Luca Chiesa and Manuela Muresan, champions of the most international EPIC Gran Canaria

 

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Unbeatable, with a second stage and a faster and more explosive time trial than ever, the EPIC Gran Canaria RIU Hotels & Resorts has taken an international and quality leap in this seventh edition, raising the bar for a day of cycling that has taken the test to another level. The dozen international cyclists and great athletes that this edition has brought together have pushed for an even faster time in 2024, and the finishing touch for this edition.

 

Italian Luca Chiesa confirmed his lead in the race in this second stage, with a total time of 2 hours, 45 minutes, and 1 second (2h45'01”), cementing his position as the fastest after shaving several crucial minutes off the clock in Saturday's first stage, securing his victory. In the women's race, Romanian cyclist Manuela Muresan was once again undisputed as the all-time champion of this event, proving herself unbeatable and without rival in both the first and second stages, accumulating a total time of 3 hours and 23 minutes (3h23'00”).

 

This edition closes the Gran Fondo World Tour international amateur circuit with the world champions of the first world cycling ranking for amateur and passionate cyclists from all over the planet, bringing together the best in the world as the international venue of the circuit for the first time.

 

Departing from the RIU Palace Maspalomas hotel, at the foot of the Maspalomas Dunes, the EPIC Gran Canaria RIU Hotels & Resort once again brought together the best international cyclists and a large group of cycling lovers with 500 athletes from 24 hours. nationalities that have made the island vibrate with the excitement of sport. From the first hour, the overwhelming energy of the test took over Maspalomas, to face the second stage and the third time trial of this seventh edition. 

 

 

 

 

The most international edition in the history of the EPIC Gran Canaria RIU Hotels & Resorts saw Italian champion Luca Chiesa (2h45'01") take the top spot , followed by German Simon de Ridder (2h48'14") and Spanish national champion Luis León Sánchez (2h48'18") , in a leading group that also included Marcos Manuel García, Blas Arturo Felipe from the Canary Islands, and Haimar Zubeldia, as well as three-time EPIC champion Matti Helminen and Mario Cipollini, among other well-known figures in the sport. In the women's race, Romanian cyclist Manuela Muresan (3h23'00") repeated her victory, followed by strong rival Emilie Bottini of Switzerland (3h23'35") and German athlete Yasmin Anstruther (3h28'04") , a trio that maintained a steady and solid lead throughout the race.

 

In this second stage, a 75-kilometer climb with a 22-kilometer time trial to an altitude of 1.304 meters, featuring a demanding average gradient of 4% from Fataga to Tirajana and then on to the town of Tunte, Haimar Zubeldia , a 29-time Grand Tour participant and Tour de France top-10 finisher, once again proved his dominance on a section he knows perfectly. With a time of 49 minutes and 43 seconds (49'43"), the Basque cyclist managed to outpace the Italian champion, Luca Chiesa , who crossed the finish line just seconds behind (49'45"), and the European champion, Luis León Sánchez (49'47"), in a formidable group at the front of the race. Zubeldia won the stage, but couldn't gain enough time to overtake the Italian, who retains the yellow jersey in the overall standings.

 

 

 

 

In the women's race, Swiss cyclist Emilie Bottini, with a time of 1 hour 3 minutes and 24 seconds (1h03'24") in the third time trial, managed to challenge the champion of the event for several consecutive years, Manuela Muresan (1h03'25"), followed by German Yasmin Anstruther (1h03'26"), who closed a very tight women's race in this time trial.

 

With the descent through Santa Lucía, La Era, Vecindario, Doctoral and Bahía Feliz via the GC-65 and GC-500, the arrival at the 'home' of the race, the RIU Palace Maspalomas, was a great party, filling the south of Maspalomas with the contagious joy of the Samba Isleña batucada, the rhythm of the comparsas, a live saxophone, drag queens, and a whole carnival and festive entourage to welcome the cyclists at their arrival at the finish line, with the Maspalomas Dunes as a backdrop.

 

A large communal lunch and live music have made Gran Canaria vibrate, turning the arrival into a party for everyone once again, a grand celebration to close this seventh edition full of leaps in quality, with record participation and surprises.

 

 

 

 

 

A record edition

 

The EPIC Gran Canaria has been the epicenter of international cycling, with leading figures in the sport such as Luis León Sánchez (European Champion, winner of Tour stages), Igor Astarloa (World Champion), Haimar Zubeldia (29 Grand Tours, top 10 Tour), Mario Cipollini (World Champion), Claudio Chiappucci (El Diablo, Tour and Giro podiums), Michael Teuber (German Paralympic Team), Manolo Saiz (Former ONCE and UCI Director), and Fred Rompelber (Speed ​​Record Holder 269Kms/h).