Over 400 cyclists from across Europe rode up the historic Tremola granite cobblestones on San Gotthard Pass in Switzerland on Sunday 23 July at the 11th edition of Gran Fondo San Gotthard.

30 year-old Italian Marco Provera (Vivo MG K vis Dal Colle), who is back to racing after serving a one-year doping suspension, recorded the best times on the Tremola and two other climbs totaling 2500 vertical meters of ascent to win in 1:35:44.

Afterwards he told Radiocorsaweb.it, ”A beautiful discovery this Gotthard granfondo in which I participated for my first time. I was returning to the races after a year of stopping due to a prohibited substance contained in a healing agent that I had to take before Fausto Coppi 2021. I thank the team and all the really special people who have been close to me during this difficult time. Now until October I will be full gas again, at the start of the most important granfondos of this second part of the season.”

The Frenchman Jocelyn Verdenal (1:37:16) finished second and U23 Swiss rider Thomas Steiner Hefti (1:38:19) third.

Pascaline Doutre of France climbed to victory in 2:14:55 for the women, with fellow countrywoman Claire Guyon (2:20:46) taking the silver and the Finnish Monto Jonna (2:21:24) bronze.

Starting in Ambri, the 90 kilometers long amateur race included three classic Swiss climbs, the first and most challenging was the Tremola on San Gottardo Pass, followed by the two other climbs of Ronco and Carì. A 52km medio fondo included the first two climbs and a total of 1700m in altitude gain.

Medio fondo winners were Vince Mattens of Belgium (56:42) for the men and the Russian Ekaterina Tasheva (1:26:58) for the women.

The 12th Gran Fondo San Gotthard is planned for July 23, 2023, and will see the return of the “classic” route with climbs of the Tremola on the Gotthard Pass, Furka Pass and Nufenen Pass.

Full Gran Fondo San Gothard results HERE.

Photos: Gran Fondo San Gotthard