Sunday January 30 at 12:00 PM EST // 18:00 CET // 9:00 AM PT
Expert Panels on training, travel, the GFNY World Calendar and the Future of Cycling.
If you are new to GFNY, this is the place to get all the information you need before signing up. If you are already a part of GFNY, and are looking at doing more races in new destinations, get expert tips to make 2022 your best racing year!
What it stands for, what does it offer, what does it mean
How to train for your first GFNY
What attracted you to GFNY
How to pack & prepare for your first GFNY
12:50pm ET
GFNY World Calendar
Panel 2
Panelists: Lidia Fluhme, Shaun Gad, Cedric Haas, Elena Nolasco, Luis Lemus
Overview of the GFNY World 2022 racing calendar, race features, how to prepare for your GFNY trip
1:35pm ET
GFNY Training
Panel 3
Panelists: Jill Patterson, Vito Valentini, Antonio Oliveros, Alberto Covarrubias, Ben Braem,
Mauricio Rodriguez Estrada
Advice about training for various races and presentations from GFNY Coaches
2:20pm ET
The Future of Pro Cycling
Panel 4
Panelists: Uli Fluhme, Luis Lemus, Jill Patterson, Frankie Andreu, Ben Wolfe
The current division between professional and amateur cycling, exploring how to grow professional cycling.
An in-depth conversation of the recent pieces by GFNY:
GFNY, the global endurance sport series, is coming to
Uppsala, Sweden on July 3, 2022!
The Course
GFNY Uppsala takes you from the bustle of Sweden’s 4th largest city to the picturesque nature of Uppsala County.
The race starts at IFU Arena and heads north. At km3, you travel past Gamla Uppsala’s Royal Mounds, then wind your way through the countryside to the start of the 60km loop.
Set in the tranquillity of the glorious Uppsala countryside, the highly-enjoyable 60km loop is raced twice by the long distance riders and once by the medium distance riders. The stillness and vastness of the Uppsala County nature will make you understand why this place was chosen thousands of years ago and has maintained its breathtaking beauty to this day.
While there are no significant climbs on this course (the highest point of the race is at 70masl), it will give you the impression the course is flat. But road accumulates 1800m of climbing on the long route because the road is constantly rolling. Your legs will be constantly adjusting to the changing topography, which will probably be the biggest challenge of the day.
After you complete the loop (or loops), you will trace the same route back to where you started the day, at IFU Arena. After crossing the finish line and getting your medal, enjoy the post-race meal, music, festivities, and awards ceremony.
Uppsala is Sweden’s 4th largest city and is located just a 18-minute train ride from Stockholm’s Arlanda Airport and a 40min train ride from Stockholm.
The Fyris river divides the city into two parts. The historic part, which holds historic sights such as the Uppsala Castle (Slottet) and its Botanic Garden and museums, Uppsala Cathedral (Domkyrka), and Uppsala University, which was founded in 1477 and is the oldest university in Scandinavia. The modern part of Uppsala holds the administrative, commercial and residential areas of Uppsala.
Uppsala dates back more than 2000 years, it was one of the main Viking settlements, the residence of the kings of the legendary Yngling dynasty and an important religious, economic and political center in Scandinavia. It was founded in 1286, but today is a modern, innovative and progressive city.
Given its scientific and academic heritage, Uppsala is a research and biotech hub, but also aims to be a leading sports city, with its several sports arenas for outdoor and indoor sports and sports clubs. Due to being a university city, Uppsala has a great restaurant and bar scene, and a wide range of hotel options for you and your family to have a great stay for GFNY Uppsala.
GFNY Perks
THE JERSEY All riders receive the official GFNY race jersey, which is mandatory attire at the race. The jersey is designed in NYC and Made in Italy.
FINISHER MEDAL Every GFNY Uppsala finisher receives a medal, no matter which distance they complete. All finishers also earn a “Finish” towards their 3×2022 GFNY medal or the 10x lifetime medal. Go to gfny.com/medals for more information on GFNY’s multi-finisher medals.
Stockholm Arlanda Airport offers Sweden’s strongest route network with more than 181 different national and international destinations. Its proximity to Arlanda makes Uppsala an easily accessible destination for travelers from around the world.
Getting Here
Uppsala is just an 18 minute train ride from Arlanda airport. It is the easiest way to travel from the airport to Uppsala.
Scheduled for July 3, GFNY Uppsala will be the first GFNY race in Northern Europe
NEW YORK CITY, January 12, 2022, GFNY Global Endurance Sports Series adds its first race in Scandinavia with GFNY Uppsala, scheduled for July 3, 2022. Riders will get to experience a GFNY just an hour from the country’s capital Stockholm.
GFNY Uppsala’s long, competitive course is 168km long with 1862m of climbing and requires a complete racer who can excel on a continuous up and down. Just like at the inaugural GFNY Ann Arbor a month earlier and an ocean away, GFNY Uppsala starts and finishes at the city’s ice skating rink.
