GFNY Punta del Este

Punta del Este is located at the Atlantic Coast in the Maldonado Department of Southeastern Uruguay. Starting as a small town, Punta del Este became internationally known as a premiere seaside resort. Punta del Este has been referred to as “The Pearl of the Atlantic”,  and “The Monaco of the South”, making it a riviera destination in South America. 

During race week, the AWA Boutique & Design Hotel is the place to be for all GFNY activities including  the expo, packet pickup/registration, and pre-race group rides. The start line and post-race activities are located a few short kilometers away, at the Parador Pedro Figari. The GFNY Uruguay team has created two beautiful courses for the 2022 edition of GFNY Punta del Este. The long competitive course clocks in at 172.8 kilometers, and an elevation of 1773m. The medium, non-competitive course, has a total distance of 84.9 kilometers and an elevation of 627m.

Let’s have a closer look at how to tackle GFNY Punta del Este.

Be A Pro For A Day in Paradise.

The start

Your GFNY will start at the Atlantic Coast with a beautiful view ofthe sea. You will follow the coastline for the first 22km of the race before heading inland to the hilly hinterlands of Uruguay. As you leave the coast you will arrive at the first hilly section of the course. El Chorro is the name of the first selection, at only 800m, El Chorro is not that long, but long enough to create a little early action and provides a chance to drop some riders. But take our advice, it would not be wise to go full gas on this first section, as you still need to race 150km and with a number of hills that will follow later on the course. After 54km of racing the medium course riders will head South back to Punta del Este, and along the way they will pass by the Laguna before getting back to the coastline. If you are riding the long course, it is at this split where the start of the 2nd hill will greet you.

The Climbs Will Come Thick and Fast – 4 Climbs in Less Than 30km

Cerro Negro is the second obastacle of the day, a 400m hill, short enough to test your legs and check how strong the riders in your group are. The following hills will come one after the other – very quickly. Ten km later you will get to conquer Pueblo Edén which is 1.1km long. As you summit Pueblo Eden you are still not quite half-way through the course so make sure that you don’t start to burn too much energy on these hills. Los Hermanos, another 1.1km hill, will follow 8km later. The last challenge of this hilly section is Zanje del Tigre. This hill is also the longest on the GFNY Uruguay Course. Zanje del Tigre clocks in at 3.6km long, the perfect type of hill for dropping other riders, but it’s still long to the finish, with one more climb to go, but the hardest part of the long course is now behind you.

El Ramallo will be the next categorized climb on the GFNY Punta del Este Long Course. You will reach El Ramallo after 106km of racing, and at 600m it will be long enough for you to drop some riders, but you still have more than 60 km of racing to go. Once you reach the top of El Ramallo the course will be mostly downhill as you make your way back to the coastline.

Punta Ballena is your last chance to drop riders in your group, and this will be the last categorized hill during your race. As you summit Punta Ballena there is 12km left to cover to the finish line at Punta del Este. If you want to go solo, make sure you check where the wind is coming from, because it can be very windy on the coastline, and you don’t want other riders to reel you in as you fight the wind.

Make sure that you drink and eat throughout the course, as a hilly course of this length requires a lot of energy.

GFNY Peru

GFNY Peru is one of the most interesting challenges of the GFNY World series: high altitude, climbing, fast flat sections, and a downhill finish that is sure to put a smile on your face. 

The race totals 82 miles or 132 km, with a total elevation gain of 5900 feet/1800 meters. 

More than the climbing, though, the altitude will most likely be the biggest challenge of the race as the starting altitude is at 11,180 feet (3400 meters) and reaching its highest point at 12,400 feet (3780 meters).

Adjusting to high altitudes is all about acclimatization, but it takes your body days (or even weeks) to fully get used to being at a higher elevation.

Be A Pro For A Day in Paradise.

The Start

GFNY Peru will have you gasping for breath from the gun, with a difficult climb to open the day. Nearly straight off the starting line we hit a 4.5 mile (7.3 km) climb, taking you up to the high-point of the course at 12,400 feet (3780 meters). 

The climb averages around a 5% gradient, but the altitude will make it tougher, and it will be enough to break the race up from the gun. 

If you are hoping to finish in a reasonable time are well advised to take this climb steady and save your legs. However, after the first climb there is a long descent to recover, so you won’t have to worry too much about blowing up early as you’ll have a long time to recover. 

