Riders in the lead group at Granfondo Tre Valli Varese in Italy on Sunday went off course in the last kilometer and missed their chance at victory.

At the end of the men’s medio fondo as riders jockeyed for position and tightened shoes in preparation for a furious sprint, the front group made a critical error, riding off course. They ended up on a lane parallel to the finish, were forced to dismount and climb over barriers just find the finish line.

To avoid more finish line chaos, organizers quickly adjusted course barriers and signage for the remaining 3000+ riders trying to qualify for the 2025 UCI Gran Fondo World Championships.

Although race officials eventually neutralized the men’s medio fondo to appease the rouge racers, no winner was declared.

Dalila Sasso (PINK WAVE) did stay on course at the finish to earn her second in a row Tre Valli Varese women’s medio fondo victory. She finished in 2:56:17, with Luisa Isonni next at 2:58:35 and Sarah Palfrader at 2:58:57.

On the gran fondo course it was recently crowned 2024 UCI Gran Fondo World Champion Mattia Gaffuri (SWATT CLUB) who soloed to victory in 3:12:13, with Giovanni Loiscio and Jordy Vermuelen taking the final podium spots in 3:13:32 and 3:14:00 respectively.

Francesca Tommasi (GARDA SCOTT MATERGIA) won the women’s gran fondo in 3:47:34 by outsprinting Roberta Bussone at the finish. Giuli Medri was third in 3:50:58.

UCI Gran Fondo World Championship Time Trial qualifying took place on Saturday, with Germans Dennis Biederer (COUP CYCLE GÖPPINGEN) and Laura Tibitanzl (CT RHEIN-MAIN RÖDERMARK) fastest on the 22.2km out-and-back course. Biederer stopped the clock in 27:47 for the men, with Tibitanzl doing the same for the women in 32:00.

Riders finishing in the top 25% of their UCI age/gender category in the gran fondo, medio fondo or time trail qualified to participate in the 2025 UCI Gran Fondo World Championships in Australia next October.

Tre Valli Varesine Time Trial results HERE

Tre Valli Varesine Gran Fondo results HERE

Photo Credit: Instagram/varesenews

© 2019-2024 All Rights Reserved Gran Fondo Daily