Bytager the publication “Stéphane Cognet wins La Fausto Coppi Officine Mattio 2024 in Cuneo”
Stéphane Cognet and Pieter Frolichs are the first foreign winners in the history of the Granfondo Internationale La Fausto Coppi Officine Mattio. 2300 cyclists from 36 countries competed on the two courses of 177 and 111 km and covered the 100 km of the third non-competitive course, the Fauniera Classic.
Source: CP
The thirty-fifth edition of the Granfondo Internationale La Fausto Coppi Officine Mattio set off at 7am from Piazza Galimberti in Cuneo, the start and finish of the race since 1987. The Cuneo event recorded over 2 registrations, with around 300 cyclists at the start of the two competitive courses of 2 and 200 kilometres, supplemented this year by the non-competitive Fauniera Classic course, a 177 km loop which also includes thetagIt was with the other routes the 2 meter summit of the Fauniera pass.
No foreigner had ever imposed himself on the routes of the Cuneo event: this is what happened today, both in the Granfondo won by the Frenchman Stéphane Cognet (OM.CC) and in the Mediofondo which saw the Dutchman Pieter Frolichs (RATPENAT.CC) win. An Italian double in the two women's events with the victories of Roberta Bussone (ASD RODMAN TEAM) and Sonia Passuti (TEAM STAWELD BUZZOLAN).
The figures for the 35th edition of the Granfondo La Fausto Coppi Officine Mattio confirm the global reach of the event with over 500 foreign participants representing 36 nations. After Italy, the countries most present on the starting list are France (97 participants), the Netherlands (81 participants), the United Kingdom (27), the United States of America (18) and Belgium (16). Among the non-continental participants, it is worth noting the 13 entries from Canada, the 10 from Australia, the 12 from Guatemala, and the 7 from Brazil. The age range of those who have chosen to register for the Cuneo race is very wide, with more than sixty years of difference between the youngest runner (17 years old) and the oldest (78 years old).
Once again this year, the weekend of the Granfondo La Fausto Coppi Officine Mattio turned into a moment of celebration for all sports lovers: former marathon runner Elisa Riguardo, former long-distance runner Elena Desderi and long-distance runner Michele Biglione took part in the Olympic parade on Saturday, which saw the flags of the nations present at the start parade through the centre of Cuneo to reach the village in Piazza Galimberti.
A few kilometres after the start in Cuneo, some contenders for the final victory of the Granfondo launched their attack on the plain. In the chasing group, we also find Luca Raggio, winner of the 2023 edition. On the climb of Valmala, five riders remained in the lead: Giacomo Giordano, Manuele Caddeo, Andrea Gallo and Wladimir Cuaz. In Dronero, the advancetagThe first is 2'40" on a group of seven pursuers. On the climb leading to La Piatta Soprana, after about 85 km of racing, Cuaz and Caddeo break away from Gallo and Giordano. Behind them, the pursuit of the seven riders is led by the Frenchman Cognet.
At the foot of the climb of the Colle Fauniera, Cognet breaks away, escapes and sets off in pursuit of the escapees. The Frenchman's comeback is truly impetuous. He overtakes the fugitives and at the top of the Colle Fauniera, he attacks the neutralized descent with a 3'13" lead over the pursuers, a duo now formed by Caddeo and Gallo. The two worked together to catch him, until the foot of the last climb of the day: Madonna del Colletto. Cognet climbs to the top of Madonna del Colletto with a 4-minute lead over Caddeo, further behind is Gallo.
After 5h44'04" Stéphane Cognet (OM.CC) crossed the finish line with a lead of 2'53" over Manuele Caddeo (OM.CC) and 3'49" over Andrea Gallo (MBHBANK COLPACK BALLAN CSB). Great performance by Roberta Bussone (ASD RODMAN TEAM) who, with a time of 6h15'53", won the women's Granfondo, ranking fourteenth overall in the long distance. On the podium, Giulia Bisso (TEAM PROMOTECH – MG KVIS), at 7'31", and Annalisa Prato (OM.CC), at 11'52".