However, if you are aspiring to the podium, you will need to do your best to make the front group over this climb, or it will be difficult to get back on during the descent. So, if the podium is your goal, a good pre-race warm up is a great idea to be prepared to hit the climb hard.

A Long Descent to Recover

After the first climb the race makes its way down a very long descent of nearly 20 kilometers in length. This epic downhill takes you to the low point on the course. These types of descents are almost always repeated later in the day as a climb, so if you haven’t done a course preview, use this descent to familiarize yourself with the last climb of the day. 

You will want to avoid taking too many risks and ride within yourself on this downhill. However, after the descent is a long valley section where being in a group will be important. So, if you reach the top of the climb with a group, you should try to stay with them on the downhill. It’s always a good thing to have riders to work with on the flatter part of the course.

The Valley

Once you are off the climb the race comes to a long valley section of nearly 70 kilometers in length. This section is mostly flat and fast, and if you have never ridden at elevation before, you will see why so many world record attempts are done at altitude: it’s fast! You will fly along the flat sections on the way to the turnaround. 

The turn-around is at 65 km/40 miles into the race. Just before the turnaround is the only climb of this section, a small bump that will take you to the U-turn where you will start heading back to Cusco.

Heading back could be even faster than heading out in the valley, as it’s slightly downhill towards the main challenge of the day; the long climb that will take you to the outskirts of Cusco and the highest point on the course.

The Climb

There’s no doubt that the most difficult challenge of GFNY Peru comes at the very end. 

The biggest climb of the day is a 19 km/11.6 mile long drag that takes you well above Cusco before a fast plunge to the finish. 

The average gradient is only 4.2%, so it’s not an overly steep climb. However, that average includes a few small downhill sections, so much of the climbing is steeper than the average. Not only that, but the climb kicks up with several steep sections near the top, where the altitude is at or above 12,000 feet. The gradient will combine with the altitude to make the climb tougher than distance or gradient suggests. 

It’s best to tackle this climb at a good rhythm and hold back in the first half. Should you begin to suffer at altitude, it’s hard to recover, so if you start at too hard a pace, it’s very likely you will pay for it later in the climb. 

Arriving at the top of the climb, a small plateau awaits before starting the descent. For those at the front racing hard, this could be a crucial spot: a chance to chase down riders who dropped you on the climb, a chance to attack before the descent, or a chance to roll through with a small group and make good time. 

This 5 km flat section can be taken at a more tranquil pace for those further back. It’s a good chance to stay on the pedals and make progress, but you should soak up the accomplishment of the climb and know that the finish line is near.

Descent to the Finish

This fast descent will drop you back into the city of Cusco before one final stretch to the finish line. 

Take note that the descent is on a different road than the climb seen early in the race. The initial part of the descent is fast and straight, but as you enter the city it becomes technical with plenty of curves and a few switchbacks. It’s worth having caution as this section is technical and you will likely be a bit tired. 

The descent bottoms out just 2 km from the finish. This final 2km stretch to the finish line is slightly uphill and not too technical. A few turns will take you through town before arriving at a long finish stretch. 

The final drag to the finish line is over 500 meters out of the last corner and up a false-flat drag. This long finish stretch will give you the opportunity for one last explosive effort if you are racing from the win or just challenging the other riders in your group.

GFNY Cannes

The city of Cannes is located on the French Riviera, and is part of the Alpes-Maritimes Department in the Provence-Alpes-Côte d’Azur Region in the Southeast of France. Cannes is host city of the annual Cannes Film Festival which takes place at Palais de Festival et des Congrès. Known for its association with the rich and famous, Cannes’s luxury hotels and restaurants are a key component of tourism in this beautiful city. With direct flights from over 90 destinations and nearly 50 airlines, Nice Côte d’Azur Airport makes your trip to GFNY Cannes incredibly easy! A quick 30 minute drive will take you from Nice airport to Cannes.

During race week, Palais des festivals is the place to be for all GFNY Activities such as the expo, pre-race group rides.  The GFNY France team has created two beautiful courses for this inaugural GFNY Cannes. The long competitive course clocks in at 110 kilometer, and an elevation of 2024m. The medium, the non-competitive course has a total distance of 57 kilometers and an elevation of 997m.

Let’s have a closer look on how to tackle the GFNY Cannes course and Be A Pro For A Day at the French Riviera.

Be A Pro For A Day in Paradise.

