While Tour de France pros struggled to race in almost unbearable heat in Italy this past weekend, 2200 amateur cyclists halfway around the world in Brasil struggled through cold rain and wind at the 4th Tour de France L’Etape Rio gran fondo race.

On a slick 102km completely closed road gran fondo route, Daniel Filgueiras Mendes out sprinted Thales Fernando Areias Ribeiro and Guilherme Lino to win and take home the yellow men’s champion jersey with a final time of 2:36:14. Marina Boité, riding on her familiar training roads, won the women’s yellow jersey with a time of 2:51:46, immediately followed by Carla Guttilla and Ligia Rolim.

“It makes a lot of difference to know the route. Especially in the rain, in the descents and in the curves,” Boite told WebVenture news afterwards. “You pass by the places, remember the training and think, I’ve already suffered here, I’ll put up with it. It was super challenging, I was optimistic. Listening to the screams of the fans [and] friends gave me a few extra watts to get to the end and win”.

The 59km medio fondo was won William Clementino (1:40:31) for the men and Claudia Couri (1:54:37) for the women.

The 5th edition of L’Etape Rio is planned for Sunday 29 June 2025 on the same 102 and 59 km routes in Rio de Janeiro, Brasil.

Complete L’Etape Rio results HERE.

Photo Credit: Instagram/letapebrasil

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