The UCI professional race takes place alongside the 14th edition of GFNY New York City on May 17th, 2026

 

 

NEW YORK CITY, May 13, 2026 – The third edition of Gran Premio New York City (GP NYC) will take place on May 17, 2026, as a UCI-sanctioned professional road race held on the same course and on the same day as the Michelob ULTRA GFNY World Championship New York City (GFNY NYC) . The professional peloton will start approximately ten minutes ahead of the mass-participation field. The two events are conducted as separate competitions under their respective regulations, sharing the same roads and infrastructure.

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“GPNYC and GFNY NYC are built on the idea that professional racing and open racing don’t have to exist in isolation,” said co-founder and CEO of GFNY Uli Fluhme.  “Other disciplines, including gravel, have already demonstrated the value of proximity between elite and amateur competition. In New York City, we are applying that principle to road racing—step by step—while maintaining sporting and operational integrity.”

New York City as the Stage

Founded in 2011, GFNY has grown into a global competitive structure culminating each year in New York City. Gran Premio New York City represents the professional expression of that structure and demonstrates how professional racing can take place alongside mass participation without mixing rules, fields, or objectives.

 

A FORMAT THAT CHALLENGES CONVENTION

Staging a professional race alongside a mass-participation event on the same course and day remains rare in road cycling. GFNY continues to develop this model to increase scale, enhance sponsor visibility, and reconnect fans and participants with the professional peloton.

Mass participation racing also serves as a development pathway. Riders must manage pacing, nutrition, and race tactics independently over long distances—skills directly transferable to elite competition. GFNY’s “Be a Pro for a Day” concept reflects this progression, culminating in opportunities such as Team GFNY Pro, where top performers earn the chance to compete in a UCI race.

GFNY’s approach is grounded in cycling’s core characteristics—endurance, accessibility, and direct participation—while incorporating modern technology and global reach to create a more sustainable model for the sport.

 

THE COURSE

120 pros from 20 teams line up ten minutes before the thousands of amateurs on the closed-to-traffic lower level of the world’s busiest bridge, George Washington Bridge on May 17, 2026. 

The 85-mile (137 km) course mirrors a Belgian spring classic, featuring rolling terrain and selective climbs suited to all-around riders. The route travels through Bergen County and Rockland County before finishing in Fort Lee, New Jersey.

 

GRAN PREMIO NEW YORK CITY: RACE PREVIEW 

The third edition of GP NYC features a strong international field of UCI Continental and Elite teams from across the Americas and Europe.

 

UCI CONTINENTAL TEAMS

Among the favorites is Team Skyline (USA), alongside prominent squads such as NU Colombia and Team Medellín-EPM (COL). Additional contenders include Project Echelon Racing, Meridian Racing p/b de la Uz, Competitive Edge Racing, and APS Pro Cycling (USA), as well as Canel’s Java and Petrolike (MEX) and Universe Cycling Team (NED).

 

TEAM GFNY PRO

A unique element of GP NYC is Team GFNY Pro, composed of top GFNY performers competing alongside professional teams:

• Jose Miguel Reyes (MEX) – 1st GFNY San Luis Potosi & Aguascalientes ‘26
• Diego Galvez Cuan (MEX) – 1st GFNY Cozumel 2025
• Felipe Aros (USA) – 1st GFNY Miami 2026
• Ismael Collado (DOM) – 2nd GFNY Sebring 2021 & 2nd GFNY Maryland 2024
• Cristopher Hans Torres Ramirez (MEX) – 1st GFNY Cozumel 2022

Team GFNY Pro illustrates a direct pathway between mass participation and professional racing.

 

ELITE CLUB TEAMS

Elite club teams further strengthen the field, including NYC-based Jamison Racing Team, Big Hit Racing, and Good Guys Racing NYC. Additional teams include Visit Pittsburgh Cycling Team (USA), Hustle Pro Cycling and Les Rouleurs (CAN), Inteja Inca (DOM), and Belgium’s K.O.F.M. x Thielemans–Bildin–Van Eyck Sport Cycling Team.

