17 new age groups world champions crowned in Veneto

Besides the Elite men and women, also age groups riders had the option to compete for worlds in these first UCI Gravel World Championships in between Vicenza and Cittadella.

The races on Saturday were split in two behind the women elite with all men age groups over 50 starting 15 minutes later followed by all women age groups in one start wave.

In the men 50-54, Ibon Zugasti Arrese (ESP) outsprinted Jean Stephan Mifsude (FRA) on the line to take the worldtitle with Tino Haakman (NED) in third.

Jan Olav Beitmyren (NOR) got the M55-59 worldtitle, in a 5 group sprint before Jan Weevers (NED) and Thomas Brixen (DEN).
Dirk Claes (BEL) is the new M60-64 world champion in gravel. He was 1m06 ahead of Andrew Meo (NZL) with René Vallée (FRA) coming in third 8 minutes behind the winner.

The first UCI Gravel world title in the M65-69 age group is for Bo Dertell (SWE) who finished 4 minutes ahead of Jos Van Dorp (NED) with Roger Barret (FRA) in third.

Régis Pinson (FRA) won the first M70-74 wordtitle with a large 41 minute gap to Richard Mull (USA) and Pierre Cubedo (FRA) in third.
Robert Braszell (AUS) took the last worldtitle in the older male categories winning the M75-79 age group.

In the youngest female age group, Sara Mazzorana (ITA) won the gold medal in the F19-34 with a short lead to Finja Smekal (GER) while Nicole D’Agostin (ITA) got the bronze medal.

The first F35-39 world champion is Chiara Ciuffini (ITA) after already winning the granfondo world title in 2013. Monika Wrona (POL) got the silver medal while Isabelle Beckers (BEL) took bronze.

The F40-44 world champion is Jannitta Van den Brink-Spigt (NED) in a close battle with Sofie Rosencrantz (SWE) while Ilenia Lazzaro (ITA) took third spot.

Cinzia Sartori (ITA) is the new F45-49 world champion in a tight sprint with her compatriot Lorena Zocca (ITA) while multiple granfondo world champion Molly Van Houweling (USA) got the bronze medal.

Antonella Incristi (ITA) finished 6 minutes ahead of Bizzy Butterworth (AUS) to take the F50-54 world title. Judith Van Maanen (NED) scored the bronze medal.

Dale Mazels (AUS) was the strongest in the F55-59 age group beating Ernestine Von Der Osten-Sacksen (GER).

The final world title on Saturday was for Debra Kempe (AUS) winning the F60-64 category.

On Sunday, the men age groups were split in two start waves with 19-34 together with 35-39 while the men 40-44 and 45-49 were also combined in one start.

In the M19-34, Kevin Panhuyzen (BEL) got away on the final lap to win the gold medal before Bas Van der Kooij (NED) and Kenneth Coomans (BEL) for a close finish as three riders finished separated by only 8 seconds.

Bommel Henning (GER) is the new M35-39 world champion, beating Eduardo Alonso (ESP) and Davide Fumagalli (ITA) by 6 minutes.

Igor Zanetti (ITA) beated Samuel Brännlund (SWE) and Cédric Amand (FRA) with a comfortable 4 minutes gap to take the M40-44 world title.

The last rainbow jersey of the weekend was for Joan Sebastian Horrach Ripoll (ESP) before Fred Voldset (NOR) with Cedrick Dubois (FRA) in third.

In the end 560 riders from 39 different nationalities competed for the 19 different world titles on the strade bianche of Veneto, a flat and fast urban gravel race which required technical skills but also power and condition.

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