The bridge between amateur and pro
Six GFNY riders now race GP NYC as “Team GFNY Pro”
NEW YORK CITY, May 14, 2025 – The second annual UCI 1.2 men’s elite pro race Gran Premio New York City on May 18, 2025 will commence just ten minutes before the 13th Michelob ULTRA GFNY World Championship NYC, a mass participation race held on the same course.
The teams
22 teams from over 10 countries will make GP NYC an exciting race. European Pro Tour teams with Grand Tour pedigree will lead the field, followed by Continental Pro and Elite teams from the Americas, Europe and Asia. Among them is the unique Team GFNY Pro comprising of six successful GFNY riders who receive the once in a lifetime chance to step up the ranks and compete among pros:
- Italo Junior De Oliveira Feletti (Brazil) – 1st GFNY Colonia & Punta del Este
- Ben Gorodetsky (NYC, USA) – 1st GFNY Ann Arbor and York
- Uriel Omar Espinosa Lopez (Mexico) – 1st GFNY Cozumel
- Steven Polanco (Dominican Republic) – 2nd GFNY Republica Dominicana
- Oscar Fabrizio Stangoni (USA) – 1st GFNY Florida and Miami
- Ward Wauters (Belgium) – 2nd GFNY Cannes
Team captain will be yet again US track cycling legend Nelson Vails.
“Team GFNY Pro plays a key role in demonstrating the need to unite amateur and pro pelotons in order to allow a fluid progression for riders into higher ranked races,” says GFNY and GPNYC co-founder Uli Fluhme. “Mass participation races are a vital proving ground for developing professional talent, particularly for riders suited for general classification roles who require endurance and climbing ability over long distances. Mass participation races force riders to develop crucial self-sufficiency skills, such as managing their own pacing, nutrition, and tactical decisions independently, leading to more mature and resilient racers. GFNY’s “Be a Pro for a Day” concept embodies this, and races like GP NYC offer a direct pathway.”
Already announced Teams:
Continental Pro
Team Alpecin Deceuninck (Belgium)
Team Hustle Pro Cycling (Canada)
Team MitoQ – NZ Cycling Project (New Zealand)
Team Project Echelon Racing (USA)
Novo Nordisk Development (USA)
National Team
Elite
Team Above and Beyond Cancer (USA)
Team Cannondale Echelon p/b 4iiii (Canada)
Team Competitive Edge Racing (USA)
Team California p/b Verge (USA)
Team Prestige Cycling (Puerto Rico)
Visit Pittsburgh Cycling Team (USA)
The Parks Law Firm Cycling (USA)
The Course
The 85-mile (137 km) course mimics a Belgian spring classic, favoring all-around riders with its challenging climbs and varied terrain. Starting on the George Washington Bridge, racers enjoy unparalleled views of the NYC skyline and the Hudson River. The race continues through charming towns and scenic nature in Bergen County and Rockland County, with the excitement culminating in a finish and festival at Fort Lee, NJ—a convenient location close to NYC, airports, hotels, and highways.
Weekend activations
Fans will have the opportunity to interact with the pros in several ways during race weekend. The Team Presentation will be held on Saturday in the GFNY Village and riders will be available for autograph sessions and even group rides.
The 13th annual NYC Bike Expo, held together with the packet pickup for riders at the GFNY Festival Village in Fort Lee on May 16 and 17, will be the hub for all activities and provide companies the opportunity to showcase their products to an attractive demographic.
Sponsorship Opportunities
The format of this event, with a professional race and a large-scale international mass participation race taking place on the same course simultaneously, provides an unparalleled exposure opportunity.
Cycling aligns with key global issues—health and the environment—making GFNY an ideal partner for brands focused on these priorities.
Sponsors gain direct access to participants and spectators, bypassing traditional and often ineffective advertising metrics.
Interested in joining this revolutionary event? Contact GFNY to learn about a variety of sponsorship options, including experiential and visibility opportunities.
More news to come
As GFNY prepares for this ground-breaking race format, more news about the race is going to be shared. Stay tuned in the GFNY facebook page, on instagram, subscribe to GFNY email newsletters by going to gfny.com and providing your email address.
Website: gpnyc.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 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.
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
GFNY Press Images: here
GFNY Results: here
GFNY World calendar graphic: here
Previous GFNY press releases: here
Media Contact
Gran Fondo New York Inc.
Tags: Europe, LatAm, North America
