Luca Chiesa and Manuela Muresan, Gran Fondo World Tour ® Champions of the Most International EPIC Gran Canaria presented by Riu Hotels

Ciapucci, Cipollini, Luis Leon Sanchez, Haimar Zubeldia in top positions in Age groups, Mario Cipollini Gran Fondo World Champion +50 Age Group and Leon Sanchez Bronze medal Overall World Champs

Photo: Gran Fondo World Tour ® Champions Romanian cyclist Manuela Muresan and Italian cyclist Luca Chiesa

Photo: Gran Fondo World Tour ® Champions, Romanian cyclist Manuela Muresan (Dinamo-BikeXpert-Superbet) and Italian cyclist Luca Chiesa (ASD Programma Auto)

Maspalomas, Gran Canaria, February 11, 2024

Unbeatable, with a second stage and a time trial faster and more explosive than ever, the EPIC Gran Canaria RIU Hotels & Resorts has taken a leap in international and quality standards in its seventh edition, raising the bar for a day of cycling that has taken the event to another level. The presence of a dozen international cyclists and top athletes has driven a faster time trial in 2024, crowning this edition with a golden finish.

Photo: Mario Cipollini (World Champion), and Manolo Saiz (Former Director of ONCE and UCI)

Photo: Mario Cipollini (World Champion), and Manolo Saiz (Former Director of ONCE and UCI)

Italian Luca Chiesa confirmed his leadership in the race in this second stage, with a total time of 2 hours 45 minutes and 1 second (2h45’01”), securing his position as the fastest after gaining several crucial minutes in yesterday's first stage, which set him up for victory. In the women's category, Romanian cyclist Manuela Muresan once again proved to be the undisputed champion of this event, dominating both the first and second stages without any competition, accumulating a total time of 3 hours and 23 minutes (3h23’00”).

Photo: Ciapucci, Cipollini, Luis Leon Sanchez, Haimar Zubeldia in top positions in Age groups, Mario Cipollini Gran Fondo World Champion +50 Age Group and Leon Sanchez Bronze medal Overall World Champs

This edition concludes the international amateur Gran Fondo World Tour ® series 2023 circuit with the world champions from the first global cycling ranking for amateurs and passionate cyclists worldwide, hosting the best in the world as an international venue for the first time. And open a 2024 season with more than 20 destination and 18 countries on the rooster.

Photo: Romanian cyclist Manuela Muresan took the women's leaders jersey

Photo: Romanian cyclist Manuela Muresan took the women's leaders jersey

VIDEO: EPIC Gran Canaria Stage 2

Starting from the RIU Palace Maspalomas, at the foot of the Maspalomas Dunes, the EPIC Gran Canaria RIU Hotels & Resort once again gathered the best international cyclists and a large group of cycling enthusiasts with 500 athletes from 24 nationalities, bringing excitement to the island with the thrill of the sport. From early in the day, the overwhelming energy of the event took over Maspalomas, setting the stage for the second stage and the third hill climb of this seventh edition.

Photo: Sold out ride saw 500 riders sign on every morning at warm and sunny RIU Palace Maspalomas

Photo: Sold out ride saw 500 riders sign on every morning at warm and sunny RIU Palace Maspalomas

"This is the best season opening destination we can dream of, sun, great roads and international participants, Gran Canaria, Maspalomas is one of the “Must Do“ Gran Fondos Internationally", said Dani Buyo (CEO Gran Fondo World Tour ®)

The most international edition in the history of the EPIC Gran Canaria RIU Hotels & Resorts brought Italian champion Luca Chiesa (2h45’01”) to the podium, followed by German Simon de Ridder (2h48’14”) and national champion Luis León Sánchez (2h48’18”), in a leading group that also included Marcos Manuel García, Canary Islander Blas Arturo Felipe, and Haimar Zubeldia, as well as three-time EPIC champion Matti Helminen and Mario Cipollini, among other sports celebrities. In the women's category, Romanian cyclist Manuela Muresan (3h23’00”) repeated her top position, followed by strong competitor Swiss Emilie Bottini (3h23’35”) and German athlete Yasmin Anstruther (3h28’04”), a trio that maintained a stable and solid lead throughout the race.

Photo: Incredibly stunning views up in the mountains

Photo: Incredibly stunning views up in the mountains

In this 75-kilometer second stage and a 22-kilometer hill climb at 1,304 meters elevation, with an average steep gradient of 4% through Fataga to Tirajana and up to the village of Tunte, Haimar Zubeldia, with 29 grand tours and a top 10 Tour finish, once again proved unbeatable in a segment he knows perfectly. With a time of 49 minutes and 43 seconds (49’43”), the Basque cyclist managed to outperform Italian champion Luca Chiesa, who crossed the finish line just a few seconds behind (49’45”) and European champion Luis León Sánchez (49’47”) in a high-caliber race lead. Zubeldia won the stage but did not gain enough time to overtake Chiesa, who repeats in the yellow jersey for the overall time.

Photo: Italian champion Luca Chiesa fought hard to keep the leaders jersey against formidable opponents

Photo: Italian champion Luca Chiesa fought hard to keep the leaders jersey against formidable opponents

In the women's category, Swiss cyclist Emilie Bottini, with a time in the third hill climb of 1 hour 3 minutes and 24 seconds (1h03’24”), managed to challenge the long-standing champion of the event, Manuela Muresan (1h03’25”), followed closely by German Yasmin Anstruther (1h03’26”), leading a very tight female race head in this hill climb.

Photo: Emilie Bottini, Manuela Muresan and German Yasmin Anstruther battled hard in the third hill climb

Photo: Emilie Bottini, Manuela Muresan and German Yasmin Anstruther battled hard in the third hill climb

With a 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 event, the RIU Palace Maspalomas, was a grand celebration, filling the south of Maspalomas with the contagious joy of the Samba Isleña batucada, the rhythm of the comparsas, a live saxophone, drags, and a festive carnival procession to welcome the cyclists at the finish line, with the Maspalomas Dunes as a backdrop.

A grand communal lunch and live music made Gran Canaria vibrate, turning the event into a celebration for all, marking a high point in closing this seventh edition filled with quality leaps, record participation, and surprises.

Photo: The EPIC Gran Canaria has been the epicenter of international cycling this early spring!

Photo: The EPIC Gran Canaria has been the epicenter of international cycling this early spring!

A Record Edition

The EPIC Gran Canaria has been the epicenter of international cycling, featuring luminaries of this sport such as Luis León Sánchez (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 Director of ONCE and UCI), and Fred Rompelberg (speed record holder at 269km/h).

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