After organizers took a one-year break to regroup and repair the beautiful mountain roads of La Fausto Coppi Gran Fondo, the amateur race roared back to life on 25 June in Cuneo, Italy. Over 2000 cyclists from 24 countries competed on 177 km gran fondo or 111 km medio fondo routes in the Alps, with Italians Luca Raggio and Samantha Arnaudo earning prized gran fondo victories.

The 28 year-old former professional Raggio (TEAM PIÙSPORT LEVANTE) dominated the mountainous race, finishing with a four minute lead over Paolo Castelnovo (twice winner of the race and three times runner-up). British rider Harold Evans finished third, nine minutes behind Raggio.

In the women’s race perennial podium standout Samantha Arnaudo (OM.CC) finished 11th overall and earned her second-in-a-row La Fausto Coppi victory in 6:17:48. The 30 year-old former professional finished twenty-five minutes ahead of Maria Elena Palmisano and Asia Balocco.

From the 111 km medio fondo Andrea Cismondi (CICLI PEPINO) won the men’s category, with Tyffen Saure (OM.CC) overcoming two crashes to win for the women.

Photo Credit: Facebook/LaFaustoCoppi

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