Jordy Vermeulen (NED) is the first winner of a UCI Gran Fondo in Germany.
On the 120-kilometer route from Aachen to Lake Rursee and back, the 22-year-old Dutchman from Team Wilvo Group-TWC De Kempen took the lead mid-race . “It was my first Gran Fondo, my teammates talked me into it – that’s why I didn’t expect the success,” said Vermeulen, who pulled away around 50 kilometers before the finish. Moritz Beinlich from the German Team Strassacker tried to follow the leader alone with 30 kilometers to go. “In the end, I was surprised how close the chasers came again. I turned around three kilometers before the finish and was surprised at how close they were. Then I gave it my all again and rolled into the finish relaxed.”
Winner Vermeulen needed 2:51:02 hours for the course (42.09 km/h), 54 seconds ahead of Beinlich (GER) with Jens van Korven (NED) as third at 1.01 winning the sprint of a large group.
The fastest woman was Arianna Pruisscher (NED) in 3:09:29 hours (37.99 km/h). She won 29 seconds ahead of Annabelle Trujen (NED) while Aurore Pauchet (FRA) finished third at 57 seconds.
