With a record breaking 7000 mixed surface cyclists, Gran Fondo Strade Bianche rolled out from the Italian Medici Fortress on Sunday morning, with Diego Frignani and Marine Lenehan emerging as champions after 138km of racing on the white gravel roads of Tuscany.

28 year-old former Italian pro Diego Frignani (Argon 18 Hicari) won a rare finishing group sprint into Piazza del Campo to claim the overall title in 3:41:58, followed by closely by Federico Pozzetto (Mg.k.Vis) and Giovanni Loiscio (Autoricambi Marrone).

For the women it was the 2023 UEC European Gran Fondo Champion Marine Lenehan (Dan Morissey) who stood tall for the Irish on the podium after 4:07:39 of racing. Closed behind her were Annalisa Prato (Om.CC) and the Slovenian Laura Simenc (De Rosa Santini).

In this year’s 87km medio fondo, Alessia Bortoli (Vibrata Bike 2005) and Paolo Ciavatta (Team Go Fast) won for the women and men respectively.

Although the weather was pleasant and the roads dry, not everyone had a good day. 63 year-old local politician Marco Massari, who is campaigning to be mayor of the Reggio Emilia region, crashed, broke a leg and was transported to hospital for surgery.

Complete Gran Fondo Strade Bianche results HERE.

Photo Credit: Facebook/GFStradeBianche

© 2019-2024 All Rights Reserved Gran Fondo Daily