The road to the 2027 UCI Gran Fondo World Championships in Haute-Savoie, France, opened on Sunday 13 September with Italy’s 54th Gran Fondo Matildica, one of the oldest events of its kind, first held in 1973. The race, run through the historic walled center of Reggio Emilia, served as the season’s first European qualifying stop on the UCI Gran Fondo World Series calendar, and its two overall winners arrived with contrasting but equally compelling stories.

Simone Impellizzeri (Team Da-Tor/ISB) won the 156-kilometer Granfondo in a tight bunch sprint, timed at 03:58:50, with Patrick Facchini and Andrea Pisetta credited with the same finishing time just behind him, in that order. The 25-year-old from Cernusco sul Naviglio is a former UCI Continental professional, having raced for Beltrami TSA-Tre Colli between 2022 and 2024, though his best results at that level were modest, including 13th place at GP Kranj. Since dropping back into the amateur ranks, he has quietly built toward a result like this one: third at Matildica in 2025 and third at Nove Colli in May. Sunday’s win reads less as a breakthrough than as overdue confirmation.

The women’s Granfondo went to Virginia Becchetti (A.S.D. Pedale Rosa), who rode away alone to win in 04:30:32, distancing runner-up Michela Gorini by 1 minute 10 seconds. The Siena rider was second at Matildica last year, but she is better known in Italy for a moment away from the results sheet. At March’s Strade Bianche Gran Fondo, contested in heavy rain and mud on her home roads, Becchetti finished third — and was greeted at the finish by her boyfriend, who proposed on the spot in the piazza. Sunday’s Granfondo win adds another chapter to a breakout year.

On the shorter 130-kilometer Mediofondo course, Gianluca Randazzo (Vitam-In CMF A.S.D.), a longtime fixture of the Tuscan amateur circuit, won the overall in 03:12:12, just 2 seconds ahead of Matteo Foppiano. Anna Cadorin (Team Staweld Buzzolan), a regular podium finisher across the Italian gran fondo calendar and twice a Matildica top-five finisher in previous years, finally took the win in 03:33:38, finishing 5 minutes 10 seconds clear of Giulia Bruttomesso.

As with previous editions, qualification for the 2027 Worlds is awarded to the top 25 percent of finishers in each age category, with the next opportunity at Gran Fondo Tre Valli Varesine in Varese, Italy in early October.

View Gran Fondo Matildica results HERE

Photo Credit: Asd team nuova avir

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