The EPIC Gran Canaria is underway. The first stage was a thrilling coast-to-summit challenge, where Swiss cyclist Nicolas Ginter and Swedish athlete Emma Belforth stood out , securing a successful first stage and taking the lead in the race for the podium in this eighth edition.
Nicolas Ginter , from the Tirol KTM Cycling club, takes the lead with an accumulated time of 1 hour 57 minutes and 56 seconds ( 1h57 '56”), followed closely by the 2024 champion, the Italian Luca Chiesa with 1 hour 57 minutes and 58 seconds ( 1h57 '58”) and the Canary Islander Marcos García in third position, with just a few seconds difference in a very tight podium and a total time of 1 hour 58 minutes and 4 seconds ( 1h58 '04”).
In the women's overall standings, Sweden's Emma Belforth was unchallenged, with a cumulative time of 2 hours and 15 minutes ( 2h15'00 "), leading both stages. She is followed in the standings for this first day by fellow Swede Susan Maclean with a time of 2 hours, 25 minutes, and 34 seconds ( 2h25'34 ") in second place, and Poland's Martyna Wisniewska rounding out the top three with a time of 2 hours, 26 minutes, and 7 seconds ( 2h26'07 ").
In the Junior category, with only one time trial, the top performers in the men's category were Néstor Herrera (25'21"), Hugo Luaces (25'57") and Héctor Alfaya (26'20"); while in the women's category , Ane Zubeldia (29'25"), Carolina Alemán (30'02") and Leire Betancor (33'04") led the way.
The starting shot from the RIU Palace Maspalomas hotel marked the start of an edition that guarantees spectacle, with a Saturday of international cycling that took in the best routes of Gran Canaria. 500 cyclists of 23 nationalities took part in a frenetic day of sport in the south of Gran Canaria, with 115 kilometres and two of the most attractive mountain passes on the island.
In the men's race, a clash of titans and maximum anticipation unfolded between Swiss cyclist Nicolas Ginter and Italian Luca Chiesa , the reigning champion, who set the pace on a thrilling climb. Determined to defend his title, Chiesa challenged Ginter, and from the start of the stage, they engaged in a head-to-head battle as fierce rivals. The first time trial was an epic competition between the two on the 12,3-kilometer competitive section between Aqualand and Ayagaures. With barely a second separating them, the Swiss rider took a slight lead as he crossed the finish line with a time of 24 minutes and 48 seconds (24'48"), while Luca Chiesa finished in 24 minutes and 49 seconds (24'49"). Local talent was also present, with Blas Arturo Rivero from the Canary Islands cresting the climb in third place with a brilliant time of 24 minutes and 57 seconds (24'57").
The climb to Ayacata is the ascent that all participants, amateurs and professionals alike, remember as the defining feature of this race, and this first stage, with its 45 kilometers, has taken a dramatic turn. Austrian Patrick Hagenaars made the difference on this climb, with a spectacular ascent alongside Marcos García from the Canary Islands , the top local finisher in last year's edition. The Austrian cyclist completed the section in 1 hour, 33 minutes, and 6 seconds ( 1h33'06 "084), tied with and less than a second behind the island cyclist from the Camping Nauta Ulevel club ( 1h33'06 "474). Swiss rider Nicolas Ginter followed closely behind, finishing this second section in 1 hour, 33 minutes, and 8 seconds ( 1h33'08 ").
In the women's race, Emma Belforth led both timed sections. The CK Master club athlete took the lead from the start, leading the first climb and stopping the clock with a cumulative time of 27 minutes and 20 seconds. Belforth overtook the Polish duo, with Martyna Wisniewska and her time of 28 minutes and 32 seconds following closely behind, and Marta Keller , also from Poland, with 29 minutes and 29 seconds (29'29").
In the second time trial, the Swedish cyclists made a splash, with Belforth once again unbeatable on the climb to Ayacata in 1 hour, 47 minutes, and 40 seconds ( 1h47'40 "). Fellow Swede Susan Maclean was her strongest rival, finishing in 1 hour, 55 minutes, and 7 seconds ( 1h55'07 "). Polish rider Martyna Wisniewsla completed the podium in this time trial with a time of 1 hour, 57 minutes, and 35 seconds ( 1h57'35 ").
The EPIC Gran Canaria RIU Hotels & Resorts returns to action tomorrow, with five hundred cyclists from 23 nationalities and iconic names in the sport in its ranks such as Alessandro Ballan, Igor Astarloa, Haimar Zubeldia, Iban Mayo, David López, Mario Cipollini, Claudio Chiapucci , and content creators such as Ana González, Juliet Elliot, Martín Mata or Daniel Sanz.
Sunday, closing and cycling festival
Tomorrow, Sunday, February 9th , the EPIC Gran Canaria will depart from its home base and head towards the town of Tirajana, with an intense, fast, and dynamic climb to reach the island's mid-altitude peaks. Passing through Fataga, the decisive 22 kilometers of this timed section will determine the winners, before continuing on to Maspalomas with a descent that takes in Santa Lucía de Tirajana, La Era, Vecindario, Doctoral, and Bahía Feliz.
With the peloton back, the party will begin. Batucada, Carnival troupes, live music and a collective lunch will be waiting for the 500 cyclists of this edition, who will be able to experience the unique EPIC Gran Canaria with an awards ceremony overlooking the idyllic Maspalomas Dunes.
