2017 UCI Gran Fondo World Championship Results

UCI Gran Fondo world championship in Albi, France near Toulouse culminated with the Road races after the opening Time Trials 

At 8.30am in the morning, the 19-34 men's age category set off on the 155km challenging, beautful course that featured some climbing at the halfway point. With three kilometers to go, three riders attadked, Bjorn De Decker (BEL) who outsprinted time trial World Champion Matej Lovse (SLO) for victory. Maxim Pirard (BEL) finished in third.

The 35-39 men's age category , leaving 7 minutes later, saw Jean Marc Maurin (FRA) crowned the new World Champion, ahead of Carlos Gomez (POR) and another Frenchmen Fabien Fraissignes (FRA).

In the 45 to 49-year-old men's age category, 2014 world champion Canadian Bruce Bird and organizer of the Canadian qualifier in the Blue Mountains in Canada, attacked after 35 kms with 2015 world champion Dan Martin, but he was left behind with a mechanical problem, so Bruce solod alone, 1m 49 secs ahead of David Rowlands (NZL) and Marc Faure (FRA), who completed the podium.

In the M50-54 men's age group Pascal Montier (FRA) was another French World champion finshing before his compatriot Jean-Michel Chemin and the Irish ITT world champion Gregory Swinnand.

In the M55-59 men's age group, Frenchman Alain Ignace and René Taillander also delivered France two highest podium steps while ex professional rider Stephano Collagé finished in third to complete the podium

Krister Bergstrom (SWE) outsprinted Yves Vitalis (FRA) and Mikalai Baklanau (BLR) from a big bunch sprint of 30 riders to take gold on the shorter 97km course.

In the Men 65-69 men's age group, Rudolf Sluyts (BEL) attacked on the last climb of the day to take more than a minute to finally win with 36 seconds to Guy Fulcrand (FRA) and Gijs Nederlof (HOL) 

Pierre Moreau beat Michael Holmes and Christian Gibelin (FRA) in a 5 men sprint for victory in the 70-74 age group while Richard Barville (AUS) can be proud to be crowned the first 75+ world champion a few minutes ahead of John Ginley (GBR) and Edmund Spurgeon (GBR). 

The women left in three start groups on the shorter 97km course.

Emily Rodger (CAN) won the orad race, she already finished in third in the time trial on Thursday and took the time trial title in Perth last year. She outsprinted a large group of some 15 riders with Marta Gogolewska (POL) and Stephanie Baud (FRA) completing the podium.

Sophie Evrard (FRA) delivered France another gold in the same sprint that decided the F19-34. A second world title for her after Denmark in 2015. Therese Hoebanckx (FRA) and Bronwyn MacGregor (NZL) took silver and bronze to complete the podium.

Italian Simona Parenta put in a long solo attack to win the F40-44. The world champion for the past two years, Astrid Schartmuller (GER) came second more than 4 minutes ahead of Stephanie Gros (FRA), who lost more than 6 minutes.

Florence Nacio Casalies (FRA) who stayed together with Schartmuller took  gold in the F45-49. Iban Bohe from Denmark and Kristin Falck from Norway were the fastest of from the group behind to complete the F45-49 podium.

Anna Svardstrom (SWE) was the fastest from all women over 50. She was almost a minute ahead of two Italian ladies with Olga Cappiello in second and Milena Felici in third.

Claudia Carceroni de Carvahlo (FRA) made the home crowd cheer as she took the title in her own city of Albi. Lynne Anderson (USA) and Anita Serafini (SWI) completed the podium.

Anne-Marie Miller (USA) renewed on eof her many titles from previous years at the Gran Fondo World Championships. She skipped the past two years after an accident and a long recovery. She proved to be back, beating Nadine Niemerich (FRA) and Meriel Custance (AUS).

The oldest female age group with riders above 65 was for Julia Emblin (AUS). Another title after South Africa 2012 and Perth last year. Gaye Lynn (AUS) took silver and time trial champion Sharon Prutton (NZL) bronze.

Full Road Race results: http://www.ats-sport.com/index.php?file=resultats

Full Time Trial results  http://albi2017cycling.eu/Resultats-complets_CLM