UCI Gran Fondo Antalya officials in Türkiye announced the post-race disqualification of cyclists Sergei Rogatkin, Mariia Petrova and Irina Tikhonovich from the UCI Gran Fondo World Championship qualifying event that took place 19 November. All three riders are Russian citizens, with Petrova and Tikhonovich teammates on Moscow based Team Impulse.

Tikhonovich, 54, was the overall winner of the women’s medio fondo, but was caught on video receiving assistance from external riders (not registered for the event), enabling her to gain an unfair advantage and win by over 4 minutes. British rider Natalie Sullivan, who finished in second place, has now been awarded the overall women’s medio fondo title.

In the gran fondo race, Petrova, 45, was also disqualified for the same violation and stripped of her women’s 45-49 year-old category win. She finished over 8 minutes ahead of Zuleyha Dikbas of Türkiye, who has now been award the victory.

Fellow Russian Sergei Rogatkin competing in the men’s 60-64 medio fondo category has also been disqualified, with officials not providing additional details.

UCI Gran Fondo Antalya posted the following on Facebook after announcing the disqualifications, “Athletes who do not comply with the race rules are disqualified. UCI Nirvana Gran Fondo Antalya has adopted and implemented the principles of fair racing.”

Photo: Gran Fondo Antalya

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