1000 riders will tackle the 27% monster climb that became viral in 2018

After a two year hiatus due to the pandemic, the 3rd edition of GFNY Chile is expecting 1000 riders. Start and finish of the race will be at Viñedos Veramonte close to Casablanca just outside the capital Santiago de Chile.

The race offers a long, competitive route of 140 km and a non-competitive medium route of 80 km. Chile’s central valley with its beautiful vineyards is the heart of the course. The route crosses Casablanca and will take riders to the Pacific Ocean. From there, they have to tackle the Muro de Tunquen: a now world-famous 27% steep climb up to El Tunquen that went viral in 2018. The video of riders zig zagging up is still making the rounds. The race won’t be won there but can certainly be lost. And any finisher will have to get up El Tunquen, in the saddle or on foot, whatever it takes.

“I’ve raced all over the world but nothing compares to El Tunquen” says GFNY President Lidia Fluhme. “With GFNY Chile we have a race in this beautiful vineyard setting, just outside the amazing Santiago de Chile. And then there is this beast of a climb that costs 100% of your energy and concentration to get up. A few guys around me had to walk, most were zig zagging across the road. What a challenge!”

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 their athletes first.

Cycling

20 plus events around the world. View the 2021-2022 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 Racer Corral at every GFNY World event.

GFNY World Championship NYC

The 10th annual GFNY World Championship New York will be held on May 15, 2022. The race features the world’s most international peloton with riders from over 90 countries. Athletes take on a challenging 100-mile route from NYC to Bear Mountain to Fort Lee to compete against each other, the clock and themselves in a personal endurance challenge.

The official GFNY website is: www.gfny.com.

Further Material for Media Use

GFNY Chile 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.

Jenna van der Heide,

Uli Fluhme,

GFNY Colonia del Sacramento decided in strong quartet sprint to the finish line

Last weekend marked a comeback of GFNY in Uruguay with the first GFNY Colonia del Sacramento. Beautiful sunny weather and unusual calm winds blessed the race that offered a long, competitive route of 148km with 1122m of elevation. 

Already 32k into the race things got pretty heated at the San Juan river and its 3k long 5%-incline climb to Repecho del Pelado.  The front peloton dropped to 20 riders, from which only 15 reached the turning point at beautiful Carmelo, home to vast vineyards, blooming olive groves and luxurious country homes. 

During the last 20k, attacks began for real with only the four strongest of the pack remaining: Argentinian Omar Salim Azzem, ex-pro and local Jorge Bravo, as well as Uruguayans Ivo Weickert and Carlos Pedrozo managed to drop the others and the quartet stayed together until 3k to go.

The Flamme Rouge determined a first long-range attack from Weickert, which only Azeem could follow who then had more in the tank to sprint to win the inaugural GFNY Colonia 2021 in a time of 3:37:41. Weickert finished as close second in 3:37:44. Pedrozo closed out the podium. 

In the women’s competition, Cecilia Caiballet (Argentina) took the win in 3:55:29, with a dominating 13-minute lead to Uruguayan Romilda Porrino. Madelon Gonzalez (Uruguay) rounded out the podium. 

With their overall wins, both champions won a VIP entry at the GFNY World Championship in New York City on May 15, 2022, where they will face much stiffer competition on a decidedly more challenging course.

“The riders were extra happy,” said GFNY Uruguay co-owner Nestor Pinon. “It was great to be able to offer GFNY racing again in Uruguay after the pandemic. There is no better way to kick off spring and a great year of bike racing. We already look forward to hosting the GFNY South America Championship at our end of season in March in Punta del Este.”

GFNY Endurance Sports Series will stay in LatAm for the last race of 2021 with the 3rd edition of GFNY Chile this Sunday, November 14.

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 their athletes first.

Cycling

20 plus events around the world. View the 2021-2022 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 Racer Corral at every GFNY World event.

GFNY World Championship NYC

The 10th annual GFNY World Championship New York will be held on May 15, 2022. The race features the world’s most international peloton with riders from over 90 countries. Athletes take on a challenging 100-mile route from NYC to Bear Mountain to Fort Lee to compete against each other, the clock and themselves in a personal endurance challenge.

The official GFNY website is: www.gfny.com.

Further Material for Media Use

GFNY Colonia 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.

