Tragedy strikes Schleck Granfondo as participant dies in accident
Over 3,350 cyclists rode this weekend around Mondorf-les-Bains with two Luxembourg professional cyclists, Marie Schreiber and Nina Berton taking part
Central to this year event was the Schleck Gran Fondo Village, allowing cyclists and their families to experience a host of pre and post-event activities.
The festival started with a pasta party in the evening on Friday, a fantastic opportunity for the riders to fuel up, make new friends, and exchange stories before the big day.
On the day there were Bouncy Castles, a Pump Track & Kids Bike Park. The kids had a chance to try their hand at cycling and maybe even start dreaming of participating in future editions of the Schleck Gran Fondo!
There were a variety of shops for cycling gear, merchandise, and more. A range of food and drink options available throughout the event. There's nothing like a good meal and refreshing drinks to recharge after a thrilling race.
980 cyclists chose to ride the 86km Medio Fondo with 894m of climbing and 2,385 cyclists taking part in the 155km Gran Fondo with 1,865m of climbing. There was also a team event consisting of 5 riders with the quickest overall combined time of a team announced the winner.
Each year, Elco gathers a team of passionate cyclists to take on the thrilling routes and challenging climbs of the Schleck Gran Fondo in our Team Challenge. Their dedication is a true testament to their love for the sport and their commitment to the community, once again showing their unwavering support and renewing their partnership with the Schleck Gran Fondo!
Team Bouchiere Traiter Niessen was fastest in a combined time of 12h 31m ahead of Team Elco (12h 42m) and Beat GranfondoTeam in third (12h 58m).
In the Medio Fondo, Belgians Niels VREYS (RF-Racing) and Mats BERNS were fastest in a time of 2h 11m 5s just ahead of Frenchman Noa BERTON (CT ATERTDAUL) same time.
In the women's Medio Fondo, Nina BERTON was fastest in a time of 2h 14m 43s ahead of Maaike DE VRIES (2h 14m 44s) and Inez VAN HULSEN (2h 16m 24s).
Gran Fondo results pending due to accident below.
The Schleck Gran Fondo is a qualifier for the 2023 UCI Gran Fondo World Championships. The event allows competitors finishing in the top 25% of their age/gender category to qualify for the UCI Gran Fondo World Championships taking place next August in Scotland.
Link to 2023 Schleck Gran Fondo Results: https://www.acn-timing.com/?lng=FR#/events/2153938983859051/ctx/20230603_schleck/cms/CA
2023 photographs will be online at: https://www.sportograf.com/en/event/9799
Participant Passes Away in Tragic Accident
A 73-year-old cyclist died after a crash during Schleck Gran Fondo. According to several local sources, the cycling race came to a halt following a fatal accident.
The incident occurred around 12.20pm during the race, which was taking place in the eastern part of the country. The victim, a 73-year-old Belgian cyclist, suffered a serious fall that resulted in severe injuries.
Reports suggest a participant in the Medio Fondo crashed into a house on a descent. Eyewitnesses reported that the race came to a halt approximately 25 kilometres away from the finish line, in close proximity to the town of Canach.
Despite the swift arrival of emergency services and immediate medical attention, the cyclist passed away at the scene.
It was decided to ride to the finish in neutralized form. The final intermediate times will count as results.
The public prosecutor's office has been notified, and an investigation into the circumstances of the accident has been initiated. In order to facilitate the intervention of emergency services, the affected road was temporarily closed.
The organizers of the Schleck Granfondo moved quickly to deal with the accident and released the following statement, "It is with deep sadness and great emotion that we announce that a serious accident occurred during the 2023 edition of the Schleck Gran Fondo. One of our participants tragically lost their life during this event."
"First and foremost, we would like to express our most sincere and deepest condolences to the family, friends, and loved ones of the deceased rider. Our hearts are with them in these moments of indescribable pain. The family was notified and taken care of immediately after the accident by the event organizers."
"The accident occurred despite all the safety measures we had put in place to ensure the protection of all participants. We are fully committed to understanding how this tragic accident could have occurred."
"This is a dark day for the Schleck Gran Fondo and the entire cycling community. We are all united in mourning this passionate and dedicated rider."
"Out of respect for the family, we will not divulge further details about the participant’s identity. We ask everyone to respect the privacy of the family during this extremely difficult time."
Our sincere condolences to the rider, friends and family. RIP.
