Rocha da Silva and Soares Claim Titles at UCI Gran Fondo Brasil

The southern region of Brazil hosted the only South American qualifying event for the 2026 UCI Gran Fondo World Championships on Sunday, November 9, as Gran Fondo Brasil delivered dramatic sprint finishes and strong solo rides that sealed world championship berths for many amateur cyclists.

In a thrilling photo finish, 21-year-old mountain bike rider Tales Jardel Soares edged out Leonardo Benedetti to win the 120-kilometer gran fondo in 2:43:01, claiming the men’s title by a tire width. Murilo Kozuchovski Ferreira completed the podium in 2:43:05. On the women’s side, 31-year-old Ana Carla Rocha da Silva rode solo to victory in 3:06:38, with Luiza Euzebio de Souza second in 3:09:58 and Camilla Domingos third in 3:13:03.

The medio fondo races produced their own moments of drama. In the women’s 80-kilometer medio fondo for older riders, 54-year-old Anazelia M. Caldas out-sprinted Giovana Ultramari Gau Ribeiro to win in 2:17:05; Roberta Coelho Maia took third in 2:22:31. Eduardo Santos Alonso delivered a strong solo performance to win the men’s medio fondo (age 60 category) in 2:13:30, with Marcelo Antonio Serra de Faria and Israel Nogueira de Almeida rounding out the top three in 2:17:08 and 2:18:34, respectively.

Riders who finished in the top 25% of their UCI age and gender category at Gran Fondo Brasil automatically qualified for the UCI Gran Fondo World Championships set for August 2026 in Niseko, Japan. The event served not only as a competitive battleground but also as a crucial pathway for amateur cyclists across South America seeking to represent their countries on the world stage.

“Gran Fondo Brasil showed again how deep and passionate the cycling community is here,” said event director Mariana Lopes. “We saw young talent like Tales Soares and seasoned competitors like Anazelia Caldas push through tough courses and fierce sprints. Qualifying for Niseko will be a dream come true for many of these riders, and we’re proud to have hosted the continental gateway to the 2026 World Championships.”

Organizers praised the competitive fields, well-prepared routes through the region’s varied terrain, and the support of local volunteers and medical teams that helped ensure a safe and exciting race day. With clear skies and spirited crowds lining portions of the course, the event delivered memorable racing and celebrated the endurance and tactical skill of amateur cyclists across multiple age groups.

Full official results from the 2025 UCI Gran Fondo Brasil are available online at: https://www.raceprime.com.br/resultados/#/uci-gran-fondo-world-series-brasil