The 44th Maraton Franja BTC City race in Llubljana, Slovenia started with over 3000 riders trying to qualify for the 2025 UCI Gran Fondo World Championships on Sunday morning.

On a flat ‘n fast 156 kilometer long route Italian Igor Zanetti (NEW MOLINI DOLO-NMD) and Lina Cepak (SANTINI SQUADRA CORSE) of Slovenia used their power and fast-twitch muscles to sprinted to victory.

Zanetti impressively won in 3:34:46 from a large 20 rider pack making a mad dash to the line in the final meters. Last year’s winner Federico Pozzetto (MG.K VIS-OLMO-PROMOTECH) was runner-up and Matic Groselj (A2U BIKES) third.

From a five rider break, Lina Cepak also sprinted to victory in another photo finish, defeating teammate Petra Pasar (SANTINI SQUADRA CORSE) and Vesna Alegro Baznik (KOLESARSKO DRUŠTVO SPRINT).

Manuel Fedele (NEW LIMITS MONTURANESE) won the 97 kilometer medio fondo in 2:19:34, with Bedene Kralj Pia (KK IZVIR VIPAVA) the fastest woman at 2:25:17.

Riders finishing in the top 25% of their UCI age/gender category qualify for next October’s UCI Gran Fondo World Championships taking place in Australia.

Complete Maraton Franja results HERE

Photo Credit: Facebook/MaratonFranjaBTCCity

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