UPDATE 1 JUNE 2024: The UCI has once again revised Schleck Gran Fondo results, apparently applying a hybrid gun/chip-timing model not in the rules and listing Stefan Kirchmair as the third named overall winner. Upon announcing the revised revised results one disgusted Facebook user voiced what many were thinking, “Sounds like all went wrong.”

The Union Cycliste Internationale (UCI) in concert with last weekend’s Schleck Gran Fondo has revised all results from the world championship qualifying race after participants complained that official published results were based on “chip-time,” rather than “gun-time,” according to Weilerverhaal.com,

Chip-time is calculated from the time a rider crosses the timing strip at the start until they cross the finish timing strip. Gun-time on the other hand assigns everyone the same starting time, regardless of how far back they start from the front end of the peloton – this is what the pros use, but pro fields are capped at 176 riders for safety.

UCI Gran Fondo World Series rules state either timing approach may be used, with events hosting very high numbers of participants (more than 176?) allowed to use chip-timing for safety.

From: ucigranfondoworldseries.com

With 3000 participants Schleck Gran Fondo is one of the largest, if not the largest, UCI Gran Fondo World Series event and safety is of paramount importance after a rider was killed last year while participating.

As is often the case within the amateur UCI Gran Fondo World Series, “rules” are loosely followed, applied and enforced by participants, organizers and officials as the events are not technically UCI sanctioned or required to follow UCI racing rules.

Even though participants consider the events “races”, gran fondos are not managed by the competitive racing division of the UCI, but are instead included within the UCI’s ”Cycling For All” division to nurture and promote everyday cycling. This is why cyclists of any age or ability may participant without need to present a racing license issued by a national cycling federation and why bikes need not comply fully with UCI technical requirements.

As noted in the link below, using gun-time significantly changed results and riders qualified to participate in the 2024 UCI Gran Fondo World Championships by finishing in the top 25% of their age/gender category.

For example, the overall Schleck Gran Fondo winner announced at the event based on chip-time was Nicolas Baiolet who completed the route in 3:27:15 after starting minutes behind the front of the peloton. Now, revised results based on gun-time show the winner as Lars van Coppenolle who completed the route almost two minutes slower than Baiolet in 3:29:24, but started on the front row without a time penalty and crossed the finish line as the first rider. Baiolet, who started well behind but caught the front of the peloton, was relegated to 16th place overall.

Revised Schleck Gran Fondo results HERE.

Photo Credit: stock

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