2026 UEC Granfondo European Championships Results: Michela Gorini and Giovanni Loiscio take Victory

The 2026 UEC Granfondo European Championships brought a record-breaking weekend of racing to Varese, confirming the explosive growth of amateur championship cycling across Europe.

More than 5,227 riders registered across the individual time trial and granfondo competitions, almost doubling last year’s participation and cementing Tre Valli Varesine as one of the continent’s flagship endurance events.

Riders began arriving days in advance for Saturday’s sold-out Individual Time Trial, where 500 competitors tackled a demanding 22-kilometre out-and-back course with 220 metres of climbing. The ascent toward Ganna, the highest point on the route, forced riders to pace their efforts carefully before launching into a fast, technical return to Varese. Of the 500 starters, 370 held full annual licences and competed for European titles in their respective age-group categories.

Sunday’s Granfondo and Mediofondo events delivered the true spectacle. From 09:00, age-group waves rolled out at four-minute intervals, sending riders into the rolling terrain around Lake Varese and the Lombardy hills. The Granfondo, at 126 kilometres with 2,120 metres of climbing, served as the official European Championships distance for men 19–59 and women 19–49, while the 101-kilometre Mediofondo with 1,610 metres of elevation gain was contested by the older categories.

The 2026 UEC Granfondo European Championships brought a record-breaking weekend of racing to Varese

The Granfondo men’s race produced a fierce battle from the start, with a large front group staying intact over the early climbs before the decisive accelerations came on the final ramps into Varese. Giovanni Loiscio timed his effort perfectly, powering clear to take the European title in 3:11:06, just ahead of Lucio Pierantozzi and Luca Cavallo, who completed an all-Italian podium separated by mere seconds. Loiscio also claimed the M19–34 category win, while Patrick Facchini topped M35–39, Julien Antomarchi won M40–44, Igor Zanetti secured M45–49, Paolo Calabria took M50–54, Sandro Vitali dominated M60–64, and Frank Nijssen claimed M65–69.

The women’s Granfondo delivered one of the most dramatic finishes in event history. Michela Gorini produced a commanding ride, attacking early and holding her advantage all the way to the line to win the European title in 2:53:45. Behind her, Jutta Stienen and Anna Cadorin fought out a tight sprint for the remaining podium places. Cadorin also claimed the W19–34 category win, with Kelly Sichi taking W35–39, Oriana Maria Marelli winning W40–44, Eleonora Calvi di Coenzo topping W45–49, Gorini herself winning W50–54, Marijke De Smedt taking W55–59, Olga Cappiello winning W60–64, and Jeannie Longo adding yet another title in W65–69.

The Mediofondo championships delivered equally intense racing. Francesco Pirro claimed the men’s win in 2:35:16 after a blistering three-way fight with Matteo Foppiano and Emanuele Labate.

In the women’s race, Michela Gorini delivered a second dominant performance of the weekend, winning the Mediofondo title in 2:53:45, more than six minutes ahead of Jutta Stienen and Anna Cadorin.

With record participation, sold-out time trial entries, and fiercely contested championship racing across every age group, the 2026 UEC Granfondo European Championships marked a milestone moment for amateur cycling. Varese once again proved itself as one of Europe’s premier granfondo destinations, setting the stage for an even bigger build-up toward the 2027 UCI Gran Fondo World Championships in Haute-Savoie.

2026 UEC Granfondo European Championships Results Top 10 Men

1. Giovanni Loiscio (ITA) – TEAM ERACLE – 3:11:06

2. Lucio Pierantozzi (ITA) – TEAM DA-TOR / ISB – 3:11:07

3. Luca Cavallo (ITA) – OM.CC – 3:11:08

4. Vince Mattens (BEL) – RCS TEAM – 3:11:13

5. Alex Raimondi (ITA) – TEAM BCP BIKE A.S.D. – 3:11:40

6. Simone Impellizzeri (ITA) – TEAM DA-TOR / ISB – 3:12:48

7. Simon Combes (FRA) – SPRINTERS PISTARDS ECKBOLSHEIM – 3:12:50

8. Alessandro Frangioni (ITA) – TEAM GO FAST – 3:12:52

9. Patrick Facchini (ITA) – TEAM BIEMME GARDA SPORT – 3:13:13

10. Alberto Nardin (ITA) – MG.K VIS-PROMOTECH-FMB – 3:13:23

2026 UEC Granfondo European Championships Results Top 10 Women