One course, one race: international field takes on 100 kilometers of fast road racing at the GFNY European Championship in Germany

New York City, August 31, 2026 – The second edition of GFNY Bremen brought 2,000 registered riders from 40 countries to northern Germany on Sunday for 100 kilometers of fast road racing through Bremen and the surrounding Lower Saxony countryside.

Serving as the GFNY European Championship, the race brought together an international field ranging from overall and age-group contenders to amateur cyclists pursuing their own personal goals.

The race started at Bremen’s historic Tabakquartier with five neutralized kilometers before racing began near Bremen Airport. At kilometer 16, riders entered the main countryside loop, which they completed twice before heading back toward Bremen.

The predominantly flat course produced fast racing, but offered few opportunities to relax. Open roads exposed the field to the gusty wind, frequent changes of direction placed a premium on positioning, and a 500-meter cobbled sector added a touch of northern European classic-style racing.

Burmeister and Joos Crowned GFNY European Champions

Seppe Joos from Belgium won the men’s race in 2:20:41. A group of five had split away on the cobbles of Kirchseelte after 20k, working well together and increasing their lead to two and a half minutes to the large peloton. Joos outsprinted Dutch rider Teun van der Heide and German Janik Lier. 

In the women’s race, German Carmen Burmeister defended her title in 2:22:25 ahead of Linda Kuiper and Lisa-Julie Wehling.

By winning the European Championship, Burmeister and Joos punched their ticket for a fully paid trip to the Michelob Ultra GFNY World Championship in New York City next May.

“Bremen shows that you don’t need mountains to create demanding road racing,” said GFNY Race Director Uli Fluhme. “Wind, positioning and repeated accelerations can make a fast, flat race extremely selective. Put 2,000 riders on the same course and you get a very different experience from a traditional cycling tour.”

One Race from the Front to the Final Finisher

The official timing finish came at kilometer 93 on a long straight designed for high-speed finishes. Riders then completed the final kilometers back to Tabakquartier under neutralized conditions, where they received their finisher medals and joined the post-race celebrations and awards ceremony.

Every rider was individually timed and ranked overall and within their age group.

At the GFNY European Championship, Bremen also carried enhanced qualification status. The top 20% of finishers in each age group earned placement in the Qualifier Corral at every GFNY race for the following 380 days.

The field represented 40 countries while maintaining a strong local presence, with riders from Bremen and communities throughout the race course competing alongside cyclists who had traveled internationally to Germany.

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.

The official GFNY website is: gfny.com.

About the Michelob ULTRA GFNY World Championship NYC

The Michelob ULTRA GFNY World Championship New York City is GFNY’s flagship race and the final step on the GFNY Road to NYC.

Held annually on a challenging road course in and around New York City, the event brings together riders from more than 90 countries who have earned their place through GFNY races and championships worldwide.

The official website of the Michelob ULTRA GFNY World Championship NYC is 

NYC.GFNY.COM.

GFNY Pro Series

The GFNY Pro Series is GFNY’s professional racing platform, built around an integrated Pro–Am format in which UCI-sanctioned professional races are held on the same courses and weekends as GFNY mass-participation events. The format was pioneered at Gran Premio New York City and is expanding selectively to additional locations.

Website: gp.gfny.com

Further Material for Media Use

Official GFNY Bremen Video: 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,