UCI ISTRIA GRAN FONDO AND TIME TRIAL RESULTS

This weekend, for the second year in a row, Croatia’s Istria Gran Fondo offered amateur riders the chance to qualify for the UCI Gran Fondo World Championships. As one of the biggest mass participation events in the country, racing started along the Italian border on Friday with a time trial and concluded Saturday with fondos rolling past beautiful springtime vineyards.

Multiple UCI Gran Fondo World Champion Igor Kopse, who was banned from 2016-2020 for an anti-doping violation, clocked the fastest time trial result. The 50 year-old Slovenian finished the 21.8km race against the clock in 28:51, averaging 46.35kph. 27 year-old Tobias Eise (29:19) of Germany was second and 46 year-old Brit Matthew Smith (29:52) earned third place. The Dutch Analeen Bosma (32:52), Belgian Marijke De Smedt (33:41) and Slovenian Petra Pasar (34:38) were the fastest women.

Saturday’s 112km gran fondo saw former Italian pro Francesco Zandri, 26, sprint to victory from a large group of 15 riders finishing within two seconds of one another. He crossed under the banner in 2:56:05, followed immediately by Leopold Hans-Jorge of Austria and Italian Matteo Cigala. 2019 UCI Gran Fondo World Time Trial Champion Laura Simenc (3:10:22) won the women’s race by almost seven minutes. The Slovenian defeated Austrians Denise Zohrer (3:17:08) and Katharina Urdl (3:19:36).

After finishing second in the time trial, Marijke De Smedt returned on Saturday to win the women’s 87km medio fondo in 2:28:50, while Patrik Mikac won the men’s in 2:13:15.

Riders finishing in the top 25% of their age/gender category qualified to participate in the upcoming UCI Gran Fondo World Championships taking place in Aarlborg, Denmark next autumn.

Istria Gran Fondo and Time Trial results HERE.

Photo Credit: Facebook/IstriaGranfondo

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