The EPIC Gran Canaria RIU Hotels & Resorts cycle sports race will once again have one of the greats of Italian cycling on its starting line, Mario Cipollini, who is already loyal to this test and will not fail in 2024. The most popular cycling test in the south of Gran Canaria, which is already finalizing details to get rolling between February 10 and 11, will have the sprinter from Lucca on its guest list, consolidating itself as a faithful destination for cycling lovers from all over the world and one of the Italian's favorite places
In the most international edition in its history, the EPIC Gran Canaria RIU Hotels & Resorts takes a leap in quality to become the world headquarters of the Gran Fondo World Championship, the first world cycling sports ranking for fans and passionate cyclists from all over the planet, and a destination that will crown the world champions. Furthermore, in 2024 participants will be able to enjoy the advantages of a race that has already left the island to join sister events in Italy, with special discounts with the 5 Mila Marche, and with Valdobbiadene, in Veneto, thanks to an alliance with the international Prosecco Cycling test.
Mario Cipollini does not miss his annual appointment with Gran Canaria, where the Italian cyclist has confessed that he feels at home. The well-known and media sprinter had a brilliant professional career between 1989 and 2005, becoming one of the cyclists with the greatest number of victories in his history. Cipollinni accumulates feats such as the 2002 World Championship in Zolder and Milan-San Remo, both in the same year and already being a 35-year-old runner. In his cycling career he won up to 43 stages in the Giro d'Italia, as well as other great tours such as the Tour de France or the Vuelta a España.
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Known throughout the world, Cipollini also crowned stages of the Tour of the Mediterranean, the Tirreno-Adriatic, the Tour of Georgia, Qatar, Romandie, the Costa de los Etruscos Grand Prix, the World Road Championships, the Luis Puig Trophy, Montee Carlo-Alassio, Paris-Nice, surpassing 180 wins throughout his professional career.
Since his first participation in the EPIC Gran Canaria RIU Hotels & Resorts, Mario Cipollini has not missed his appointment with Gran Canaria, repeating year after year in a destination that, as he has confessed on several occasions, has everything to delight cyclists of all levels.
The EPIC Gran Canaria RIU Hotels & Resorts is divided into two stages with 115 kilometers and two timed sections, and 75 kilometers and a competitive section for a weekend of non-stop sports. The first stage starts from the Mirador de las Dunas de Maspalomas at the RIU Palace Maspalomas, to take the hundreds of participants to one of the most privileged routes on the island, passing through Arteara, Fataga, Tirajana and El Pajar to Pasito Blanco .
The first timed section of this stage will be an endurance test of the 12,3 kilometers at 470 meters of altitude and an average inclination of 4,4% that separates Aqualand and Ayagaures, with the finish line at the Pedro González summit. The second time trial will serve to decide the podium in a challenge of 45 kilometers and 1.304 meters high, with an average slope of 4,7% between Pasito Blanco on its way up to Ayacata, passing through Cercados de Espino, Soria, Barranquillo Andrés, the dam from Las Niñas to Ayacata.
The second stage is an explosive challenge of 75 kilometers, with a time trial of 22 kilometers and 1.304 meters high, and an average slope of 4,7% passing through Fataga to Tirajana. The return to the RIU Palace Maspalomas runs through Santa Lucia, La Era, Vecindario, Doctoral and Bahía Feliz, on a route along the GC-65 and GC-500 designed to enjoy the sport, climate and landscapes of the island.
A great sports party will be waiting for the participants, more than 500 already confirmed from 20 different nationalities, to close the weekend, with many surprises, a show, a batucada, an expo area, a collective lunch, and an awards ceremony. in the unique environment of the Maspalomas Dunes.
Cycling: an added value to a destination without rival
The EPIC Gran Canaria RIU Hotels & Resorts plans a record-breaking edition, maintaining its original objective of internationalizing the event, in order to offer athletes a destination unrivaled in terms of infrastructure, climate, services, nature and experiences.
Through this event and the sport, EPIC Gran Canaria seeks to show Gran Canaria as the cycling paradise that it is, and bring professionals and riders closer to knowing how much the island has to offer.