Together, these elite teams will put it all on the line for a chance to compete at the highest level and make their mark at GP NYC.

 

MICHELOB ULTRA GFNY WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP NYC: RACE PREVIEW 

The 14th annual Michelob Ultra GFNY World Championship NYC starts shortly after GP NYC on the same course. Unlike many mass-participation events that increasingly focus on shorter or recreational formats, GFNY NYC remains centered around one demanding long-distance race. The result is a highly committed and performance-oriented international field that reflects GFNY’s core philosophy: Be A Pro For A Day.

Italian riders have dominated the event in recent years, but the 2026 edition presents a more open field. Competitors from the United States, Mexico, Colombia, and more than 70 countries will contend for victory, with no clear pre-race favorite.

NOTABLE PARTICIPANTS

Former professional cyclist Raúl Alcalá will again take part in GFNY NYC, while U.S. cycling legend Nelson Vails will be part of the pro race convoy.

 

GFNY RACE WEEK

GFNY Welcome Zone & Café

* May 15–16: 8:00 AM – 3:00 PM

* May 17 (Race Day): 8:00 AM – 3:00 PM

* Location: PIP Park, Fort Lee, NJ

A central meeting point for riders, spectators, and families throughout race week.

New York City Bike Expo

* May 15–17, 2026

* 10:00 AM – 6:00 PM

* Location: PIP Park, Fort Lee, NJ

Featuring brands such as Michelob ULTRA, Van Rysel, and official GFNY merchandise.

GFNY TECHNOLOGY & RANKINGS

GFNY’s integrated platform allows riders to manage registrations, results, and rankings globally. The system supports 30 languages and tracks progress toward achievements such as multi-finisher medals and qualification for priority start corrals.

The GFNY Ranking system awards points based on performance in the competitive long route or participation in the medium route. A rider’s best three results per calendar year determine their ranking, creating a consistent global benchmark across all GFNY events.

 

About GFNY

GFNY is an international cycling organization that designs, owns, and operates a structured system of races worldwide. Its competitive hierarchy connects GFNY races with National and Continental Championships, culminating in the GFNY World Championship in New York City. This progression is known as the GFNY Road to NYC.

GFNY events feature fully timed racing with age-group competition and are open to a wide range of riders, combining competitive structure with accessible participation. GFNY operates its own integrated registration, results, and ranking system, maintaining direct relationships with participants across all events. While road cycling is its foundation, GFNY also operates select events in gravel, mountain bike, and running within the same competitive framework.

Website: gfny.com

 

GFNY Pro Series

The GFNY Pro Series places UCI-sanctioned professional races directly alongside GFNY mass-participation events using the same courses and the same road closures.

Professional fields start minutes ahead of the GFNY mass peloton, creating a shared race environment while maintaining clear competitive separation. This format increases visibility for teams and sponsors and allows professional racing to operate within existing event infrastructure.

The model was first implemented at Gran Premio New York City, where professional teams race the GFNY World Championship course shortly before the amateur start. GP NYC serves as the template for future Pro Series events.

The GFNY Pro Series expands selectively. Additional UCI races are added only where local conditions, funding, and infrastructure support sustainable professional competition. Planned events include Gran Premio Cozumel, held in conjunction with GFNY Cozumel, pending UCI approval.

GFNY is also evaluating the addition of women’s professional racing within the Pro Series, beginning with a potential women’s race in New York City, developed in partnership with organizations supporting the growth of women’s pro cycling.

The official website of the GFNY Pro Series’ flagship event, Gran Premio New York City, is gp.gfny.com.

 

Further Material for Media Use

Official GFNY Videos: here

GFNY Press Images: here 

GFNY Results: here

GFNY World calendar graphic: here

Previous GFNY press releases: here

 

Media Contact

Gran Fondo New York Inc.

Uli Fluhme,

Caroline Lindsay,