'El Diavolo', Claudio Chiappucci, does not fail his appointment with the EPIC Gran Canaria

The most popular cycling event in southern Gran Canaria, the EPIC Gran Canaria RIU Hotels & Resorts , will feature a number of Italian cyclists loyal to this race at its starting line, repeating its success with exceptional guests. Claudio Chiappucci, known as 'El Diavolo' (The Devil), returns to the island to conquer the landscapes of Gran Canaria, faithful to his commitment to one of the world's most privileged cycling destinations.

 

Italian cyclist Claudio Chiappucci was one of the toughest rivals to beat in the 80s and 90s, known for his powerful legs and talent for great climbs. His tenacity in tackling the hardest sections of the tours earned him the nickname 'Il Diavolo' (The Devil), with which he achieved historic feats such as the 13th stage of the 1992 Tour de France , one of the most demanding stages of the circuit, where he established himself as one of the most brilliant climbers of the era.

 

 

Challenging Miguel Induráin, Chiappucci was a fiercely competitive athlete who carved out a place for himself among the elite of 90s cycling thanks to his climbing and descending prowess. His palmarès boasts dozens of titles, including the Giro di Piemonte, the Coppa Placci, the King of the Mountains classification in the Giro d'Italia, Milan-San Remo, the King of the Mountains and Combativity classification in the Tour de France, the Clásica de San Sebastián, the Coppa Sabatini, the Japan Cup, the Tre Valli Varesine, and the Giro di Piemonte, among many other successes. His podium finishes in the Giro and the Tour de France made him known and recognized as a ' brave' and tough cyclist, and one of the great names of the brilliant 90s.

 

'El Diavolo' will be one of the special guests of this edition of the EPIC Gran Canaria RIU Hotels & Resorts, the most special in its history, in which it consolidates its international leap as a world venue that will crown the world champions in the Gran Fondo World Championship, the first world cycling ranking for amateur and passionate cyclists from all over the planet.

 

Its more than 500 registered participants of 20 different nationalities will also participate in a test that debuts its twinning with other events in the world, twinned in this 2024 edition with the 5 Mila Marche, and with Valdobbiadene, in Veneto, with an alliance with the Prosecco Cycling international test. 

 

The EPIC Gran Canaria RIU Hotels & Resorts race takes place in two stages, taking its hundreds of runners along several of the island's most popular routes. The first stage covers 115 kilometers and includes two timed sections , starting from the Mirador de las Dunas de Maspalomas at the RIU Palace Maspalomas, and following a circuit that runs through Arteara, Fataga, Tirajana, and El Pajar to Pasito Blanco.

 

The first stage tests the endurance of the competitors with its first timed section between Aqualand and Ayagaures, with the finish line at the Pedro González summit and 12,3 kilometers of challenge at 470 meters of altitude and an average inclination of 4,4%. . The second time trial begins in Pasito Blanco on its ascent to Ayacata, with 45 kilometers and 1.304 meters high, with a demanding average slope of 4,7% crowning El Pajar, Cercados de Espino, Soria, Barranquillo Andrés, the Las Niñas dam to the top of Ayacata. 

 

The second stage is fast, explosive, and winding through landscapes that captivate both professional and amateur cyclists, featuring a challenging 75- kilometer time trial. Starting at the RIU Palace Maspalomas hotel, this stage takes cyclists to Fataga and Tirajana , reaching an altitude of 925 meters with an elevation gain of 810 meters and average gradients of 4% . The EPIC Gran Canaria will take over iconic island routes such as the GC-65 and GC-500, on a circuit that showcases the best mountain and coastal scenery of Santa Lucía, La Era, Vecindario, Doctoral, and Bahía Feliz.

 

A great sports festival, with a show, batucada, expo, collective lunch, awards ceremony and live music will put the finishing touch to an event that has a faithful list and that each year more participants fall in love with, this year with surprises and more international never.

 

 

Cycling as a tourist attraction and differentiator

 

The EPIC Gran Canaria RIU Hotels & Resorts has not only established itself in the sports calendar, but is also advancing in its objective of consolidating Gran Canaria as a world cycling destination. The landscapes, its demanding routes, safe roads, sports and tourist infrastructure, the spring climate in the middle of winter and the hospitality are just some of the elements that make Gran Canaria an unrivaled destination for cycling, a place for training and enjoying great experiences. athletes all year round and who seeks, through this test and sport, to show all their benefits.

 

The EPIC Gran Canaria RIU Hotels & Resorts has the support of the Insular Sports Institute of the Cabildo de Gran Canaria, Maspalomas Costa Canaria, RIU Hotels & Resorts, Turismo Gran Canaria, Hospiten, Free Motion, Nektium, Coca-Cola, Aquabona, and Esenat, among others.