Jenna van der Heide,

Uli Fluhme,

Flat GFNY Cozumel not a race for rookies due to Mayan winds

In the early hours of last Sunday, 2000 riders started at what we can probably call one of the hardest editions of GFNY Cozumel so far. The long, competitive 100-mile course is a double-loop around the beautiful island of Cozumel, with two 40 km long King of the Wind (KOW) sections along the exposed East coast of the island.. 

The pace was high from the start and coming into the first KOW section, the front peloton was around 100 riders strong. Wind always plays a factor at GFNY Cozumel, but this time the KOW had a mighty headwind instead of the usual cross winds which made breakaways hard. But that didn’t stop attacks from happening: Alan Carillo and Eduardo Garita Gamboa created a successful break and managed to increase their lead up to 2 minutes over the peloton by the end of the first lap. By the time the peloton organized the chase had caught up to the two leaders, it was whittled down to 50 riders.

In the second KOW section, Edibaldo Maldonado went solo and put the peloton behind him. But heading back into town, the stretched out peloton caught Maldonado: and a bunch finish was inevitable. The last roll of the dice came by 3-time Mexican national champ and 2015 winner Luis Lemus, who rode solo with less than 15 km to go. However, the bunch was never out of sight and the pace increased all the way to the end. 

It was a battle to the last corner, where the fastest sprinter proved to be Costa Rican Eduardo Garita Gamboa in 3:47:14 who outsprinted Maldonado (Mex). Two time champion Flavio De Luna (Mex) rounded out the men’s podium. 

In the women’s competition, it was GFNY Mazatlan winner Antonieta Gaxiola who finished in 3:47:20, with Andrea Flores (Mex) and Montserrat Camargo (Mex) finishing 2nd and 3rd respectively. Impressive: the top 5 women all arrived in the lead peloton!

Both champions have won a VIP entry at the GFNY World Championship in New York City on May 15, 2022, where they will have to conquer Bear Mountain. Having shown their speed and strength on this flat and fast course, the GFNY World Championship in NYC next May will be an entirely different beast to conquer.

“GFNY Cozumel has everything a racer desires: challenging conditions on a perfect course with great competition.” says GFNY CEO Uli Fluhme. “But it is so much more: it’s a fiesta on bikes for anyone who loves road cycling and a great beach vacation to end the year. Who doesn’t?”

GFNY Endurance Sports Series now heads even further South with the 3rd edition of GFNY Chile this Sunday. 1000 riders are ready to tackle the infamous Muro de Tunqen and its 27% steepness reaching from the Pacific coast into the Casablanca hills just outside Santiago de Chile.

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 their athletes first.

Cycling

20 plus events around the world. View the 2021-2022 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 Racer Corral at every GFNY World event.

GFNY World Championship NYC

The 10th annual GFNY World Championship New York will be held on May 15, 2022. The race features the world’s most international peloton with riders from over 90 countries. Athletes take on a challenging 100-mile route from NYC to Bear Mountain to Fort Lee to compete against each other, the clock and themselves in a personal endurance challenge.

The official GFNY website is: www.gfny.com.

Further Material for Media Use

GFNY Cozumel 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.

Jenna van der Heide,

Uli Fluhme,

GFNY Global Endurance Sports Series is back in Mexico with a sold out race at GFNY Cozumel, sponsored by Ford.

This weekend, the 8th edition of GFNY Cozumel will be held with a sold out field of 3000 riders flooding to the beautiful island. GFNY Cozumel is the largest bike race in the Americas south of NYC because it combines exciting racing with a spectacular vacation like arguably no one else can. 

The competitive long course of 100 miles is two hot and windy, yet pancake flat laps around the coastline of Cozumel. This includes 30 miles of picturesque turquoise ocean views on the uninhabited east coast of the island, a road that can rival any other in beauty. 

The pre-race group ride on Saturday will be led by ex-pros Raúl Alcalá (PDM and Motorola) and Luis Lemus (Isreael Cycling Academy). This ride is larger than many granfondo events. 

“‘Come for the race, stay for the fiesta’ is undoubtedly the draw of GFNY Cozumel,” says GFNY CEO Uli Fluhme. “On paper, it’s a flat two loop course. In reality, it’s a thrilling race wrapped in a week-long party that only Latin Americans can throw. Europe might have the classic climbs but ask any European who’s made the trip to GFNY Cozumel and they will get a sparkle in their eyes. You have to experience it for yourself to fully grasp it.”

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 their athletes first.

Cycling

20 plus events around the world. View the 2021-2022 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 Racer Corral at every GFNY World event.

