Riders converged on the historic Italian walls of L’Aquila for the latest edition of the Gran Fondo Città dell’Aquila on Sunday 13 September, a demanding amateur classic that sends competitors climbing toward the Gran Sasso massif before looping back through the Abruzzo highlands. The event, part of the Volchem Circuit, offered both a Granfondo and a shorter Mediofondo option, drawing a strong field to a city serving as Italy’s Capital of Culture for 2026.
In the marquee Granfondo, Alessandro Frangioni (Team Go Fast) soloed to victory in 03:20:17, edging Matteo Zannelli by 2 seconds, with Ettore Carlini a further 2 seconds back to complete the podium. The 30-year-old from Teramo came through the UCI development ranks with Sangemini Trevigiani MG.K Vis before settling into the amateur ranks, and arrived in L’Aquila fresh off retaining his Blockhaus Marathon title in July. Sunday’s narrow winning margin marked one of his closest finishes of the season, in contrast to the commanding gap he opened at Blockhaus.
In the women’s Granfondo, Loretta Giudici (ASD Bike House Squadra Corse) controlled the race from the front, crossing in 03:41:42 to beat Elisabetta Debernardi by 24 minutes 35 seconds, with Veronica Coluccia third.
Over the shorter Mediofondo, Bruno Martelli held off a fast-closing Federico Colone by 4 seconds in 02:28:35. Sara Massarutto topped the women’s field in 02:50:56, with Andrea Mihaela Velicu 1 minute 37 seconds back and Chiara Cavacece third.
Organisers again dedicated the event to road-safety awareness, honouring the memory of local cyclist and Alpini soldier Mauro Mannuccian, who was killed by an automobile while training in 2021 — a theme that continues to shape the race’s identity beyond the results sheet.
Photo Credit: Fabrizio Amadio
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