To say Italians love cycling is an understatement, they are passionate about the sport and that was all the more apparent at Gran Fondo Luca Avesani on Wednesday 1 May. While the rest of us were stuck at work, 766 amateurs lined up in Verona’s Piazza Bra to race in the 26th edition of the fabled event.

It was not just a mid-week group spin to the local cafe for biscotti and espresso. It was as competitive as any other event on the Italian gran fondo circuit, with 33 year-old Francesco Manuel Bongiorno (FMB CYCLING TEAM) winning the 115km gran fondo race in 3:12:55. Andrea Miotta, who won silver at the 2022 UCI Gran Fondo World Championships, finished in second place at 3:13:06, with Diego Frignani third at 3:13:15.

Emilie Bottini (TEAM MP FILTRI) won the women’s gran fondo in 3:49:21, with Paolo Rosini next at 3:56:55 and Julia Tanner at 4:03:23.

Luisa Isonni (A.S. BORARIO) won the 85km medio fondo for the women in 2:40:05, with Nicolò Tamussi (TEAM MOOVEO) first for the men in 2:21:29.

Although it was a national holiday, with an early 07:45 start most riders were done before noon and those that needed to get to work could make it in without anyone ever missing them…

Complete Gran Fondo Luca Avesani results HERE.

Photo Credit: Facebook/granfondoavesaniluca

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