Homegrown Gravel Adventure, Franklin GA - February 22nd 2025
United States | Southeast | California >> Davide Busuito and Astrid Schartmueller win Gran Fondo Il Lombardia Enel

Davide Busuito and Astrid Schartmueller win Gran Fondo Il Lombardia Enel

An International peloton of 2,500 cyclists enjoyed the brutally steep slopes of Muro di Sormano, lake Como and the legendary climb up to the Madonna del Ghisallo

Reigning European Gran Fondo Champion, Italian Davide Busuito (Team De Rosa Santini) completed the 113km course in a blazing 3h 21s just ahead of Daniele Terzi and Pietro Dutto.

Photo: Reigning European Gran Fondo Champion, Italian Davide Busuito won the mens race. Credit: Il Lombardia Gran Fondo

Reigning European Gran Fondo Champion, Italian Davide Busuito won the mens race

For the women, German Astrid Schartmueller (Alpilatte B.R. Pneu Zane) was first, ahead of Italians Sonia Passuti and Gioia Chiode. Notably in fourth place was UCI Gran Fondo World Champion Luca Fioretti.

Photo: For the women, German Astrid Schartmueller was fastest Credit: Il Lombardia Gran Fondo

For the women, German Astrid Schartmueller was fastest

Cyclists battled gradients of up to 27% on the brutal climb of the Muro di Sormano, arguably one of the toughest climbs in professional cycling with an average gradient of nearly 16%.

2,500 Gran Fondo riders participated in the Gran Fondo Il Lombardia Enel on the  same roads that saw Bauke Mollema winning the Il Lombardia after a solo break to beat Alejandro Valverde and Egan Bernal.

On the 111.2km course (113.5km without the Muro di Sormano) riders faced the challenging Muro di Sormano, fantastic views of Lake Como and then the legendary climb of the Madonna del Ghisallo, before heading back to Cantù from where they had started this morning.

Photo: The legendary climb up to the Madonna del Ghisallo. Credit: Il Lombardia Gran Fondo

the legendary climb of the Madonna del Ghisallo

Close to 50% of the Gran Fondo Il Lombardia participants came from outside Italy. All five continents were represented, increasing the number of countries from 2018, including representatives from Benin, China, Cyprus, Estonia, French Polynesia, Greece, Hungary, Israel, Japan, Luxembourg and Monaco.

The event, known as the "Race of the Falling Leaves" typically marks the end of the pro racing season in Europe.

Link to results: https://www.endu.net/it/events/gran-fondo-il-lombardia/results