The first UCI Gran Fondo World Championship Series event of 2023 kicked-off on Thursday 2 February with a time trial at Granfondo Jordan on the edge of the Dead Sea. The race was part of a 3-day amateur stage race allowing cyclists the opportunity to qualify for the 2023 world championships taking place in Scotland next August.

The dead flat 19.3 kilometers long out-and-back time trial rewarded the most powerful and aerodynamic riders with blistering fast times, and a starting bib at the world championships. Riders finishing within the top 20% of their age/gender category automatically qualified to attend the world championships.

2022 UCI Gran Fondo World Time Trial Champion, Jessica Rhodes-Jones of Great Britain, was the fastest female, clocking a time of 29:42. Former Russian pro rider Aidar Zakarin, brother of WorldTour pro Ilnur Zakarin, was the fastest male with a time of 25:27.

Over 100 riders participated in the time trial with complete results available HERE.

On Friday and Saturday riders will compete on very arduous gran fondo road courses. Friday’s is 74 kilometers in length, starting below (dead) sea level at -300 meters and peaks at 850 meters above sea level. On Saturday the route is run in reverse with an small extra loop, making the total length 81 kilometers. Both days allow riders to qualify for the UCI Gran Fondo World Championships, even though the routes are about half the distance of typical races on the UCI Gran Fondo World Championship Series calendar.

It’s the first time that Jordan has hosted a UCI Gran Fondo World Championship Series event.

Photos: Granfondo Jordan