The fourth edition of the UCI Gran Fondo World Series Brazil concluded in Timbó, Santa Catarina, following three days of cycling and community activities in the heart of the European Valley.
A record 1,200 cyclists representing 16 countries participated in the event, further strengthening its position as one of Brazil’s leading international amateur cycling competitions. Approximately 3,000 athletes took part in the wider sporting programme,
The sporting highlights were the first UCI Gran Fondo World Series Individual Time Trial held in South America and Sunday’s demanding 108 km Gran Fondo, with the fastest riders across all age categories battling for the overall honours.
Perdigão and Liotto Fastest in Historic Time Trial
The weekend opened on Friday with a 13.5 km Individual Time Trial, marking the first time that the discipline had formed part of a UCI Gran Fondo World Series event in South America.
Sixty riders competed on the predominantly flat and fast course, starting individually at one-minute intervals.
In the men’s competition, Thiago Braga Perdigão produced the fastest performance of the day. The 18-year-old Brazilian, competing in the 19-34 category, covered the course in 16:25
The overall men’s podium was completed by:
- Thiago Braga Perdigão | 16:25
- Diego de jesus Mendes +0:05
- Diego Roberto Gabrislosviski + 0:30
In the women’s competition, Simone Schaefer Liotto set the overall benchmark with a time of 19:52. The 39-year-old Brazilian competed in the 35-39 category.
The overall women’s podium was:
- Simone Schaefer Liotto | 19:52.718
- Maria Luiza Vargas Duwe +1:07
- Juliana Ziel +1:23
The introduction of the time trial marked an important development for the Brazilian event and added a new competitive dimension to the weekend programme.
Closely Contested Men’s Gran Fondo Decided in Sprint Finish
Sunday’s main Gran Fondo took riders over a demanding 108 km course featuring 1,598 metres of elevation gain.
The course combined demanding climbing sections with fast descents and scenic mountain roads through the European Valley.
The men’s race ended with an exceptionally close sprint, with the first three riders separated by a few centimeters.
Fernando Nunes de Souza claimed the overall victory in 2:36:59. The 24-year-old, competing in the 19-34 category, narrowly defeated Jeter Anderson Sales Rocha, with Luis Antonio Moulatlet Marcondes taking third.
Gran Fondo overall men
- Fernando Nunes de Souza | 2:36:59.171
- Jeter Anderson Sales Rocha | same time
- Luis Antonio Moulatlet Marcondes | same time
“The race started at a very high pace. The climbs split the peloton, leaving four riders at the front. After the second climb, there were only three of us,” Fernando Nunes de Souza explained.
“Following the turnaround, two of us broke away on the descent. With around 10 kilometres remaining, a group caught us, and we raced hard towards the finish. I managed to win the sprint.”
Mari Louise Claims Solo Victory in Women’s Gran Fondo
Marianna Louise Toledo Machado delivered an impressive solo ride to win the women’s overall competition in 2:59:17.
The 35-year-old rider, competing in the 35-39 category, established her own rhythm on the first climb and remained alone at the front through to the finish.
Karine de Macedo Frota finished second in 3:08:07, while Luiza Euzebio de Souza completed the overall podium just one second later in 3:08:08.
Gran Fondo overall women
- Marianna Louise Toledo Machado | 2:59:17
- Karine de Macedo Frota | +8:50
- Luiza Euzebio de Souza | +8:51
“The race began at a moderate pace, but on the first climb I increased my effort and established my own rhythm. From that point onwards, I rode alone all the way to the finish,” said Marianna Louise Toledo Machado.
