Host town Thann in the beautiful Alsace region in France will host the 3rd edition

New York City, July 18, 2024 – This Sunday, the GFNY Grand Ballon offers racers a 146.3 km long course with 4041m of climbing through the Vosges mountains in one of the most beautiful destinations in France. The third edition sold out with a record number of riders.

Host town Thann lies at the beginning of the Alsace Wine Route and will be the start and finish of the race. Nestled in the foothills of the Vosges mountains, Thann boasts a wine-growing tradition with exceptional vineyards as well as a dizzying variety of roads from flat to mountainous for ideal riding.

“Our seven races in France are at most four years old but are already rider favorites in one of the birth countries of mass participation cycling racing,” says GFNY CEO Uli Fluhme. “And GFNY Grand Ballon has become the biggest because the Vosges mountains are the closest area with real climbing for Dutch, Belgian and German riders.”

Race week activities will take place at Thann, Place Joffre where riders can pick up their race package, take photos with friends and sign the GFNY trademark sign-in board for their BE A PRO FOR A DAY® experience.

On Sunday, GFNY Grand Ballon will start from the historic town center of Thann. The climb will begin after just 1 km with the little known Le Plan Diebold climb, before joining the ascent of the mythical Grand Ballon, the highest point of the Vosges Mountains. The road culminates at 1325 meters and winds through the heart of the scenic Ballons des Vosges Nature Park, where riders will be tested on climbs made famous by the Tour de France.

Website: grandballon.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 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

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 second edition will be held on May 18, 2025 and aims to be at 1.1 level with World Tour teams racing.

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

Further Material for Media Use

Official GFNY Grand Ballon 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,