VIDEO: Behind the scenes at the 2023 UCI Cycling World Championships
Take a behind the scenes look on the Gran Fondo at the 2023 UCI Cycling World Championships and the incredible amateur athletes from around the world who participated including 80 year old James McDonald from Williamsburg, USA.
The second day of the UCI Cycling World Championships saw the UCI Gran Fondo races take place. Over 1,878 riders from 68 different countries battled it out in their age group categories for one of the 20 gold medals and coveted Rainbow Jerseys.
Age category starts were given with five minute intervals, with the Medio Fondo starting first at 10.00am in the morning. The 87km Medio Fondo course incluided all women over 50 and men over 60 with 807m of elevation, finishing in Scone Palace, just outside Perth.
The 159km Gran Fondo categories started with 5 minutes intervals after the Medio Fondo. The 1,927m of climbing on course was mainly in the middle section through the Scottish Highlands with three 5-7km climbs before coming back to Perth on flatter roads. 1,878 riders registered for the road races amongst which UCI president David Lappartient, but also former pro riders as Jeannie Longo (defending world champion in both time trial and road racing in her category), Mario Cipollini and Alexander Vinokurov. The 68 different nationalities at the start mades this the most international UCI Gran Fondo World Championships ever.