La EPIC Gran Canaria is already underway. The first stage has been a challenge from coast to summit full of excitement, in which the Swiss cyclist has stood out Nicolas Ginter and the Swedish athlete Emma Belforth, which sealed a successful first stage and took the lead on the podium of this eighth edition.
Nicolas Ginter, from the Tirol KTM Cycling club, takes the lead with a cumulative time of 1 hour 57 minutes and 56 seconds (1:57'56”), closely followed by the 2024 champion, the Italian Luca Chiesa with 1 hour 57 minutes and 58 seconds (1:57'58”) and the canary Marcos García in third position, with just a few seconds difference on a very tight podium and a total time of 1 hour 58 minutes and 4 seconds (1:58'04”).
In the women's general classification, the Swedish Emma Belforth has had no rival, with a cumulative time of 2 hours and 15 minutes (2:15'00”), leading both stages. She climbs in the classification of this first day with the also Swedish Susan Maclean and its 2 hours 25 minutes and 34 seconds (2:25'34”) in second position, and the Polish Martyna Wisniewska closing the head of race with 2 hours 26 minutes and 7 seconds (2:26'07”).
In the Junior category, with only one time trial, they have stood out in the men's category Nestor Herrera (25'21”), Hugo Luaces(25'57”) and Hector Alfaya (26'20”); while in the women's classification they have led Anne Zubeldia (29'25”), Carolina Aleman (30'02”) and Leire Betancor (33'04”).
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 category, a duel of titans and maximum expectation between the Swiss cyclist Nicolas Ginter and Italian Luca Chiesa, champion of the last edition, who have set the pace of a climb of impact. Determined to defend his title, Chiesa has put Ginter in trouble, and from the beginning of the stage they have set up a sporting head-to-head as tough rivals. The first time trial has been an epic competition between the two in the competitive section of 12,3 kilometers between Aqualand and Ayagaures. With just a second difference, the Swiss took a slight lead at the finish line with a final time of 24 minutes and 48 seconds (24'48”) and Luca Chiesa with 24 minutes and 49 seconds (24' 49”). The local talent has not failed, with the Canarian Blas Arturo Rivero crowning in third position with a brilliant time of 24 minutes and 57 seconds (24' 57”).
The climb to Ayacata is the climb that all participants, amateurs and professionals, remember as the hallmark of this race, and in these 45 kilometers this first stage has taken a turn. The Austrian Patrick Hagenaars has made the difference in this climb, with a spectacular rise alongside the Canary Islander Marcos García, the best local of the last edition. The cyclist from Austria has managed to complete the stage in 1 hour 33 minutes and 6 seconds (1:33'06”084), tied and less than a second behind the island cyclist from the Camping Nauta Ulevel club (1:33'06”474). The Swiss Nicolas Ginter He followed them closely, closing this second leg with 1 hour 33 minutes and 8 seconds (1:33'08”).
In feminine, Emma Belforth has led both timed sections. The athlete from the CK Master club took the lead from the start, taking the first climb as leader and stopping the clock with a cumulative time of 27 minutes and 20 seconds. Belforth has overtaken the Polish tandem, with Martyna Wisniewska and her time of 28 minutes and 32 seconds following closely behind, and Martha Keller, also from Poland, with 29 minutes and 29 seconds (29'29”).
In the second time trial, the Swedish cyclists have caused a stir, with Belforth unbeatable again on a climb to Ayacata in 1 hour 47 minutes and 40 seconds (1:47'40”). The Swedish cyclist Susan Maclean has been his strongest rival, with 1 hour 55 minutes and 7 seconds (1:55'07”). The Polish athlete has closed the podium of this time trial Martyna Wisniewsla, with a time of 1 hour 57 minutes and 35 seconds (1h 57' 35”).
The EPIC Gran Canaria RIU Hotels & Resorts is back on track tomorrow, with half a thousand cyclists from 23 nationalities and with iconic names of this 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 and Daniel Sanz.
Sunday, closing and cycling festival
Morning 9 Sunday of February, the EPIC Gran Canaria will start from 'home' to head towards the town of Tirajana, with an intense, fast and dynamic climb to crown the island's midlands. Passing through Fataga, the decisive 22 kilometres of this timed section will decide the titles, and then head towards Maspalomas with a descent that passes through 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.
