International Field Assembled for the 2020 Gran Fondo World Tour ® Start, 3rd Edition of EPIC Gran Canaria
Matti Helminen and Victoria Collins, winners of third edition of EPIC Gran Canaria Riu Hotels & Resorts, becoming the series leaders of 2020 Gran Fondo World Tour®
San Bartolomé de Tirajana, Gran Canaria, Spain, 17 February 2020 — The 3rd edition of EPIC Gran Canaria Riu Hotels & Resorts crowned two new champions, in what was a truly international field with participants from over 15 countries, with 30% of the 450 participants coming from outside Spain for the two day event.
The competition was held on the most popular of Gran Canaria Islands featuring a stunningly beautiful and challenging two-day, two-stage event. Each day featured timed sections, with the times being added together for the overall classification and ranking in the Gran Fondo World Tour® series.
On the men’s side, Matti Helminen (Finland) won stage two and the overall, surging past Knut Steffensrud (Germany) and Anthony Spysschaert (Austria) who rounded out the top three.
The female podium was also an international affair with Victoria Collins (UK) followed by Italian Valeria Ciarnuto and Linda Van Vliet (Netherlands) respectively.
Helminen and Collins, with the wins on the first stop of the Gran Fondo World Tour® series, take the lead in the Gran Fondo World Tour® rankings.
Two stages, totaling 180 km and near 4000 mts of climbing, challenged the participants. Highlighted with excellent weather averaging 25 C degrees and a festival atmosphere, Gran Canaria established itself as the destination for a sensational series opening for Gran Fondo World Tour®.
The next round of the Gran Fondo World Tour® is the three stage Tour of Phuket, March 6 - 8th in Thailand.
Link to 2020 EPIC Gran Canaria Results
Link to 2020 EPIC Gran Canaria Photos