Wu Yunfei wins 2022 edition of GF Yunnan

The 2022 edition of the Colourful Yunnan Granfondo Cycling Festival, better known internationally as Granfondo Yunnan, is a wrap - and a successful one despite the difficult circumstances. This year’s edition had to be reduced to four stages in four cities due to ongoing covid mitigation efforts in China. Registration was also capped at 600, which was nevertheless sold out in less than 24 hours. As covid cases have been on the rise in the mainland again, a “closed-loop management” was imposed on participants, essentially restricting social activities, which caused many to defer to 2023. However, the remaining peloton of about 400 riders had a fantastic week of cycling in Yuxi-Chengjiang, Chuxiong, Dali and Lijiang. The weather played ball and riders were greeted with sunshine every morning. Nordic Ways and the entire event management team of Granfondo Yunnan wishes to thank every single person who made the big effort of coming to our event this year. You are all our heroes, and your support, understanding and respect for the official regulations will ensure the event will be back in full swing next November 2023!

The most successful riders of the week were Wu Yunfei in the men’s category and He Chong in the women’s. Wu Yunfei won 3 of the 4 stages, only Dali went to He Shan, and took the GC with a convincing win on the Jade Dragon Snow Mountain in Lijiang - the traditional finish venue of the event at 3200m above sea level. Artsiom Rusanenka, a GFY veteran in the mean time, had his best performance ever with second in GC, and Wubao Chao was third. Female champion He Chong held onto her GC lead in Lijiang after a strong climb up by Li Si. Wang Xinge was third overall.

Next year’s edition of Granfondo Yunnan will be the official 10-year-anniversary. We hope to be able to start communicating details at the latest after Chinese New Year in February.