Guerrini with a solo finish while Proud beats them all in a sprint

The biggest mass participation granfondo event in the UK is finally back after two years of forced cancellations because of the pandemic so nothing but happy faces at the start. Over 7000 riders signed up for the event coming from 54 different countries.

The ingredients of the cycling festival weekend remained the same with a time trial on Saturday and a granfondo or mediofondo distance on Sunday, split up over different start waves and levels so that everybody could enjoy it at their own pace and take part in the biggest event in the UCI Gran Fondo World Series.

George Fox (M19-34) was the fastest in the 16.4 miles time trial on Saturday with a short but steep climb halfway. He finished in a time of 33m39, 8 seconds ahead of Matthew Smith (M40-44) while Ian Hope (M45-49) got overall third, all winning their age group. The winning time was good for an average speed of 29.23 mph (47 km/h).

The female win was for Faye Faber (F35-39), 20 seconds ahead of Sally Turner (F40-44). Reigning world champion Jessica Rhodes-Jones (F19-34) finished overall third at 25 seconds of the winner whose average speed was exactly 25 mph (40 km/h).

On Sunday, all men up to the age of 59 had to do the 100 miles course with some minor undulating roads in the beginning and at the end, but the major part was flat, fast and windy.

Monte Guerrini (M19-34) won the overall event after a solo break and three minutes faster than three men from the M40-44 group who started in a later wave. From that wave, James Bonham won the sprint ahead of Blake Pond-Collins and Belgian Hans Chabert. The race was won in an average speed of 25.3 mph (40.8 km/h).

All women and men over 60 seeking qualification for worlds had to qualify in the 67 miles race with Emily Proud (F19-34) winning in a sprint of 12 women before Emily Reynolds (F19-34) and Gemma Williams (F40-44) for a complete British podium. Dutch Willem Hus (M65-69) was the fastest men in the 67 miles distance.

The Tour of Cambridgeshire is traditionally the biggest supplier of participants during the UCI Gran Fondo World Championships.

Share this article