 October in Australia is the first 2022 UCI Gran Fondo World Championship qualifying race to be cancelled.  Currently, the entire Australian Cycling season is on lockdown hold due to COVID risk.

The complete 2022 UCI Gran Fond World Series calendar has yet to be officially released, but Gran Fondo Daily News has already confirmed some events, including the next race – UCI Gran Fondo Coimbra on 24 October in Portugal.       

PHOTOS: Tre Valli Varesine

Worldwide Gran Fondo Calendar