A German amateur cyclist trying to qualify for the 2022 UCI Gran Fondo World Championships crashed and was seriously injured at the fifth edition of UCI Granfondo Vosges in the Hautes-Vosges region of France.

The accident occurred Sunday around 11:45 in Tholy when a German cyclist participating in the race was hit by a car at the crossroads located on Route de Noir-Rupt, not far from the Bongrain-Gérard cheese factory.

Injuries sustained by the rider required immediate helicopter ambulance evacuation to hospital, which occurred at a nearby football field where a game was temporarily suspended to facilitate the helicopter landing.

The rider, who’s name has not been released, was flown to Nancy Central Hospital where his condition is unknown at press time.

Over 2500 amateur cyclists were participating in the 178 kilometers gran fondo with 3500 meters of elevation and 122 kilometers medio fondo with 2700 meters vertical.

Loïc Ruffaut and Martha Maltha came out victorious, both soloing to victory in the gran fondo race and earning a front row starting slot at the upcoming UCI Gran Fondo World Championships in Italy. Ruffaut finished the very tough course in 4:57:19 to win for the men, while Maltha won for the women in 5:36:32.

2022 Mallorca 312 champion Olivier Godfroid finished 4th in the men’s race.

Pos Nr Nom Equipe NOC Contrôle Temps Estimation Moy. Rang Cat Q 
1.163RUFFAUT LoïcFinish4:57:19–35.9201/327M19Q
2.314WILLEMSEN StevenFinish4:59:47–35.6242/327M19Q
3.262DEVALCKENEER SiebenFinish5:00:33–35.5353/327M19Q
4.153GODFROID OlivierFinish5:01:02–35.4774/327M19Q
5.161CLEMENT ThibautFinish5:01:13–35.4555/327M19Q

In the medio fondo, Domanico Baptiste (3:37:34) won the men’s category, while Jutta Steinen (4:02:56) was the first women.

Complete Granfondo Vosges results HERE.

Photos: VM