A feast for climbers in one of Europe’s sunniest regions

New York City, July 24, 2025 – This Sunday, the alpine village of Orcières Merlette will host GFNY Orcières which offers riders a 158 km long course with a whopping 4,461 meters of elevation gain. 

Nestled in the stunning Champsaur Valley in the French Hautes-Alpes, Orcières Merlette sits at an altitude of 1,850 meters, with nearby slopes reaching up to 2,725 meters. The host town boasts a rich cycling history, having welcomed five Tour stage finishes, the first in 1971 with a victory by Spanish cycling legend Luis Ocaña. The most recent Tour arrival took place in 2020, reinforcing Orcières’ legacy as a premier destination for mountain cycling.

“I’ve been lucky enough to travel the world with my bike to race and ride in many great places,” says GFNY CEO Uli Fluhme. “And hands down the Haute Alpes region is in my personal top three of most spectacular places to ride. Orcières sits in the middle of an area boasting 300 days of sunshine per year, is surrounded by snow covered peaks with glaciers and oozes cycling history every step of the way, wherever you ride. A week (or three) of vacation combined with racing GFNY Orciéres is what a cycling fanatic’s dreams are made of.”

Race week festivities will take place at Place du Drapeaux, serving as the hub of all GFNY Orcières activities. Highlights include the fun and scenic GFNY Orcières group rides on Friday and Saturday, exclusively for GFNY Club and Camp members. Additionally, the weekend will kick off with a lively opening concert and aperitif on Friday evening at the Bowling du Palais des Sports de la Grande Ourse.

Website: orcieres.gfny.com

About GFNY Global Endurance Sports Series

GFNY Global Endurance Sports Series is a sports event company with three decades of experience in racing, planning and organizing events. The global endurance sports brand hosts multiple events throughout the year around the world on five continents.

Working with partners around the world to deliver a first-class experience, GFNY Global Endurance Sports Series puts its athletes first.

The official GFNY website is: gfny.com.

Cycling – Mass Participation

Dozens of races held around the world. View the latest calendar here.

Riders get to BE A PRO FOR A DAY ® by competing against others, themselves and the clock in a personal endurance challenge.

Top 10% (20% at regional championships) of finishers in each age group qualify for the Elite Qualifier Corral at every GFNY event.

Michelob ULTRA GFNY World Championship NYC

The 14th annual Michelob ULTRA GFNY World Championship New York will be held on May 17, 2026. Athletes take on a challenging route to compete against each other, the clock, and themselves in a personal endurance challenge.

The official Michelob ULTRA GFNY World Championship NYC website is NYC.GFNY.COM.

Cycling – Pro Racing

At Gran Premio New York City, professional teams race the same course as riders at the Michelob ULTRA GFNY World Championship NYC – but with a 10-minute head start. The third edition will be held on May 17, 2026.

Adding a women’s pro race would elevate the event further. The proposed format would have women starting 45 minutes ahead of the men’s pro race, giving them their own stage. However, the extended road closures required for this addition increase costs by $100,000.

For those interested in supporting women’s racing, GFNY is inviting companies and organizations to help sponsor this important addition. Contact GFNY to discuss partnership opportunities.

The official Gran Premio New York City website is GP.GFNY.COM.

Further Material for Media Use

Official GFNY Orcières 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,