The 53rd edition of the Italian GF Matildica, part of the UCI Gran Fondo World Series since 4 years had a sprint for victory in the men’s race while the female win was a solo performance.
In the men’s race, 6 Italian riders sprinted for victory in the streets of Reggio Emilia after a hard races through the mountains surrounding Reggio Emilia. Alberto Nardini outsprinted Mikel Demiri and Simone Impellizzeri in an average speed of 38 km/h. Nardini also passed as first on the highest mountain peak halfway the race.
When the men’s race was tight with an exiting sprint, the women’s race had Elisa Leardini as absolute best, finishing the 153km granfondo solo with a 9 minute gap to Virignia Becchetti with Patrizia Romanello finishing as third another 3.5 minutes later. Leardini’s average speed was 33 km/h.
In the 126km mediofondo, counting for all riders over 50, victories in the respective age groups battling for the ticket for the World Championships was for Cristian Ballestri and Michela Gorini.
