Bruce Bird and Jana Bartecka fastest at Gran Fondo World Tour ® Rouvy Challenge
500 riders took on the challenging climb of the Coll de Beixalis in Andorra in the second round of the Gran Fondo World Tour ® Virtual Championship
On Tuesday April 27th, riders globally took on the challenge of climbing the Coll de Beixalis in Andorra, a 4.19 mile climb with 1,833 feet of climbing with an average gradient of 8% and a maximum gradient of 21%.
There were two heats to suit different time zones around the world.
Photo: Riders line up on the start line for the Asian Heat on the Rouvy Platform
Heat 1
The first heat 1 in Asia started at 13:30 CEST.
Previous men’s round 1 winner, Canadian Bruce Bird pulled away from the peloton almost immediately from the gun and wasn’t seen again. Bird was seen producing over and above 500 Watts or nearly 6.6 Kg/Watt power consistently.
Canadian Bruce Bird won the men’s heat in a time of 20m 27s. Behind Kenny Nijssen (Netherlands) was second, 2m 2s in arrears and Todd Ricketts (USA) was third 3m 44s in arrears.
Jana Bartecka from the Czech Republic won the women's heat ahead of Tanja Lenz (Germany) and Sabine Ladwig (Germany). Bartecka finished in an amazing sixth place overall, 4m 54s in arrears behind overall heat winner Bruce Bird.
Link to Asian heat results.
Heat 2
In the second heat in Europe started at 19:30 CEST.
The men’s race was close fought with Serbian Nikola Jovanovic fastest in a time of 21m 2s. Behind Alexander Kresovic (Switzerland) was second 13 seconds in arrears and Dominguez Carlos (Spain) third 39 secs in arrears.
In the women's heat Mehret Adugna from Ethiopia was fastest in a time of 27m 53s ahead of Terhi Ranta-Ojala (Finland) and Kate Rogers (Great Britain).
Link to European heat results.
Overall Round 2 Winners
Men’s Overall
1st Bruce Bird (Canada)
2nd Alexander Kresovic (Switzerland)
3rd Kenny Nijssen (Netherlands)
Women’s Overall
1st Jana Bartecka (Czech Republic)
2nd Mehret Adugna (Ethiopia)
3rd Tanja Lenz (Germany)
For age category winners, please visit: Asian Heat and European Heat results.
Gran Fondo Virtual World Championship®, November 8th
The next round, the Gran Fondo Virtual World Championship® finale takes place on November 8th 2021, full details of the challenge will be released shortly here on Gran Fondo Guide.
Riders who have qualified from these first two rounds have the opportunity to win $3,000 USD prize pool for the final World Champion winners, both men and women world-wide.
You will benefit with an additional FREE 15 day voucher to give you a month's worth of use on Rouvy and take your position on the start line to qualify for the Gran Fondo Virtual World Championship®.
For more information, please visit: https://www.granfondoworldtour.com
How Do I Take Part?
Click this link to register https://bit.ly/2NmkDcs and follow the instructions below.
- A Smart Trainer or Turbo Trainer, and an ANT+ or BLE power meter/speed and cadence sensor (for Turbo Trainers only)
- A bike
- A device (PC – desktop, ANDROID, iPad/ iPhone)
- A bridge/receiver for the ANT+/BLE signal (It depends on the configuration)
