Luca Chiesa and Manuela Muresan take the lead in the EPIC Gran Canaria

 

 

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The EPIC Gran Canaria RIU Hotels & Resorts cycle sports race has once again filled the south of the island with excitement and cycling, with a test in which half a thousand cyclists have painted the most popular routes in colors in a peloton full of international stars. With a stage of 115 kilometers and two timed sections, the first bid for the podium has been a challenge of power and depth, in which the Italian Luca Chiesa and the Romanian cyclist Manuela Muresan have taken the lead, heading their way to the title.

 

Luca Chiesa, with a total accumulated time in the two trials of 1 hour 55 minutes and 16 seconds (1h 55'16”), has been proclaimed champion of the first tapa, with a three-minute advantage over his toughest opponent, the German Simon de Ridder, who follows him on the clock with 1 hour 58 minutes and 27 seconds (1h58'27”), and a dizzying rival just seconds away, the European champion, Luis León Sánchez (1h58'31”). In girls, the EPIC Gran Canaria absolute champion, Manuela Muresan, dominated with a time of 2 hours 19 minutes and 35 seconds (2h19'35”), followed by Emilie Bottini (2h20'11”), and Yasmin Anstruther (2h24). '38'

 

 

 

Starting from the 'home' of the event, the RIU Palace Maspalomas hotel, the EPIC Gran Canaria cut the ribbon to launch 500 cyclists of 24 nationalities, who faced the first of the challenges, 115 kilometers and two timed sections . Although it starts “soft”, the first timed section of 12,3 kilometers at 470 meters of altitude and an average inclination of 4,4% is an example of strategy, as it becomes increasingly harder on its way up to Ayagaures, with a goal demanding at the top Pedro González.

 

With a well-fed race leader, this first challenge was led by the Belgian cyclist Simon de Ridder who closed this first section with 24'09”, stealing seconds from the clock in his bid for the title. The Spanish Marcos Manuel García did not give him any respite, following him closely (24'12”) along with the Italian Luca Chiesa (24'15”) and one of the classic leaders, the Canarian Blas Arturo Felipe (24'20”). In this first time trial, the leading peloton had several well-known faces in international cycling, with Luis León Sánchez pushing in the first positions alongside Haimar Zubeldia, Mario Cipollini and the historic champion of the EPIC Gran Canaria, Matti Helminen.

 

In girls, one more year the rival to beat is the Romanian athlete Manuela Muresan, who led the stage with 27'12” with almost 20 seconds ahead of her competitors in this first time trial, the Swiss Emilie Bottini (27'36”) and the German Yasmin Anstruther (28'26”), with a female lead that remained stable throughout the entire stage.

 

We had to 'save our legs' for the second time trial, 24,5 kilometers of hard climb to Ayacata with an average slope of 4,7%. Belgian leader Simon de Ridder tried to take the lead of the group, but it was not going to be an easy task, as Italian Luca Chiesa was determined to steal the top spot from him. The second time trial had the Italian as the fastest (1h31'01”), followed by the European champion Luis León Sánchez and (1h33'59”), Simon de Ridder (1h34'18”) and at 29 grand laps, top 10 Tour, Haimar Zubeldia (1h34'19”) among the fastest at the finish line.

 

 

 

Tomorrow Sunday, decisive stage

 

The EPIC Gran Canaria RIU Hotels & Resorts will close its podium tomorrow, Sunday, with a second stage of 75 kilometers of circuit and a 22-kilometer time trial, at 1.304 meters high. This competitive section, with an average slope of 4%, will be the definitive duel to crown its champions on a circuit that passes through Fataga to Tirajana. Explosive, dynamic, fast and testing the legs, this time trial will bring the hurricane of energy of the test to the town of Tunte, from where the peloton will return to the RIU Palace Maspalomas through Santa Lucía, La Era, Vecindario, Doctoral and Bahía Happy for the GC-65 and the GC-500.

 

One of the most anticipated historic moments for this Gran Canaria event will be the placing on the podium of the world champions of the Gran Fondo World Championship, the first world cycling sports ranking for fans and passionate cyclists from all over the planet, which will bring together the best in the world. as the international headquarters of the circuit for the first time.

 

With well-known historical faces of this sport, the EPIC Gran Canaria has brought together on the island 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 ), who have demonstrated their talent alongside runners from all over the planet.