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United States >> 2026 UCI Gran Fondo World Series >> Bel Levene and Borislav Hadzhistoyanov take victory at inaugural 2026 UCI Gran Fondo Bulgaria
 
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Bel Levene and Borislav Hadzhistoyanov take victory at inaugural 2026 UCI Gran Fondo Bulgaria

The inaugural 2026 UCI Gran Fondo Bulgaria delivered a landmark moment for the nation’s cycling community, drawing riders from across the region to Velingrad for a demanding 140 km route through the Balkan Mountains.

Bel Levene and Borislav Hadzhistoyanov take victory at inaugural 2026 UCI Gran Fondo Bulgaria

The event marked Bulgaria’s first appearance on the UCI Gran Fondo World Series calendar, giving riders the opportunity to qualify for the 2026 UCI Gran Fondo World Championships in Niseko, Japan this August. The atmosphere in Velingrad was lifted even further by the presence of two-time Giro d’Italia winner Ivan Basso, who joined Bulgarian champions and hundreds of families for the opening ride, signalling a new era for mass-participation cycling in the country.
 
On the road, the men’s Gran Fondo produced a dramatic and tightly fought contest. Borislav Hadzhistoyanov and Borislav Palashev broke clear in the final kilometres and crossed the line together in 03:45:21, with Hadzhistoyanov taking the victory by the narrowest of margins. Yordan Petrov completed the podium after a strong ride on the long climbs that defined the course.
 
In the women’s Gran Fondo, Bel Levene delivered a commanding solo performance, finishing more than twenty minutes ahead of her closest rivals and establishing herself as the first-ever winner of the event.
 
The 70 km Medio Fondo saw equally intense racing. Kalin Angelov claimed the men’s win in a sprint finish that saw the top six riders separated by just seconds. In the women’s field, Yoana Valkanova produced one of the standout rides of the day, finishing in 01:51:13 — fast enough to place inside the overall men’s Top 10.
 
With strong participation, international representation, and a challenging mountain course, the first edition of UCI Gran Fondo Bulgaria has firmly established itself as a new highlight on the global amateur cycling calendar.
 
2026 UCI Gran Fondo Bulgaria 140km Gran Fondo Top 10 Men
 
1. Borislav Hadzhistoyanov — 03:45:21
2. Borislav Palashev — 03:45:21
3. Yordan Petrov — 03:47:58
4. Borislav Ivanov — 03:47:59
5. Martin Stefanov — 03:48:06
6. Nikola Tsanev — 03:48:06
7. Petar Dashev — 03:50:00
8. Teodor Rusev — 03:50:01
9. Koycho Shivikov — 03:54:18
10. Georgi Dimitrov — 03:55:40
 
2026 UCI Gran Fondo Bulgaria 140km Gran Fondo Top 10 Women
 
1. Bel Levene — 04:41:44
2. Mariya Nikolova — 05:05:07
3. Petya Karova — 05:21:52
4. Mariya Koleva — 05:48:47
5. Milena Zlateva — 06:31:11
6. Teodora Todorova — 06:31:17
7. Iveta Georgieva — 07:25:44
 
2026 UCI Gran Fondo Bulgaria 70km Medio Fondo Top 10 Men
 
1. Kalin Angelov — 01:48:37
2. Mutlu Erçevik — 01:48:37
3. Ivan Hristev — 01:48:38
4. Ozan Özlem — 01:48:38
5. Iskren Ivanov — 01:48:38
6. Bozhidar Vasilev — 01:48:38
7. Nikolay Venkov — 01:48:42
8. Krasimir Glushkov — 01:51:01
9. Stefan Stefanov — 01:51:02
10. Yoana Valkanova — 01:51:13
 
2026 UCI Gran Fondo Bulgaria 70km Medio Fondo Top 10 Women
 
1. Yoana Valkanova — 01:51:13
2. Ivana Tonkova — 01:54:01
3. Bogomila Katsarska — 02:04:13
4. Kate Olgers — 02:06:25
5. Radost Ivanova — 02:08:00
6. Buse Özlem — 02:08:37
7. Maria Kostova — 02:13:05
8. Orlina Andreeva — 02:21:51
9. Maryia Ilieva — 02:28:28
10. Neli Kirilova — 02:31:08
 
Link to 2026 UCI Gran Fondo Bulgaria Results: https://tracksport.live/en/r/gran-fondo
 
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