After a two year break, the Granfondo Gassin Golfe de Saint-Tropez returned to the UCI Gran Fondo World series on 8 April, proving a successful event held in an iconic part of the south of France.

Glorious weather greeted the riders taking part in New Zealand’s Forrest Grape Ride Gran Fondo on 7 April who were treated to perfect cycling conditions of 25C° temperatures and a gentle breeze, on a sunny autumn day.

The Granfondo Golfe de Saint Tropez returns to the series after Albi organized the unique French qualifier in the past two years. The iconic city in the south of France was already the qualifier in 2012, 2013 and 2015.

With start and Finish in the award-winning winery of Forrest Wines in Renwick, the Forrest Grape ride will return for the third time as UCI qualifier event for the Varese World Championships.

The magnificent island of Bintan, just one hour by ferry from Singapore hosted the only event in the series in South East Asia.

A three days stage race with a time trial on Friday and two Granfondo over the weekend in and around the tourist city of Pafos started the European season of qualifier towards Varese.