Zein and Basim fastest at the 2nd edition of the UCI GranFondo Jordan 2024

Opening up the 2024 qualifying season for the 2024 UCI Gran Fondo World Series this week, the UCI GranFondo Jordan included a flat 19.3 km time trial and hilly 73.8 km Gran Fondo with stunning views of the Dead Sea

The inaugural time trial on Thursday followed a challenging 19.3km back-and-forth loop, commencing from Prince Hussein Bin Abdullah Park just north of the Dead Sea. With a course featuring 120m of elevation, participants were faced with rigorous start to the competition.

On Friday and Saturday, riders raced demanding routes that began below sea level at the Dead Sea and climbed to a peak elevation of 850m. Friday’s 73.8km course, traversed in a clockwise direction, offered a unique challenge, while Saturday’s 76.5km race was mainly done in the opposite way, ascending the Mount Panorama road with breathtaking vistas of the Dead Sea. Both days presented around 1,500m of climbing.

Despite a relatively small peloton, the event attracted participants from 20 different nationalities, contributing to the international flair of the UCI Gran Fondo Jordan Dead Sea.

In the men's race, Majid Basim won the men's time trial in the U34 category and went on to win stage 2 in his age group and came second on stage 3 behind Mohammad Mayyas (Tareef - ECC). The pair tied on the KOM climb of Mount Panorama road. Basim's win in the time trial and second stage was enough to take the overall GC.

In the women's race, Tamara Zein won all 3 stages and the QOM award with only Rawan Naji, Roisin Thomas and Audrey Truchi providing any real competition.

Riders finishing in the top 25% of their age/gender category automatically qualified to compete in the 2024 UCI Gran Fondo World Championship Time Trial in Denmark next August.

2024 UCI GranFondo Jordan General Classification Male Top 10

1 Majid Basim 141 Tareef - ECC 05:24:59
2 Mohammad Mayyas 145 Tareef - ECC 05:30:41
3 Antonius Sturmans 137 Hirondelle 05:43:36
4 Aleksandr Sivov 327 INEX Team 05:51:08
5 Christiaan Beyers 613 05:54:43
6 Mo’men Al Rejjal 143 Tareef - ECC 05:56:01
7 Omar Al Khairy 139 Tareef - ECC 06:00:42
8 Aleksandr Grazhdankin 328 INEX Club 06:04:12
9 Cahir O'Higgins 402 Orwell Wheelers 06:07:25
10 Robin McGowan 609 Wolfis Racing Team 06:18:54