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Luke Katapodis, wins the gold medal in the general classification of the UCI Gran Fondo World Series Rhodes

The "Rhodes GranFondo Tour" was the first stage race European qualifier of the 2016 UCI Gran Fondo World Series and successfully completed last Sunday, April 24th in Rhodes with organizers Region N. Aegean and Sports Tours Hellas co-organized with local club Apollo Triathlon and the valuable support of the Municipality of Rhodes and DOPAR.

The "Rhodes Gran Fondo Tour" gave to the participants and their families, the chance to enjoy both the Aegean countryside whilst taking part in the event, next to the sea. After three years on Crete Island and Skyros last year, the UCI Gran Fondo World Series event moved to the beautiful Rhodes Island where three races took place over the weekend. 

The Friday was a 9.5km TT course which has to be done twice for a total distance of 19km. The course was mainly flat. On Saturday the 93km 2nd stage road race took riders in one loop around the northern part of the island with a climb towards 624m as major difficulty. Total elevation was 1190m. 

On Sunday the 3rd stage 113km race took riders from the capital city of Rhodes around a lap of 16km which had to be done 4 times before returning back to the finish in Rhodes. 

Despite an injury to his left shoulder, Luke Katapodis managed to finish second, behind Kyriakos Papastamatakis in the 3rd stage 113km race. Luke Katapodis covered the distance of 113 km 3rd stage in a time 2 hours 54 minutes, 35 seconds taking again the gold medal in the age category.

In conjunction with his first position in the Time Trial on the Friday and in the 2nd stage 95 km race on the Saturday, finished the general classification with a time of 5 hours, 51 minutes, 26 seconds. He managed to finish first in the overall individual classification and, of course, in his age category.

Second in the overall standings ranked Russian Sergey Pontstamplenik with a total time of 5 hours, 52 minutes, 3 seconds, while third ranked Iranian Brines Mochamantreza with a total time of 5 hours, 52 minutes, 53 seconds.

International participants included cyclists from the UK, Israel, Slovakia, Turkey, Romania, Malta, Australia, Germany, Belgium, Iran, Canada, Italy, Poland, France, Cyprus, the Netherlands, Denmark, Ireland, Russia, Ukraine and the United Arabic Emirates.

Overall Classification, Men:

1st   - Luke Katapodis 5 hours (Rhodes) 5 hours 51 minutes, 26 seconds
2nd - Sergey Pontstamplenik (Russia) 5 hours, 52 minutes, 3 seconds
3rd - Brines Mochamantreza (Iran) with a total time of 5 hours, 52 minutes, 53 seconds

Overall Classification, Women:

1st - Marie Claire Akouilina (Malta)

3rd Stage Rhodes - 113km, Men

19- 34 Kyriacos Papastamatakis (Rhodes)
35-39 years: Etienne Bonelo (Malta)
40-44 years: BRINES Mochamantreza (Iran)
45-49 years: Luke Katapodis (Rhodes)
50-54 years: George Ginis (Rhodes)
55-59: Boutsiech Bartolefski (Poland)
60-64: Pantelis Manikaros (Rhodes)
65+ years: Robin Schumann (Australia)

3rd Stage Rhodes - 113km, Women

19- 34 years: Marion Poulitsino (Malta)
35-39 years: Amy Pritscharnt (Australia)
40-44 years: Marie Claire Akouilina (Malta)
55-59 years: Iris Oltschanski (Israel)

Luke Katapodis, wins the gold medal in the general individual classification of the UCI Gran Fondo World Series Rhodes

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