Riders to conquer 4000m of climbing in the fourth edition

New York City, July 17, 2025 – This Sunday, over 1,500 cyclists from around the world will take on the challenging 146 km course of GFNY Grand Ballon, featuring a demanding 4,043 meters of elevation gain.

The race begins in the historic town center of Thann, with the climbing starting almost immediately—just 1 km into the race—with the little-known Le Plan Diebold, which then connects to the legendary Grand Ballon, the highest point in the Vosges Mountains. The road ascends to 1,325 meters, winding through the heart of the breathtaking Ballons des Vosges Nature Park, a region renowned for its climbs featured in the Tour de France.

Host town Thann, located at the gateway to the Alsace Wine Route, will serve as both the start and finish line for the race. Nestled in the foothills of the Vosges Mountains, Thann is famed for its exceptional vineyards and offers a striking variety of terrain—from rolling flats to steep ascents—making it an ideal location for cycling enthusiasts.

“The GFNYs in France offer riders spectacular courses across legendary climbs such as L’Alpe d’Huez, Col du Tourmalet or Col de la Croix de Fer. And GFNY Grand Ballon with its namesake mountain is no exception,” says GFNY CEO Uli Fluhme. “Aside from the strong French contingent, the race draws lots of cycling fanatic Dutch and Belgians for whom the Vosges are the closest real mountains to race on. And not the least thanks to the new GFNY Bremen in August, more and more Germans from across the Rhine river discover the GFNY Grand Ballon.”   

Race week activities will take place at Place Joffre in Thann, where riders can pick up their race packets, take photos with fellow competitors, and sign the iconic GFNY sign-in board—a signature part of the BE A PRO FOR A DAY® experience.

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 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.

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

Michelob ULTRA GFNY World Championship NYC

The 14th annual Michelob ULTRA GFNY World Championship New York will be held on May 17, 2026. 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 third edition will be held on May 17, 2026.

Adding a women’s pro race would elevate the event further. The proposed format would have women starting 45 minutes ahead of the men’s pro race, giving them their own stage. However, the extended road closures required for this addition increase costs by $100,000.

For those interested in supporting women’s racing, GFNY is inviting companies and organizations to help sponsor this important addition. Contact GFNY to discuss partnership opportunities.

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,