Teran and Romero win the inaugural edition

New York City, March 3, 2026 – The coastal city of Salinas hosted the inaugural edition of GFNY Ecuador Salinas this past Sunday. The race featured a 110.8 km course with 878 m of climbing and drew strong participation from both national and international riders.

Riders rolled out at 7:00 am under grey skies for a 2 km neutralized section before the official start at Cerro “El Morro” in La Chocolatera, inside the Salinas Naval Base. Rain and dense fog set the tone early, while crosswinds along the exposed Mar Bravo coastline and the Perimetral road fractured the peloton and turned the race into an attritional battle.

Men’s Race

Ecuadorian rider Javier Romero animated the race with a decisive solo move that opened a gap of more than one minute over the main contenders. Among those driving the chase was two-time GFNY Ecuador champion Renzo Molineros (2022, 2024).

The race came down to the demanding final ascent back to Cerro “El Morro.” In a dramatic head-to-head sprint on the climb, Romero prevailed, taking victory in 2:23:53. Molineros secured second place, while Gregorio Bravo completed an all-Ecuadorian podium.

Women’s Race

In the women’s competition, Andrea Terán (Ecuador) delivered a commanding ride to take the overall victory in 2:30:13. Alva Jiménez (Colombia) and Andrea Logroño (Ecuador) rounded out the podium approximately ten minutes behind the winner after a selective and weather-impacted race.

Next on the global schedule is the eighth edition of GFNY Punta del Este in Uruguay on Sunday, March 15, 2026.

About GFNY

GFNY is an international cycling organization that designs, owns, and operates a structured system of races worldwide. Its competitive hierarchy connects GFNY races with National and Continental Championships, culminating in the GFNY World Championship in New York City. This progression is known as the GFNY Road to NYC.

GFNY events feature fully timed racing with age-group competition and are open to a wide range of riders, combining competitive structure with accessible participation. GFNY operates its own integrated registration, results, and ranking system, maintaining direct relationships with participants across all events. While road cycling is its foundation, GFNY also operates select events in gravel, mountain bike, and running within the same competitive framework.

The official GFNY website is: gfny.com.

About the Michelob ULTRA GFNY World Championship New York City

The Michelob ULTRA GFNY World Championship New York City is GFNY’s flagship event and the final stage of the GFNY Course to NYC. Held annually on a challenging road course in and around New York City, it brings together riders from more than 90 countries.

Website: nyc.gfny.com

GFNY Pro Series

The GFNY Pro Series is GFNY’s professional racing platform, built around an integrated Pro–Am format in which UCI-sanctioned professional races are held on the same courses and weekends as GFNY mass-participation events. The format was pioneered at Gran Premio New York City and is expanding selectively to additional locations, including Gran Premio Cozumel, subject to UCI approval.

Website: gp.gfny.com

Further Material for Media Use

Official GFNY Salinas 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,