Returning for the 15th edition this past weekend, Granfondo International Ale La Merckx rolled out from the heart of Verona’s beautiful Piazza Bra on Sunday morning. Lining up were 1850 amateur racers from 20 different countries taking on a 129 kilometer +2600 vertical meter gran fondo or a 82km medio fondo with +1450m.

Victory for the men in the gran fondo once again went to Italian Fabio Cini (ASD Capitani Minuterie Metalliche) who attacked from a group of five riders on the ascent of the Torricelle and then defeated Enrico Filippi (Vivo-Mg.K Vis) on the final run to the finish line.

“This gran fondo was very tough,” Cini told bikenews.it afterwards. “The season has gone well so far. Two wins, two podiums, a third place at the Nove Colli. Whatever happens, in the end Sunday is always a party!”

For the women, Maria Elena Palmisano (Garda Scott Metergia) soloed to the stage win with a time of 4:08:52. Making her victory all the more impressive, she was still recovering from a serious injuries incurred in a crash two weeks ago at Gran Fondo Nove Colli. Italian champion mountain runner Camilla Magliano was next, followed by Anastasia Mazzolin.

Igor Zanetti won the medio fondo, defeating Tomas Colbrelli, brother of WorldTour pro sprinter Sonny Colbrelli, and Andrea Pontalto from a large peloton sprinting to the finish.

Complete Granfondo Ale La Merckx results HERE.

Photos: Granfondo Ale La Merckx