“Since we started GFNY in NYC more than a decade ago we’ve always had a large contingent of Swedish riders at our NYC race,” says GFNY President Lidia Fluhme.
“It’s great to finally be able to come to Sweden with a GFNY in one of the most prolific countries in endurance sports. We’re delighted to work with Uppsala as the host town because we know they will do everything to support GFNYs mission to make riders Be a Pro for a Day.”
Host town Uppsala is Sweden’s 4th largest city and dates back more than 2000 years. Having been one of the main Viking settlements and residence of the kings of the legendary Yngling dynasty, it was founded in 1286.
Today, it’s a modern, innovative and progressive city with a great restaurant and bar scene, courtesy of it being a university city. Uppsala is one of the leading sports cities in Sweden, with many sports clubs and several sports arenas for outdoor and indoor sports.
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 30 plus events around the world. View the 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.
Further Material for Media Use Official GFNY Uppsala 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,
GFNY is a personal endurance challenge where you compete against others, the clock and yourself. Some athletes will compete for the podium, others will do their best to beat the cut-off. GFNY is about doing your best. You make the event what you want it to be. But it is meant to be a personal challenge.
GFNY World events provide you that same challenge in locations around the world. Additionally, you get the chance to earn a spot in the qualifier corral at every GFNY. All GFNY events provide the following for you to BE A PRO FOR A DAY:
Mass start
Individual chip timing from start to finish with awards for all categories
Closed roads or police moderated traffic that ensures you don’t have to stop during the race.
October 23, 2022
The gentle rolling hills, low-volume traffic roads and charming small towns make GFNY Florida Sebring an ideal cycling vacation destination.
The glam city of Cannes at the French Riviera opens the European season
GFNY Global Endurance Sports Series adds GFNY Cannes, scheduled for March 27, 2022. Riders will get to experience a race that starts and finishes at the spectacular French Riviera in glamorous Cannes and hits the hinterland for competitive racing.
“Few things are as exciting as opening the bike racing season under the warming spring sun of the Riviera ,” says GFNY CEO Uli Fluhme. “And doing so in spectacular Cannes with a GFNY is a dream come true for us. This time, the red carpet of Cannes will be rolled out for our riders to Be a Pro for a Day. ”
Cannes is among the most glamorous places on earth, with the jet-set letting loose on the sandy beaches, fine restaurants and bars, luxury boutiques, private yachts, and the palace hotels lining the famous Boulevard de la Croisette. From the modest fishermen’s village to the world-famous seaside and cultural city, Cannes forged a unique history that today attracts visitors from around the world. Cannes has the ideal setting and climate to launch the cycling year. GFNY offers a camp each the week before and after the race for riders to kick-start their season in warm weather and explore Cannes and its surrounding.
GFNY Cannes is the first of six GFNY in France in 2022, offering a long, competitive and a medium, non-competitive course. Both start on the Boulevard de La Croisette. Riders get to feel the thrill of racing on the iconic boulevard along the beautiful French Riviera with its palm trees and luxurious palace-hotels, all the while the sun is rising above the Mediterranean Sea.
Riders will leave the buzz of Cannes behind and race through the preserved nature of the hilly hinterland. The 121 km long course takes athletes on a race track with 2000m of total climbing and a two-part ascent to the 750m Col d’Avaye. The race finishes back on Boulevard de la Croisette, arguably the world’s most famous coastal road.
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.
GFNY Cannes starts in front of the world-famous Palais des Festivals et des Congrès de Cannes, which hosts the annual film festival and its famous red carpet steps that welcome the movie stars from all over the world year after year.
Experience the thrill of racing on the iconic boulevard along the beautiful Cote d’Azur beaches, palm trees, and luxurious palace-hotels and the early morning sunrise on the Mediterranean Sea.
As you enter the historic seaside commune of Mandelieu La Napoule, you leave the buzz of Cannes behind and head inland into the outstanding, preserved nature of the hinterland of the Esterel massif. The long course athletes take on a breathtaking 55km loop past small typical Provencal villages and awe-inspiring nature that is almost impossible to imagine to be so close to a coastal tourism mecca like Cannes.
Celebrate finishing this prestigious event in this magnificent city of Cannes with your finisher medal, post-race meal, music, awards ceremony and festivities.
Cannes is among the most glamorous places on earth, with the jet-set letting loose on the sandy beaches, fine restaurants and bars, luxury boutiques, private yachts, and the palace hotels lining the famous Boulevard de la Croisette.
Each May, Cannes hosts the world’s most famous film festival and the entire A-list celebrity roster ascends the red-carpeted stairs to the Palais des Festivals et des Congrès. Now, Cannes rolls out the red carpet for you.
From the modest fishermen’s village to the world-famous seaside and cultural city, Cannes forged a unique history that today attracts visitors from around the world. Cannes faces a dreamy bay bordered by the Lérins islands, an ideal setting and climate to launch your cycling season and discover this magnificent region with your family.
GFNY Perks
THE JERSEY All riders receive the official GFNY race jersey, which is mandatory attire at the race. The jersey is designed in NYC and Made in Italy.
