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.

 

The Italian Luca Chiesa has confirmed his leadership in the test in this second stage, with a total time of 2 hours 45 minutes and 1 second (2h45'01”), establishing himself as the fastest after stealing several decisive minutes from the time yesterday, Saturday, in the first stage. They have established him in victory. In girls, the cyclist from Romania Manuela Muresan has once again been undeniable as the historical champion of this test, in which once again she has proven intractable and unrivaled in both the first stage and the second, accumulating a total time of 3 hours and 23 minutes (3h23'00” ).

 

This edition closes the international amateur circuit Gran Fondo World Tour with the world champions of the first world cycling sports ranking for fans and passionate cyclists from all over the planet, which brings together the best in the world as the international headquarters 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 has put the Italian champion on the podium Luca Chiesa (2h45'01”), followed by German Simon de Ridder (2h48'14”) and the national champion Luis León Sánchez (2h48'18”), in a leading platoon in which Marcos Manuel García, the Canarian Blas Arturo Felipe, and Haimar Zubeldia have also pushed, as well as the three-time EPIC champion Matti Helminen and Mario Cipollini, among other well-known sportsmen. In women, the Romanian cyclist repeats at the top Manuela Muresan (3h23'00”), followed by a great rival, the Swiss Emilie Bottini (3h23'35”) and the German athlete Yasmin Anstruther (3h28'04”), a triad that has remained stable and solid at the head throughout the test.

 

In this second stage of 75 kilometers and a time trial of 22 kilometers, at 1.304 meters high, with a demanding average slope of 4% passing through Fataga to Tirajana and to the town of Tunte, the 29 grand tours and top 10 Tour, Haimar Zubeldia, has once again shown that there is no one who can surpass him, in a section that he dominates perfectly. With a time of 49 minutes and 43 seconds (49'43”), the Basque cyclist managed to surpass the Italian champion, Luca Chiesa, who crossed the finish line just a few seconds behind (49'45”) and the European champion, Luis Leon Sanchez (49'47”) in a luxury head of race. Zubeldia managed to win the stage, but was unable to make enough time to overtake the Italian, who repeats in the yellow jersey in accumulated time.

 

 

 

 

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

 

With descent through Santa Lucía, La Era, Vecindario, Doctoral and Bahía Feliz along the GC-65 and GC-500, the arrival at the 'home' of the test, the RIU Palace Maspalomas It has been a great party, which has filled the south of Maspalomas with the contagious joy of the Samba Isleña batucada, the rhythm of the comparsas, a live saxophone, drags, and a whole carnival and festive procession to welcome the cyclists to their arrival at the finish line, with the Maspalomas Dunes as a backdrop.

 

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

 

 

 

 

 

A record edition

 

The EPIC Gran Canaria has been the epicenter of international cycling, with leaders of this sport such as Luis Leon Sanchez (European Champion, Tour stage winner), 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 (Recordman speed 269Kms/h.