The start

Your GFNY will start in front of the Mediterranean sea along the boulevard du Midi, at the beautiful beach of Cannes La Bocca. You will leave the historic seaside commune of Mandelieu La Napoule and head inland to the beautiful hinterland. After 11km of racing on flat roads you will reach the town Pégomas, that’s where you will hit the first climb of GFNY Cannes, Col de Tanneron.

Col de Tanneron

Col de Tanneron is a  very cold climb as the race starts early and the sun hasn’t reached that side of the climb yet. It’s a 7.5km long climb with an average of 4.5%, and a very steady climb which is doable for your first GFNY of the year. You will need to be carefull, the climb has a short downhill part, it can be wet with morning dew which makes the road slippery so stay focused and  pay attention on those corners while descending.

After a fast 5km descent and 5km nore of climbing you will now reach the point where the Medium Course and the Long Course will split.

After 38.6 km racing on the Long course, you will hit a short but very steep hill, not longer than 300m but with more than 13% it will take some energy to get up, make sure you shift back before you take the right hand turn.

Col d’Avaye

Your second climb on the GFNY Cannes course will begin after 45km of racing. Col d’Avaye is a 13.7km long climb with an average gradient of 4.1%. You will see that the climb will be in 2 parts so you will be able to recover from the first part before hitting the second part.

The most difficult parts of GFNY Cannes are complete once you reach the top of Col d’Avaye. You will be rewarded with a long descent and rolling hills for the next 35km. After 90km of racing you will cross the amazing Lac de Saint-Cassien, take a moment to enjoy the view before heading to the final stretch of GFNY Cannes. You will need to conquer 2 more climbs of 2km which are following each other shortly. This is where the run to the finish will begin. You will be 15km from the finish line and this is where you can make your final move, or, you can wait for the short steep hill with the top on only 3km from the finish. This is a perfect spot to launch a last attack if you don’t want to count on your sprint to take the overall win or beat your friends. GFNY Cannes will finish after 110 km of racing at Plage de la Bocca where you will receive your finisher medal and enjoy the post-race activities.

GFNY Republica Dominicana

GFNY Republica Dominicana will take place in Punta Cana, the resort town located in the most eastern part of República Dominicana. Punta Cana is the second most popular tourist destination in Latin America. You will be able to enjoy the white sand beaches, blue turquoise water, and tropical weather. There are direct flights from 28 countries to the Punta Cana Airport which is only 15min away from the Punta Cana Area.

During race week, Blue Mall Punta Cana is the place to be for all GFNY activities such as the expo, pre-race group rides, the start & finish line, and post-race activities. The GFNY Republica Dominicana team has created two beautiful courses for this GFNY. The long competitive course clocks in at 149.7 kilometer, and an elevation of 962m. The medium, the non-competitive course has a total distance of 93.8 kilometers and an elevation of 381m.

Let’s have a closer look on how to tackle the GFNY Republica Dominicana course and what to expect on race day.

Be A Pro For A Day in Paradise.

The Start

Make sure that you have a short warm up, because GFNY Republica Dominicana field will take off fast. Check the weather forecast to know where the wind will be coming from. If the wind comes from the east then you will have the first 10km with the wind from your right side. Try to cover yourself from the wind by staying in a group and don’t waste your energy in the early part of the race. After 10km the course will turn to the left, and this means that you will have a tailwind and that the speed of the race field will increase.

The first 47km are the easiest, with a few rolling hills and a likely tailwind. Be smart and don’t burn too much energy yet, and find yourself a group that matches your speed to work with. Be sure to eat and drink enough during the first 47km as you will need to keep your energy topped up. The Medium Course Riders will make a small loop 47kilometers in, and they will head back to Punta Cana to finish their GFNY race day.

The next 20km you will be your last chance for active recovery before making the U-turn and heading back to Punta Cana. The long competitive course doesn’t go out and back on the same road. You will have a 30km loop in the hinterland of República Dominicana where you will experience some rolling hills. This 30km section is where you can attack and try to drop some of the riders in your group.

At 117 kilometers into the course, you will make your way back to the road that will take you back to Punta Cana. You are riding to the east and you will now have the head wind for the next 20km before the course turns more to the right and the wind will come from your left side. The last 10km of GFNY Republica Dominicana is another opportunity to attack and see if you can drop a few riders using the difficulty of the wind as your motivation for going harder.