GFNY World Championship NYC

The 10th annual GFNY World Championship New York will be held on May 15, 2022. The race features the world’s most international peloton with riders from over 90 countries. Athletes take on a challenging 100-mile route from NYC to Bear Mountain to Fort Lee to compete against each other, the clock and themselves in a personal endurance challenge.

The official GFNY website is: www.gfny.com.

Further Material for Media Use

GFNY Cozumel 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.

Jenna van der Heide,

Uli Fluhme,

GFNY Global Endurance Sports Series is back in Uruguay with a new race in Colonia del Sacramento

After not having been able to hold races in Uruguay due to the pandemic, GFNY is back with two races in Uruguay. The first race being this weekend, with GFNY Uruguay – Colonia del Sacramento. 

The South American race offers a long, competitive route of 148km long with an elevation of 1122m, as well as a non-competitive medium route of 87km which features 676m of elevation. Both courses share the first 45 km through olive groves, vineyards and cattle country. 

The topography does not impose decisive climbs, forecasting a compact peloton through a good part of the race – and a fast race as such. The usual winds of the Uruguayan coastline may be of key importance on the outcome.

“Back in 2016, we were breaking ground in Uruguay by holding the first ever cycling marathon in the country with GFNY Punta del Este,” says GFNY President Lidia Fluhme. “We’re impressed that the team headed by Andres Borras and Nestor Pinon has doubled down and now also offers a GFNY in Colonia that is the dearly needed spring season opener ‘down under’ after the dark pandemic months.”

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 their athletes first.

Cycling

20 plus events around the world. View the 2021-2022 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 Racer Corral at every GFNY World event.

GFNY World Championship NYC

The 10th annual GFNY World Championship New York will be held on May 15, 2022. The race features the world’s most international peloton with riders from over 90 countries. Athletes take on a challenging 100-mile route from NYC to Bear Mountain to Fort Lee to compete against each other, the clock and themselves in a personal endurance challenge.

The official GFNY website is: www.gfny.com.

Further Material for Media Use

GFNY Colonia 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.

Jenna van der Heide,

Uli Fluhme,

A thrilling sprint finish at GFNY Florida Sebring closes out the GFNY racing season in the US

After the GFNY Marathon debut last week, GFNY was back at cycling with the GFNY North America Championship race in Sebring, Florida.  Moderate Floridian temperatures and partly cloudy skies offered ideal racing conditions. 

The race started out fast with a peloton of about 150 riders forming quickly, followed by another large field of about 100 riders. At 40 km in, two riders attacked but their attempt was shut down soon after. Straight away, a new group formed and given the riders in it, it was apparent that this was the winning move. The group consisted of strong Colombians and GFNY regulars Erick Hamon and Ismael Collado, NYC Weather Channel’s Luiz Lanfredi (BRA), 3-time Mexican Champ and Olympian Luis Lemus (MEX), defending champion Leon Santamaria (Miami), Samuel Torres and Nortton Sanchez.

The group held a 1-minute lead to the peloton for the remainder of the race. Attacks started to fire with 15km to go. As a result, it was Hamon, Lanfredi, Santamaria and Collado who sprinted for the win. Santamaria put himself in the best position around the last corner and defended his title in 3:28:15 with a great sprint. Collado Acosta took second and Lanfredi rounded out the podium. 

The women’s competition was decided as part of the huge chase peloton: American Alejandra Echeverri took the win in 03:30:28 just ahead of Colombian Lina Catolico and Lina Catolico (USA).

With their overall wins, the champions earned a fully paid trip to the GFNY World Championship in New York City on May 15, 2022 where they will have to prove themselves on a very different course.

“The new course that included a lane closure on Route 66 worked out perfectly thanks to the great support of Highlands and Hardee County PD that made sure the racers had a safe race,” said GFNY CEO and Race Director Uli Fluhme. “GFNY Florida is Florida’s largest bike race since its first edition last year and is slated to become a GFNY classic. We can’t wait to be back and finally welcome the eagerly awaiting Europeans to the peloton once travel bans are behind us.”

Next up already this weekend is the with 3000 riders sold-out GFNY Cozumel in its 8th edition. 

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 their athletes first.

Cycling

20 plus events around the world. View the 2021-2022 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 Racer Corral at every GFNY World event.

GFNY World Championship NYC

The 10th annual GFNY World Championship New York will be held on May 15, 2022. The race features the world’s most international peloton with riders from over 90 countries. Athletes take on a challenging 100-mile route from NYC to Bear Mountain to Fort Lee to compete against each other, the clock and themselves in a personal endurance challenge.

