The sold-out seventh edition Gran Fondo Vosges, France’s final UCI Gran Fondo World Championship qualifying race, started with 2160 riders from La Bresse high in the French Alps on Sunday, each trying to finish in the top 25% of their age/gender category to qualify and earn a coveted starting bib for the 2024 worlds.

The Belgian Bjorn De Decker, 36, earned overall victory on the 171km alpine route with 3500m of vertical ascent. The 2017 UCI Gran Fondo World Champion finished the route in 4:50:10, with a one minute margin over the French Thibaut Clement (4:51:10) and two minutes on fellow Belgian Jeroen Vercammen (4:52:11). Multiple UCI Gran Fondo World Champion Maxim Pirard was next, followed by Niels Merckx.

Vyne Van Der Schoot, 34, of Holland won the women’s race with a final time of 5:29:19, just ahead of Aurore Pauchet (5:29:26) of France. Inez Van Hulsen, also from Holland, was third at 5:42:44.

Eduardo Martinez Llarena of Spain and Elke Timperman of Belgium won the men’s and women’s 119km medio fondo, completing the route in 3:45:26 and 3:59:16.

Complete UCI Gran Fondo Vosges results HERE.

Photo Credit: Bjorn De Decker

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