Frignani and Lenehan fastest at the 2024 Gran Fondo Strade Bianche Enel
Italian Diego Frignani and Irish women Marine Lenehan emerged as champions from 7,000 riders after 138km of racing on the white gravel roads of Tuscany, the day after the Professionals
Last weekend Tadej Pogacar dominated Strade Bianche, with a show of force that demonstrated the Slovenian is in form to go for the Giro - Tour double this year.
World Champion Lotte Kopecky (
The day after it was the turn of approximately 7,000 amateur cyclists, luckily the weather was pleasant and dry. Thousands of amateur riders took the start of the Gran Fondo Strade Bianche Enel. Organised by RCS Active Team, the mass participation ride had a field that was 60% from Italy and 40% from abroad.
The most represented nations (excluding Italy of course) with over 300 participants, were Belgium, Great Britain and Holland. Among the countries represented at the start-line were also New Zealand, Lebanon, Brazil, Sri Lanka, Iceland, Australia and India.
Billed as ‘Europe’s most southerly northern classic’, the Gran Fondo covered the same gravel roads tackled by the elite riders. The start was in Fortezza Medicea (Medici Fortress) and the arrival arch located in the iconic setting of Piazza del Campo in Siena.
Riders chose between the long 138.5km Gran Fondo (2,000m of climbing and 9 gravel sections) or the shorter 87km Medio Fondo (1,350m of climbing and 6 gravel sections).
RCS Active Team stated, "The excellent numbers testify how the Gran Fondo Strade Bianche Enel has now established itself as one of the favourite amateur events in Italy as well as in the whole world." The Gran Fondo has an array of sponsors, including Enel as presenting sponsor, and Bianchi, Crédit Agricole, KASK, KOO Eyewear, Sportful and Velux as main sponsors.
Former Italian professional Diego Frignani (Argon 18 Hicari) won the final uphill sprint up the punishing slopes of Via Santa Caterina into Piazza del Campo in the men's race to win in a time of 3h 41m 58s, with Federico Pozzetto (Mg.k.Vis) in second and Giovanni Loiscio (Autoricambi Marrone) in third place.
Photo: Diego Frignani (Argon 18 Hicari) won the final uphill sprint into Piazza del Campo in the men's race with Federico Pozzetto (Mg.k.Vis) in second and Giovanni Loiscio (Autoricambi Marrone) in third
Ireland's Marine Lenehan (Dan Morrissey-Primór by Pissei), current European Gran Fondo champion, took the victory into Siena in a time of 4h 7m 39s. She was among the leading women's group throughout the race. On the challenging slopes up of Via Santa Caterina, she attacked her breakaway companions to take first place.
Photo: Ireland's Marine Lenehan (Dan Morrissey-Primór by Pissei), current European Gran Fondo champion, took the victory into Siena.
Italian rider Annalisia Prato (Om.cc) finished 2nd and Slovenian Laura Simenc (Team De Rossa Santini) finished third from the breakway group.
In the 87km Medio Fondo, Alessia Bortoli (Vibrata Bike 2005) won the men's race and Paolo Ciavatta (Team Go Fast) won the women's race.
The Italians dominated the top 10 places in both the men's and women's Gran Fondo, with Belgium, the Netherlands, Ireland and Slovakia also represented.
Make sure you add the Gran Fondo Strade Bianche to your Bucket List next year - you won't regret it!
2024 Gran Fondo Strade Bianche Men's Top 10
1 FRIGNANI DIEGO ITA, ASD ARGON 18 HICARI TEAM MAX - ELMT 1 3:41:58
2 POZZETTO FEDERICO ITA, MG.K VIS-PROMOTECH - M1 2 3:41:59
3 LOISCIO GIOVANNI ITA, ASD AUTORICAMBI MARRONE - ELMT 3 3:42:00
4 CADDEO MANUELE ITA, OM.CC 1 M2 4 3:42:05
5 BONGIORNO FRANCESCO MANUEL ITA, FMB CYCLING TEAM ASD 1 M1 5 3:42:18
6 HAVIK PIOTR NED, CLASSIFIED FACTORY TEAM 2 M1 6 3:42:42
7 CELANO DANILO ITA 2 M2 7 3:42:51
8 RINALDI MARCO ITA, PIGARELLA MULSTISPORT ASD 3 M1 8 3:43:04
9 GROSEMANS DAAN BEL, INDIVIDUAL 1 ELMT 9 3:43:33
10 MICHIELETTO RICCARDO ITA, ASD ZEROTEST 4 M1 10 3:43:33
2024 Gran Fondo Strade Bianche Women's Top 10
1 LENEHAN MARINE IRL, TEAM DAN MORRISSEY - PRIMOR BY PISSEI - WA 149 4:07:39
2 PRATO ANNALISA ITA, OM.CC - WA 151 4:08:00
3 SIMENC LAURA SLO, TEAM DE ROSA SANTINI - WB 152 4:08:04
4 GIUDICI LORETTA ITA, ANAGNICICLISMO 1 WC 296 4:20:49
5 GAGNON MICHELLE BEL 1 WA 353 4:24:35
6 BERTONE IRIDE ITA, ROERO SPEED BIKE 1 WB 376 4:25:37
7 MORELLI CHIARA ITA, TESSERA GIORNALIERA 2 WA 396 4:26:54
8 TER BEEK MIMI NED, BEAT CYCLING CLUB 2 WC 451 4:30:26
9 GENGA BARBARA ITA, MONDOBICI 3 WC 625 4:39:34
10 JUTTA STIENENSUI, TESSERA GIORNALIERA 4 WC 642 4:40:23
Link to 2024 Gran Fondo Strade Bianche Results: https://www.endu.net/en/events/gran-fondo-strade-bianche2/results
Stage 3 to Oron ITT