The official GFNY website is: www.gfny.com.

Further Material for Media Use

GFNY Florida Sebring 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.

Jenna van der Heide,

Uli Fluhme,

GFNY Global Endurance Sports Series is back in Florida with an incredibly international peloton despite lingering travel hesitations

After their inaugural GFNY Marathon in Sebring last week, GFNY Global Endurance Sports Series is back with cycling at the second GFNY Florida Sebring this Sunday, October 31. It’s this year’s GFNY North America Championship race where the champions win a fully covered trip to the World Championship in NYC on May 15, 2022.

Race week activities take place in the historic Downtown Sebring with group rides Friday & Saturday featuring Olympians Nelson Vails (USA) and Luis Lemus (Mexico). Saturday, 2-13 year olds get to Be a Pro For a Day at GFNY Kids.

On Sunday, the race starts at the Highlands County YMCA and heads west for a scenic loop through Central Florida’s tranquil and scenic nature. The 90-mile race will be fast and furious without any noticeable elevation gain. The 55-mile non-competitive ride is a shorter version of the same course.

Despite ongoing travel restrictions and a general hesitations of people to travel, the peloton will be incredibly international this Sunday. Athletes from 22 countries and all across the US are taking part. Because it’s a regional Championship, the top 20% of riders of all age groups in the long course will qualify for a front corral start at all GFNY cycling races for the following race season.

“Sebring is quickly becoming a hot spot for cycling and now also running due to the two races we hold here in October,’ says GFNY co-founder Lidia Fluhme. “Florida is a tough spot to hold races due to the lack of low traffic roads. But Sebring is conveniently located between Miami, Tampa and Orlando and has some of the very best cycling in the state. Highlands County has been amazing to work with to close or moderate roads in order to give the 800 racers a safe and exciting experience.”

Website: florida.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 their athletes first.

Cycling

20 plus events around the world. View the 2021-2022 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 Racer Corral at every GFNY World event.

GFNY World Championship NYC

The 10th annual GFNY World Championship New York will be held on May 15, 2022. The race features the world’s most international peloton with riders from over 90 countries. Athletes take on a challenging 100-mile route from NYC to Bear Mountain to Fort Lee to compete against each other, the clock and themselves in a personal endurance challenge.

The official GFNY website is: www.gfny.com.

Further Material for Media Use

GFNY Florida Sebring 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.

Jenna van der Heide,

Uli Fluhme,

Scheduled for June 2022, GFNY expands its US race calendar with GFNY Ann Arbor in the Midwest

GFNY Ann Arbor is the latest addition to the GFNY Endurance Sports Series, making it the fifth GFNY cycling race in the United States.  Scheduled for June 12, 2022, riders will get to ride a flat and fast 100-mile course through beautiful midsummer countryside.

Located in the South of Michigan and surrounded by the Great Lakes, the wonderful host town of Ann Arbor will be the expo location as well as start and finish for the race. Ann Arbor is a university city with an international food scene and lots of surrounding nature. 

The scenic race course starts at Ann Arbor’s local ice rink and explores the country roads of Michigan where riders will get to see creeks, rivers and lakes. The long course is 100 miles and consists of a 40 mile double-loop along Sharonville State Wildlife Management Area and through villages like Manchester and Bridgewater. 

“We’re excited to add a new race in the home country of GFNY,” says GFNY President Lidia Fluhme. “We’ve always had a strong contingent of Midwesterners at our World Championship in NYC so it was only logical to bring a GFNY to them. It’s for them but of course also our national and international riders who enjoy traveling to and exploring new areas by way of racing

Website: annarbor.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 their athletes first.

Cycling

20 plus events around the world. View the 2021-2022 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 Racer Corral at every GFNY World event.

GFNY World Championship NYC

The 10th annual GFNY World Championship New York will be held on May 15, 2022. The race features the world’s most international peloton with riders from over 90 countries. Athletes take on a challenging 100-mile route from NYC to Bear Mountain to Fort Lee to compete against each other, the clock and themselves in a personal endurance challenge.

The official GFNY website is: www.gfny.com.

Further Material for Media Use

GFNY Press Images: here 

GFNY Results: here

GFNY World calendar graphic: here

Previous GFNY press releases: here

Media Contact

Gran Fondo New York Inc.
Jenna van der Heide, 
Uli Fluhme,