The first European event in the UCI Gran Fondo World Championship qualifying series started this weekend in Coimbra, Portugal.

More than 1500 competitors signed up, with those finishing in the top 25% of their age/gender category automatically qualifying for the world championships taking place in Australia next October.

On Saturday riders hoping to qualify for the world championship time trial raced against the clock on a flat 20.2km out-and-back route.

Finishing fastest for the men was Mens 45-49 rider Pedro Pinheiro (BUSSOLA BTT/PEIXOVAR) of Portugal who stopped the clock in 26:17. M40-44 riders Hedler Loureiro, who fell just short of victory with a time of 26:21, and Joao Viegas, at 26:54, were next.

For the women it was Dane Line Ostergaard riding in the W45-49 category who dashed to victory in 31:18, with W19-34 racer Patricia Rosa and W40-44 racer Liliana Jesus, both from Portugal, next at 32:07 and 32:13 respectively

On Sunday, a 148km gran fondo and 106km medio fondo took place on a hilly course with two category 3 and two category 4 climbs, totaling 1548 and 956m respectively.

Helder Loureiro (GRUPO PARAPEDRA/MAF/RIOMAGIC) earned the overall gran fondo win, pipping fellow Portuguese racer Martinho Saragoca on the finish line in 3:45:04. 2022 European Gran Fondo Champion Matteo Cigala was next at 3:45:21.

2024 UCI Gravel World Champion Marine Lenehan of Ireland dominated the women’s race, winning by almost 20 minutes with a time of 3:58:16 in the W19-34 category. Leah Cuthbertson from the UK finished in second place at 4:39:42 and Russian Darina Balabai took the final podium spot at 4:17:57, both competing in the W35-39 category.

Liliana Jesus (RACE SPIRIT) won the women’s medio fondo, adding a gold medal to the bronze she won in the time trial on Saturday, while Michel Machado (BRINOX CYCLING TEAM) won for the men

Complete UCI Coimbra Region Time Trial results HERE

Complete UCI Coimbra Region Fondo results HERE

Photo Credit: Eduardo Campos

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