Chilean Benjamín Vicente (Team Cyclingwolf) and Colombian Jonathan Jiménez (Team Zipaquira) finished second and third, respectively, in the Gran Fondo New York World Championship event, won on Sunday by Italian Mattia Gaffuri (Solowattaggio), who scored 3: 27:32 hours on a journey of 135 kilometers.
With this result, the first three places, along with fourth placed Diego Vázquez (Colombia), fifth placed Francesco de Candido (Italy) and sixth placed Luis Lemus (Mexico) won the right to compete in the new GFNY New York Grand Prix professional race. City on May 19, 2024, where they will face off against the best of the international peloton representing Team GFNY.
“It has been a magnificent event and I am very happy to have reached a place like this, which also summarizes all the preparation carried out to get here. I look forward to more victories for cycling in my country soon”, declared the Chilean Benjamin to the media, for some a surprising second place in the contest.
“The level was very high as always, as we predicted the Italians were going to be ahead controlling the race. We had to be smart, balance our forces, know where to attack, and we did. It is for me a third place with a taste of second because of the inconvenience at the end with the issue of traffic, I still enjoy it. Being on the GFNY podium is one of the most important things that has happened to me in my life and in my cycling history,” said Jonathan Jiménez after taking third place.
In the early stages, a leading group of thirty riders was formed, but it was the Mexican Miguel Arroyo, double GFNY champion in 2022, who took the initiative, with attacks that allowed him an advantage of around a minute.
Behind the Solowattaggio team kept the pace high in the pursuit pack along Mott Farm Road and up the early slopes of Gate Hill. Gaffuri finished the work of his teammates and chased after Arroyo.
Gaffuri and Arroyo then attacked together on Cheescote, but the Mexican couldn’t keep up and was left on the first steep 18% section of the climb. Gaffuri took first at the top, Arroyo second and Jaime Vergara (Colombia) led the chasing group of 15 riders a few seconds back to take third.
When it came back to Alpine Hill, 2022 runner-up Mattia Gaffuri (Solowattaggio) stayed in the lead of the race, increasing the lead over his rivals. The chase gave up victory and everything was focused on completing the podium, in search of the five places that remained at stake to join the new professional race of the UCI in 2024 as “Team GFNY”.
For her part in the women’s race, Italian Chiara Doni, from the Solowattaggio team, dominated from start to finish, who took the victory with a time of 3:43:09 and a solid advantage of 4 and a half minutes over her compatriot. Annalisa Prato and defending champion Samantha Arnaudo, both from Team Officine Mattio who crossed the hand line.
“In 2024, amateurs will have the opportunity to follow the UCI professionals on this same course. It will be amazing to see what the professionals do on this course that does not favor a specialist but is really made for riders who can ride.
“I think Team GFNY, the top six finishers this year, will put on a great show with the pro peloton and show what level of riders they are on May 19, 2024,” said the CEO and Race Director of GFNY, Uli Fluhme.
Results Male Branch
1.- Mattia Gaffuri Swatt Club 3:27:32
2.- Benjamin De Vicente Cyclingwolf 3:34:26
3.- Jonathan Jiménez Zipaquira Land of Champions 3:34:27
4.- Diego Vasquez Independent 3:34:27
5.- Francesco De Candido Swatt Club 3:34:27
Results Women’s Branch
1.- Chiara Doni Swatt Club 3:43:09
2.- Annalisa Prato Officine Mattio 3:47:56
3.- Samantha Arnaudo Officine Mattio 3:47:56
4.- Juliana Cipriano Escalera CC 4:00:53
5.- Kai Luigend Independent 4:06:31