GranFondo World Tour ® Series steps up with an Epic Gran Canaria Stage 

Céline Schärer and Davide Rebellín new leaders of 2019 World Tour ® series

The sun and slopes of the island of Gran Canaria challenged 450 participants over 3 days. On friday a criterium followed by 75 km and 110 km stages with 3 demanding timed sections around the Maspalomas mountains in the south of the Island.

The Epic Gran Canaria became an International destination with 16 nationalities represented, and more places being made available as plans were made for the 2020 edition for international cyclists to enjoy the excellent weather for riding and training.

Davide Rebellín managed to finish second after Austrian cyclist Mathias Nothegger, who dominated the 2 mountain stages, managing to advance on the criterium winner, ex-professional Dani Moreno, the domestique of Joaquim “Purito” Rodriguez during all those years at UCI Pro Tour.

Norwegian Knut Steffensrud took third position to enter the world tour ranking.

The peloton was blessed with another ex-professional Unai Yus, a resident of Gran Canaria and winner of the previous edition.

For the women, 3 days was an exciting competition between Céline Schärer (first) and Heidi Sandsto from Norway (second) and German cyclist Katharina Voelkel who finished third, thereby completing the most international podium ever in history of the Gran Fondo World Tour ® Series!

Pro Triathlete from Switzerland Céline Schärer and the “classics” legend Pro Cyclist Davide Rebellín, entered the ranking pushing hard for final overall podium positions.

Schärer; winner of Ironman Switzerland and Davide Rebellín; who completed more than 20 grand tours as a professional and the amazing triptic of Ardenas victory on 2004, are now in lead postion.

Opening a competitive season, Stephane Cognet from Team Gran Fondo France took second position overall with a top 5 position at Gran Fondo Nice, and 2018 overall winner; Jornas Orset from Norway, third.

The women's category keeps up the momentum, taking on a new dimension at the next rounds of the De Rosa Gran Fondo Florence and Swiss event, the Cyclotour du Leman, where Céline Schärer will want to take advantage of the overall equal points situation with Italian Gran Fondo rider C. Luca. (both of them joint-first with 1,100 points on the overall ranking).

No chance to stop, as in a few days time Florence awaits for the gran fondo riders with the new challenge of the De Rosa Gran Fondo Florence on April 14th.

For more information, please visit: www.granfondoworldtour.com