On a beautiful late spring day in Estonia, cyclists from across Europe gathered in Tartu to participate in the famous Rattaralli cycling festival, with many attempting to qualify for the 2023 UCI Gran Fondo World Championships by finishing in the top 25% of their age/gender category.

In the 128 kilometer gran fondo race, 42 year-old Evaldas Stankevicius powered to victory by defeated Johan Nordlund in a fast ‘n furious two-up sprint to win in 2:55:20. Martynas Jocys was next at 2:55:38. The Lithuanian Stankevicius races for Greenmount Cycling Academy in Ireland and regularly competes in pro/elite events against riders half his age.

Daiva Ragazinskiene (Colibri Cycling) handily won the women’s category in 2:57:49, four minutes up on Birgit Tito and Carol Kuuskman.

In the 128km pro/elite race, Estonian Norman Vahtra won Tartu Rattaralli with a huge attack in the final kilometer that propelled him across the finish with a two second advantage. Swedish rider Matilda Frantzich won the women’s race.

Photo Credit: Facebook/Greenmount Cycling Academy

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