The 15th edition of the UCI Gran Fondo World Championships, taking place this weekend on the Great Ocean Road in Victoria, Australia will have 2069 riders at the start, representing 58 different countries.
In the time trial on Thursday, 401 riders will compete for 23 worldtitles. Riders will give their best on a 22,7km back-and-forth loop towards the entry gate of the Great Ocean Road for a challenging course with 369m of elevation and some technical climbs and descents. The oldest man at the start is 85 year old while the oldest women is 81.
In the team relay on Friday, counting since last year as an official world championship, 20 teams of 4 riders will battle for the rainbow stripes on a 1,9km course in Geelong, where the 2011 Elite road World Championships have taken place. Each team consists of a male and female any age plus a rider over 40 and a rider over 50 which can both be male of female. Each team can also decide on the order of departure of each team member. Curious to see who will follow up the Polish team who won last year!
1668 riders have signed up to compete in the Granfondo over 131km on Sunday. It’s the traditional Amy’s Granfondo course that is used during the qualifier each September with a 10km extension towards Birregurra. The course includes a startclimb of 10km and a second climb in two steps between km 60 and 75 before coming down to the Great Ocean Road for splendid views during the last 40km along the ocean. Total elevation is 1920m. It’s also the first time that all categories compete on a same course distance, necessary given the specific nature of the region.
