In a world premiere, thousands of riders at the Michelob Ultra GFNY World Championship NYC chased the pros of the inaugural Gran Premio New York City

 

 

NEW YORK CITY, May 21, 2024 – Tibor del Grosso (Netherlands) of Alpecin-Deceuninck took the win at the inaugural Gran Premio New York City. The peloton of the first ever UCI pro race in New York was chased by thousands of riders of the 12th Michelob Ultra GFNY World Championship NYC. The GFNY race was won by the Italians Lorenza Beccaria and Manuele Caddeo (both Team Officine Mattio).

 

Gran Premio New York City

The 135.8 km, Belgian classic style course with 2000m of climbing was raced hard and fast from the gun. Belgian teams Lotto dstny and Alpecin-Deceuninck as well as the Colombians of Team Medellin took charge. It was so fast that several the Continental Pro and Elite riders got dropped in the early hills and had to settle for riding home in the GFNY field close behind.

Just as at GFNY so often and with 70 km into the race, Gate Hill and Cheesecote proved decisive yet again. Johannes Adamietz and Milan Donie (both Lotto dstny), Tibor Del Grosso (Alpecin-Deceuninck) and Wilmar Paredes (Team Medellin) successfully got away and were able to increase their gap to 45 seconds. 

The riders of Pro Tour team VF-Group Bardiani CS -Faizan tried to organize the chase but with three top teams present in the lead group, they didn’t get much support. With 40km to go, a chase group formed, containing Kristian Sbaragli (Corratec – Vini Fantani), Joshua Burnett (MitoQ – NZ Cycling Project), Laurent Gervais (Project Echelon), Guus van den Eijden (Alpecin-Deceuninck) and Francis Izquierdo-Bernier (Cannondale Echelon p/b 4iii) formed. But it was too late to reach the front.

In the uphill sprint to the finish line in sight of George Washington Bridge where the start was held at 7 am, U23 cyclocross world champ Del Grosso proved the strongest, outsprinting Paredes and Adamietz. 

[Gran Premio New York City full results]

 

Michelob Ultra GFNY World Championship NYC

Thousands of riders had to wait a seemingly eternal ten minutes more on George Washington Bridge before they were let loose to chase the pros who had started ahead of them. Racing the same course, UCI officials were concerned the amateurs would stand a chance to catch the pros. 

However, the pro race started fast and never let off so the bulk of the pros made it home in time well before the GFNY racers. Apart from 20 DNFs in the pro field, 11 pros who were dropped early, hitched a ride home at the back of the lead groups in the GFNY field.

For the third year in a row, the GFNY race was an Italian affair with Officine Mattio team mates taking the win. In the female race, Lorenza Beccaria dropped Michelob Ultra GFNY Miami champ Emma Drabbe (Ziel CC / Netherlands) on the uphill finish. French Saure Tyffen (also Officine Mattio) completed the podium less than a minute back.

In the male race, Colombian Diego Vazquez – just missing the podium last year – had to settle for second behind Manuele Caddeo. Vazquez was in good spirits after the race, already plotting to win in 2025. Meanwhile Ruben Blanco Companioni of City Bikes Miami brought the American flag back on the podium after a few dry years. To do so, he had to outsprint no one less than US pro legend Brent Bookwalter (BMC).

[Michelob Ultra GFNY World Championship NYC full results] 

 

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 are 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.

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

 

Michelob ULTRA GFNY World Championship NYC

The 13th annual Michelob ULTRA GFNY World Championship New York will be held on May 18, 2025. The race features the world’s most international peloton with riders from over 90 countries. It is so international that it’s often described as the United Nations of cycling. 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

Gran Premio New York City was the inaugural UCI 1.2 pro race on May 19, 2024. Professional teams raced the same course as riders at the Michelob ULTRA GFNY World Championship NYC – but with a 10-minute head start. The second edition will be held on May 18, 2025.

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

 

Further Material for Media Use

Gran Premio New York City press images: here

Gran Premio New York City full results: here

Michelob Ultra GFNY World Championship NYC press images: 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,