On the Mediofondo course, Pieter Frolichs (RATPENAT.CC) finished in 3h31'33" with a 22" lead over Gabriele Novaira (OM CC) and 1'35" over Andrea Dalmasso (OM.CC). In the women's race, Sonia Passuti (TEAM STAWELD BUZZOLAN) won in 3h51'30" ahead of Iride Bertone (ROERO SPEED BIKE), 12'34" behind, and Lorenza Beccaria (OM.CC), 15'49" behind the finish line.
Stephane Cognet (OM.CC) – Winner of the 35th GF Internazionale La Fausto Coppi Officine Mattio : " After the first climb, I was in a group of 5/6 riders and we were 3 minutes behind the leaders. At the start of the climb of Fauniera, I left the chasing group and caught up with the 4 leading riders. I did the climb alone, flat out, at my own pace and, after the Sanctuary of San Magno, I caught up with Andrea Gallo who was in the lead. At Madonna del Colletto I saw that I was alone. It is a beautiful climb but it is not too fast and I managed to keep the gap. I have been living in Bordighera for four months. I was a professional for two seasons and in the past I had already raced the Fausto Coppi Officine Mattio 5/6 times, always one step off the podium. This year I finally won it. I have been cycling since I was 14 and I am now 42. Experience certainly played an important role because I knew that after the Fauniera the race was not over"
Roberta Bussone (ASD ROADMAN TEAM) – Winner of the 35th GF Internazionale La Fausto Coppi Officine Mattio : " I had already participated in two editions in 2009 and 2010, doing the medium course. After participating in several granfondo races this year, I tried the long course. It is a very demanding race, especially because I often found myself alone. On the climbs I tried to give everything I had, on the descents and in the transfers between the climbs, not to lose too much time. Even if my legs were tired in the final, I managed to get by on the last climb, that's why I am really satisfied with my time. In life I am an employee of the national television Rai advertising, I work for the tax office. I try to find moments in my free time to train. I do it for passion. I have participated in 8 granfondo races this year: I started with the Sanremo, then the Coppa Piemonte, the Bra-Bra and this year I won all the women's granfondo races. I hope to continue my season as I am doing now. I like climbing and I like cycling at altitude. I prefer granfondo races with a lot of elevation because that's where I make the difference.".
Pieter Frolichs (RATPENAT.CC) – Winner of the Mediofondo La Fausto Coppi Officine Mattio : " The start was difficult with some attacks, but the group was still together when we started the climb. We were in a group of fifteen to twenty people. There was still someone in front of us on the climb of Fauniera, we regrouped and climbed two up to the top of Fauniera, continuing together until the last climb. We had decided to stay together on the descent and give it our all, but unfortunately Gabriele Novaira had a technical problem on the descent and I lost him. I kept pushing hard until the finish, I didn't see him and I didn't realize he was so close. I know that last year Gabriele also finished second, but I think he will be first next year because he deserved to win as much as I did"
Sonia Passuti (TEAM STAWELD BUZZOLAN) – Winner of the Mediofondo La Fausto Coppi Officine Mattio : " I would have liked to do the long one but I was too tired this morning, so I decided to listen to my legs and my head and do the medio. On the first climb, I took my rhythm and slowly moved away. From there, I found three guys who gave me a hand on the descents and false flats. Bravo to the organization who kept all the junctions everywhere: hats off to safety because now there are so many risks on the junctions and the routes. It was my first time cycling in the Cuneo area and I have to say it is truly spectacular. Too bad it is so far from home! But congratulations because the areas are beautiful and it would be nice to have some time to be able to come more often. The climbs are magnificent, the landscapes fantastic. I also saw that the people of Cuneo are very attached to this sport!"
Davide Lauro, organizer of the 35th GF La Fausto Coppi Officine Mattio : " A great promotion for our region. This year something truly magical happened in the history of the Fausto Coppi. The edition was won in terms of absolute male podiums by foreign athletes: by the Dutchman Frolichs for the mediofondo, and by the Frenchman Cognet for the granfondo. This bodes well for the years to come and confirms the internationality of this event"
Emma Mana, organizer of the 35th GF Internazionale La Fausto Coppi Officine Mattio : " We are excited for this 35th edition because of the number of registered participants: we have exceeded 2300 people from more than 36 nations. 20% of our participants come from abroad! A great promotion for our territory"
