With over 1400 participants from 27 countries attending the first edition of Millars Gran Fondo in Spain on Sunday the 2024 UCI Gran Fondo World Championship qualifying race was deemed a huge success. Taking top honors on the demanding 179km route with almost 3000 meters of climbing were Tomas Lapoutre of Belgium and Ana Isabel Nieto of Spain.

26 year-old Tomas Lapoutre pulled on a champion’s rainbow accented jersey and qualified for the world championships by winning a four-up final sprint to the finish in 4:56:08, followed by Emmanuel Cognet (4:56:09), Pieter Frolichs (4:56:10) and Lars van Coppenolle (4:56:12). Former UCI Gran Fondo World Champions Alexander Steffans and Maxim Pirard finished in 11th and 12th place respectively, both over seven minutes behind the lead riders.

Ana Isabel Nieto earned victory, a champion’s jersey and a front row starting position for the world championships by finishing the women’s race solo in 5:22:54, followed by Maaike de Vries (5:26:39) Kim Knaeps (4:37:33) and Hanna Tamoudi (5:45:13).

Riders winning their age/gender category were also awarded rainbow accented jerseys, with all riders finishing in the top 25% of their category automatically qualify to participate in the upcoming UCI Gran Fondo World Championships in Denmark.

Unfortunately, during the race a 60 year-old rider was severely injured in a crash at the 60km mark and transported by emergency services to hospital in Port de Sagunt with head trauma and back injuries. At press time their name and condition was not available.

Complete Millars Gran Fondo results HERE.

Photo Credit: Facebook/millarsgranfondo

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