Paul Kennedy wins gold at UCI Gran Fondo World Champs, Denmark

Paul Kennedy has been crowned world champion at the UCI Gran Fondo World Championships in Denmark today (Photo: Gary McIlroy)

Paul Kennedy has been crowned world champion, in the TT discipline, at the UCI Grand Fondo World Championships in Aalborg, Denmark, today.

A top tester on the home scene, who has medaled previously at the Gran Fondo Worlds, Kennedy was best in a 65-rider field featuring riders from around the globe, winning in a blistering average speed and by the smallest of margins.

In the 40-44 year age group, the Irishman was just one second up on Reidar Borgersen of Norway, with Kennedy averaging 48.41km per hour around the 33.13km course, clocking a time of 41:03.

However, while the margin between gold and silver could not have been closer, there was slightly more daylight back to bronze medal winner, Jeppe Rob Tolbøll; the Dane finishing 45 seconds down on new world champion Kennedy.

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Ireland's John Madden, a national championships winner in the Masters category, came very close to a medal; finishing 4th in the 60-64 years category. Madden was just five seconds off bronze medal winner Laurits Thorning Jakobsen (Denmark).

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The Irish women also rode very well, with Hazel Smyth 13th in the 40-44 years category while Karen Hull 15th in the 45-49 years age group.

Jacinta Moore placed 14th in the 65-69 years category, while Aisling Coppinger was 25th in the 50-54 years age group.

In the men's races, Colin Calvin was 23rd in the men's 35-39 years ago group, with James Gordon 29th in the same age group. John Martin McElroy was 50th in the men's 45-49 category, with Mark Kelly 54th and Barry Holian 64th.

In the 50-54 years category, Philip Loughlin was 40th, with Robert Cummins 47th. In the 55-59 category, Christopher Reilly was 28th.

Thurs, Aug 29th | UCI Gran Fondo World Champs

Men's TT 40-44 Years

  1. Paul KENNEDY Ireland 41:03 48.41 km/h
  2. Reidar BORGERSEN Norway 41:04 +0:00 48.40 km/h
  3. Jeppe Tolbøll Denmark 41:48 +0:44 47.55 km/h
  4. Kyle GRAY New Zealand 42:14 +1:10 47.06 km/h
  5. Vincent BONORA France 42:25 +1:21 46.87 km/h
  6. Ioannis ZENTELIS Greece 42:26 +1:22 46.84 km/h
  7. Tomáš KOTRLÍK Czechia 42:30 +1:26 46.77 km/h
  8. Blake J. POND Great Britain 42:34 +1:30 46.69 km/h
  9. Nelson Eduardo PINTO Portugal 42:44 +1:40 46.51 km/h
  10. Roman LOCHER Switzerland 42:56 +1:52 46.30 km/h
  11. Marcel BERGELT Germany 42:58 +1:54 46.26 km/h
  12. Ariel CONCHA MORALES Chile 43:01 +1:57 46.21 km/h
  13. Marcel SCHUSTER Germany 43:15 +2:11 45.96 km/h
  14. Frank KOBEL Germany 43:18 +2:14 45.90 km/h
  15. Timmy DE BOES Belgium 43:22 +2:18 45.83 km/h

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