19 amateur national teams competed Friday evening at the UCI Granfondo World Championships in the Team Relay race, with teams of four riders competing on a 2 kilometer circuit in the center of Le Albere District, Trento.
With drafting allowed and each team member required to complete 3 laps (6km) before handing off to the next team rider, the racing was tactical, fast and intense for crowds of spectators lining the course.
The race came down to a final sprint between the Slovenia 1 and Germany 1 teams. Slovenia 1 was fastest in the final meters to win the sprint and gold medal (non-UCI) in 41:27 for multiple Gran Fondo World Champion Laura Simenc, plus powerhouse riders Hren Ales, Dean Bratus and Bogsa Uros.
Finishing four bike lengths and one second behind the Slovenians was Germany 1, with Belgium 2 earning the final podium spot in a time of 41:58.
2022 UCI GRAN FONDO NATIONAL TEAM RELAY RESULTS
1 | SLO1 | 0:41:27 | Simenc, Ales, Bratus, Uros |
2 | GER1 | 0:41:28 | Weber, Schallau, Volbracht, Szalay |
3 | BEL2 | 0:41:58 | Smits, Vandermoeren, Claes, Bauters |
4 | ESP1 | 0:42:01 | Fernandez, Nieto, Paulano, Gago |
5 | BEL1 | 0:42:01 | Slegers, Luypaert, Van Kerkhoven, Merckx |
6 | FRA2 | 0:42:02 | Kuss, Frigiolini, Tige, Bey |
7 | CAN1 | 0:42:13 | Bovill, Pop, Bird, Martin |
8 | CZE1 | 0:42:59 | Blinka, Vodicka, Veitova, Drabek |
9 | FRA3 | 0:43:00 | Mouchard, Perroux, Rivoal, Dornier |
10 | AUT1 | 0:43:34 | Kirch, Koppensteiner, Lisko, Toniolli |
11 | SLO2 | 0:43:46 | Selan, Iskra, Jelic, Kopse |
12 | POL1 | 0:43:46 | Jach, S. Szafraniec, Wojciak, P. Szafraniec |
13 | ITA1 | 0:43:46 | Zuco, Bertani, Gorini, Basso |
14 | NOR | 0:44:09 | Rosok, Falck, Petter Skaras, Langleite |
15 | CZE2 | 0:45:39 | Baier, Rakova, Ejem, Nemecek |
16 | MGL | 0:46:53 | Gurdorj, Gavaajavm Tsedendamba, Agvaansuren |
17 | USA1 | 0:46:57 | Warren, Bishop, Hutchings, Lesher |
18 | FRA1 | 0:47:02 | L. Fosse, A. Fosse, Fresnel, Giroux |
19 | GBR1 | 0:49:51 | Thwaites, Day, Hatton, Deakin |
Photo: Ariel Wojciechowski