Che spettacolo! Under brilliant Ligurian sunshine, with the turquoise waters of the Italian Riviera shimmering in the distance, the sixth edition of the Gran Fondo Diano Marina delivered a day of cycling to please any tifoso. That is to say, this early-season race on the Italian gran fondo circuit did not disappoint.
By the time the pedaling stopped and the traditional late morning espresso had been poured, two names were etched into the history book of Diano Marina: Manuele Caddeo and Olga Cappiello.
Manuele Caddeo, the 40-year-old former Italian pro and GFNY World Champion, showcased unrivaled early season form that left rivals gasping in his wake. The proud pacesetter for Team Speed Wheel Savona covered all 103 kilometres of the gran fondo in 2:47:00, with a margin of over uno e mezzo minuti ahead the next rider – enough of a gap to celebrate with tifosi as he approached the finish.
Emanuele Labate claimed the silver position, arriving 1 minute and 33 seconds after Caddeo’s glorious arms up victory pose. Just behind, separated by only the thinnest of margins after hours of racing, Enrico Bertot rounded out the men’s podium in third.
If Caddeo’s victory was impressive, the performance of Olga Cappiello in the women’s event was something bordering on the straordinario.
The 2024 UCI Gran Fondo World Champion, wearing the colours of the renowned Italian Santini Squadra Corsa team, was simply in a class of her own on Sunday. From the moment the race began, Cappiello rode confidently, pedaling faster, smoother, and seemingly effortlessly with each kilometre. By the finish, the 62 year-old superstar had put an astonishing 9 minutes and 45 seconds between herself and her nearest challenger. Mamma mia!
Though, with a podium places still up for grabs Manuela Aruta did not give up – turning the pedals over and over to make sure she claimed second place. Stefania Bongiovanni completed the women’s podium in third, crossing the line 11 minutes and 15 seconds after Cappiello.
The race took place under una bellissima giornata di sole – a beautiful day of sunshine – the kind of perfect early-March morning that reminds cyclists why the Italian Riviera is one of the most treasured cycling venues in all of Europe. The gentle smell of the sea, the ancient olive groves clinging to hillsides, the medieval villages perched above an azure sea: this is what makes a Gran Fondo in Italy something more than a race. It is an experience. It is, as the Italians say, la dolce vita on two wheels.
Complete 2026 Gran Fondo Diano Marina results HERE
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