The 2024 UCI Gran Fondo World Championship Series kicked off on Sunday 27 August in Italy, with 1200 participants eager to try and earn a starting bib for the world championships taking place next September in Aalborg, Denmark.

Originally scheduled for 4 June 2023, the 51st Gran Fondo Matildica moved to August due unprecedented springtime flooding in the region. Riders finishing in the top 25% of their age/gender category automatically qualified to attend the 2024 world championships.

Luca Raggio (TEAM PIUSPORT LEVANTE) was the 165km gran fondo absolute champion. He finished solo to claim victory in 4:47:01. Danilo Celano was next at 4:48:16, followed by Patrick Facchini one second later.

Maria Elena Palmisano (GARDA SCOTT MATERGIA) won the women’s gran fondo in a photo-finish sprint against Giulia Portaluri, both credited with a final time of 5:19:10. Carlotta Uber finished third in 5:37:35.

Leonardo Viglione (SANETTI SPORT – VV.F. CUNEO) won the 129km medio fondo in 3:40:31, with Michela Giuseppina Bergozza taking the women’s title in 3:57:53.

The next qualifying event takes place 10 September at Amy’s Granfondo in Australia.

Photo Credit: GF Matildica

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