Hoogerland to double while Faber and Simenc share wins on Bosnian ground

The test event for the 2021 UCI Gran Fondo World Championships in Istocno Sarajevo proved to be going well and ready to receive the world in 50 days from now.

The time trial on Friday saw former pro Johnny Hoogerland beating multiple ex-world champion Igor Kopce and his compatriot Andrej Gucek by respectively 13 and 20 seconds. The average speed of the winner was 45 km/h. Luxemburg elite rider Claire Faber was the fastest female beating reigning World Champion Laura Simenc by exactly one minute and another Slovenian Petra Pasar over the 18km in an average speed of 41km/h.

The road races were combined on Sunday. The covid pandemic resulted in low numbers at the start, although 37 different nationalities signed up for the 64km mediofondo or 100km granfondo.

Johnny Hoogerland proved his good condition with another win before three Slovenian riders with a late attack in the last upgoing kilometer. Kristian Grunfeld took overall second and the win in his age group while Igor Kopce got bronze to also secure his category win.

Slovenian Laura Simenc proved to have good climber legs with a win ahead of her competitors. Her compatriot Eva Zorman and time trial winner Claire Faber completed the podium.

The mediofondo distance which qualified for the male age categories over 60 and female categories over 50 saw respectively Italian Giovanni Lattanzi and German Ina Repetzki as fastest in these age groups.

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