UCI Gran Fondo Tre Valli Varesine Sends 3,000 riders toward 2026 UCI Gran Fondo World Championships

Last weekend, Varese hosted the 9th edition of the Gran Fondo Tre Valli Varesine, drawing 3,000 amateur riders and offering top performers the chance to qualify for the August 2026 UCI Gran Fondo World Championships in Niseko, Japan

Riders who finished inside the top 25% of their age and gender categories earned automatic qualification, turning the event into a high-stakes selection race as well as a celebration of mass-participation cycling.

The action began Saturday with a fast 22 km time trial that showcased explosive speed and precise pacing. Reigning UCI Gran Fondo Time Trial World Champion Guillaume Seye (CIBEL - CEBON) of Belgium claimed the men’s title, posting a blistering 27:22 and averaging 48 km/h. Seye beat Dennis Biederer, who recorded 27:47, and Paolo Molinaroli, who finished in 28:43. On the women’s side, Poland’s Alina Mylka (Thomus|Windomaster By WYSS Training) moved up from last year’s runner-up spot to take the win in 32:41. Lucia Lisco (34:14) and Silvia Milone (34:48) completed the women’s time trial podium.

Sunday’s alpine gran fondo delivered dramatic climbs and decisive solo moves on a demanding 126 km course. Nove Colli champion Alberto Nardin (Team BCP Bike), 35, dominated the men’s event, powering away to a solo victory in 3:12:51. A chase group arrived five minutes later, where Luca Cavallo, Giovanni Loiscio and Marco Rinaldi contested the remaining podium places; Loiscio took second with Rinaldi securing third. In the women’s gran fondo, 27-year-old Fausto Coppi champion Annalisa Prato (OM.CC) executed a strong and steady race to take the win in 3:50:54. Maria Elena Palmisano (3:51:21) and Francesca Tommasi (3:55:09) rounded out the podium, underscoring the depth of Italian women’s amateur racing.

The shorter 101 km medio fondo also produced standout performances from domestic contenders. Gianluca Braghetto (NMD-New Molini Dolo) crossed the line first in the men’s medio fondo in 2:40:37, while Michela Gorini (Santini Squadra Course) topped the women’s medio fondo in 3:02:05. Across all events, hundreds of riders earned qualification slots for the 2026 UCI Gran Fondo World Championships, marking Tre Valli Varesine as a key stepping stone on the road to Niseko.

“Hosting 3,000 passionate riders and seeing so many secure their place for the world championships highlights the spirit and strength of the amateur scene,” said Event Director Marco Bertani. “From the lightning-fast time trial to the grueling alpine parcours, this weekend showcased incredible talent, determination, and camaraderie.”

The 9th Gran Fondo Tre Valli Varesine reaffirmed its role as a premier qualifying event in the international gran fondo calendar, blending elite-level performances with the grassroots enthusiasm that defines mass-start cycling. Riders and spectators now turn their focus to August 2026, where qualified athletes will compete for world titles in Niseko, Japan.

Link to 2025 UCI Tre Valli Varesine Time Trial Results: https://www.endu.net/en/events/time-trial-tre-valli-varesine/results

Link to 2025 Gran Fondo Tre Valli Varesine Results: https://www.endu.net/en/events/granfondo_tre_valli_varesine/results