FINISHER MEDAL Every GFNY Cannes finisher receives a medal, no matter which distance they complete. All finishers also earn a “Finish” towards their 3×2022 GFNY medal or the 10x lifetime medal. Go to gfny.com/medals for more information on GFNY’s multi-finisher medals.
Join one of the two camps for an authentic French cycling experience.
What your camp ticket includes:
Welcome Reception
Special Registration Area
VIP Corral Start
Special Post-Race Meal Area
7 days of supported group cycling with experienced guides
Nutrition, technique and tactics sessions
40-90km/day
prepare for the race or make the most out of your week in Cannes
Welcome Dinner
The GFNY Cannes camp has two objectives:
1) Kick off your cycling season by offering hilly and flat cycling in pleasant spring temperatures and
2) Get you prepared for the race- mentally and physically.
GFNY Cannes also has a post-race camp option, with 2-days of group riding before the race and 5 days after the race.
Getting There
FLY Nice Côte d’Azur airport (NCE) has direct flights to 90 destinations and hosts nearly 50 airlines, making your trip to GFNY Cannes so easy! Check out their website for current arrivals and destinations nice.aeroport.fr or check your preferred airline’s website. More info here./>
DRIVE Cannes is connected by the A8 highway “La Provençale” which runs from Aix en Provence in the west to Italy in the east.
Some examples of distances in kilometers: Paris 950 km – Milan 320 km – Geneva 630 km – Barcelona 670 km – Rome 710 km – Munich 810 km – Brussels 1220 km – Amsterdam 1400 km.
TRAIN The Cannes La Bocca train station is served by TGV, Corail, Thello and express trains which connect it to all the French regions and to the largest cities in Europe.
A spectacular 3rd edition of GFNY Chile closed out the GFNY 2021 race season
Riders started from Viñedos Veramonte close to Casablanca just outside the capital Santiago de Chile. The 140 km long course from Chile’s central valley with its beautiful vineyards to the Pacific Ocean and back included the infamous 27% steep Muro de Tunquen.
Two hours into the race, Chilean Adrian Alvarado Teneb attacked and persisted at “El Tunquen”, ultimately taking the win in 3:27:45 with a near-4 minute lead. The all-Chilean podium was completed by Bastian Felipe Villagra Fuenzalida and Andres Tagle, who finished 2nd and 3rd respectively. Foreign riders had a difficult time getting to the race due to strict local quarantine laws.
In the women’s competition, Chilean Aranza Valentina Villalon Sánchez proved herself by finishing in a time of 3:32:06, a whopping 17 minutes ahead of second woman Carolina Acosta. Fernanda Paola Subiabre Subiabre (Chile) 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. Having shown what they’re made of with the climb up to Tunquen, they will be faced with a longer course and a mellower climb, but with incredibly tough competition.
“The riders were so happy to finally have their GFNY Chile back,” says GFNY President Lidia Fluhme. “It’s been a long wait due to the pandemic but now it’s spring in Chile and things are looking up.”
“Having raced the first edition myself, I can highly recommend to anyone to take a trip to Santiago de Chile to race GFNY. The area provides an incredible mix of Pacific Ocean, vineyards and the high Andes.”
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.
Scheduled for May 29, Villard de Lans (France) will host the GFNY European Championship
GFNY Villard de Lans is the latest addition to the GFNY Global Endurance Sports Series, making it the fifth GFNY cycling race in France in 2022. Scheduled for May 29, 2022, riders will get to experience a race that is equally hard as it is beautiful.
Host town Villard de Lans is located in the mountainous Vercors region of France at an altitude of 1050 m. The village has preserved its architectural heritage and its friendly atmosphere, and cyclists can enjoy riding on the spectacular roads of the Vercors. The curvy and fun 19th century routes and the exceptional panoramas they offer have made Villard de Lans and the Vercors famous.
GFNY Villard de Lans will host the GFNY European Championship in the 2022 race season. The race offers a long, competitive and a medium, non-competitive course. Both travel through the heart of the magnificent Vercors Natural Regional Park, where riders will race on the stunning roads cut out of the cliffside, along imposing limestone escarpments and through green valleys. The long course is 158 km with a 3865 meters of elevation featuring Col de la Croix Perrin and a final climb to Villard de Lans which has been featured several times at the Tour de France.
“GFNY’s expansion in France is obvious because any corner of the country is a cyclist’s dream,” says GFNY CEO Uli Fluhme. “Villard de Lans has reached out to GFNY in pursuit of hosting the GFNY Europe Championship. From the first contact, it has been an absolute pleasure to work with their team. It’s clear that they love their town and know how to host large sporting events, including no less than the two of the three largest: the Olympic Games and the Tour de France.”
“In 2022, thanks to the hard work of the operating team at GFNY France under Tiphanie and Cedric Haas, GFNY riders get to pick from at least five GFNYs to fulfill their dreams of racing in France.”
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.
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.
