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Hautes-Alpes

Orcières Merlette 1850, a resort in the Hautes-Alpes located in the Champsaur valley, is a paradise for cyclists who will take advantage of the exceptional climatic conditions. The fabulous passes and climbs at the gates of the Ecrins National Park position Orcières as a privileged base camp for setting out to conquer many climbs. Lovers of ''la petite reine'' will get their calves in for as the climb to Orcières is renowned for its technical and sporty nature, with a 7% gradient in over just 7 km. It hasn't finished surprising cyclists, even the most seasoned!

The resort hosted 5 Tour arrivals (1971, 1972, 1982, 1989, 2020). However, it was the 1971 stage that will go down in history, with the victory of Spaniard Luis Ocaña, ahead of Eddy Merckx "the Cannibal", by almost 9 minutes, before taking the yellow jersey. This stage remains the most memorable of the Tour's arrivals in Orcières. Like the one in 1989, during the time trial at the Gap – Orcières, Greg Lemond took over the yellow jersey from Laurent Fignon on the climb!

In winter, the resort is famous for its sunny ski area up to 2725m and its offer of off-ski activities.

Long Course

Discover the wonders of the Hautes-Alpes during the GFNY Orcières cycling event. The 158 km course with a positive elevation gain of 4400 meters, traverses breathtaking landscapes. The race starts from the Orcières Merlette 1850 station, where you will ride in a neutralized peloton until the foot of the first challenge of the day: the climb to Ancelle. Then, you will continue your route towards Lake Serre-Ponçon via Chorges and Saint-Apollinaire, offering spectacular panoramas of the Écrins National Park and Europe’s largest artificial lake. There, you will encounter a 25 km loop on well-known roads of the famous Embrun triathlon and the upcoming Tour de France, with sometimes very steep passages. Back in Chorges, get ready to face the highest point of the day: the Col de Moissière and its magnificent mountain road. Then, follow the Chaillol road, followed by the demanding return via the Serre Eyraud road, before reaching the finish line at Orcières Merlette, perched at an altitude of 1850 meters. This course promises you a real adventure and a great challenge on the magnificent roads of the Hautes-Alpes and Champsaur. Participate in this event, take up the challenge, and discover breathtaking landscapes throughout the course.

LONG COURSE IS A COMPETITION: Only the finishers of the long course are eligible for category rankings and Overall and Podium awards. If you want to race and be ranked in your category, you must complete the long course. Top 10% of finishers in each age group earn a spot in the Qualifier Corral at every GFNY World event.

Medium Course

The GFNY Orcières Medium course will take you through the magical roads in the heart of the Hautes-Alpes. It covers 75 km and has an elevation gain of 2000 meters.

The neutralized start will be from Orcières Merlette 1850 towards the foot of the Ancelle climb. You will then join the long climb of Chaillol before taking on the final challenge of the Orcières Merlette 1850 climb via Serre Eyraud.

The Hautes-Alpes are known for their breathtaking landscapes, and the Champsaur is no exception. You will be able to admire majestic mountains, verdant valleys, and crystal-clear high-altitude lakes throughout your journey. The Champsaur is also famous for its unique mountain hedgerows, which add a touch of rustic charm to the natural beauty of the region.

MEDIUM COURSE IS NOT A COMPETITION: The riders of the medium course will be provided their start-to-finish time, but will not be ranked by finish time. All finish times will be listed in alphabetical order.

Course Map

Perks included as part of GFNY Orcières

THE JERSEY: All riders receive the official GFNY Orcières race jersey, which is mandatory attire at the race. The jersey is designed in NYC and Made in Italy.

CHIP TIMING: GFNY Orcières is a timed race. Each athlete has their own timing chip, which starts right after you cross the start line and stops when you cross the finish line. Timing results will be available at gfny.cc/results.

FINISHER MEDAL: Every GFNY Orcières finisher receives a medal, no matter which distance they complete. All finishers also earn a “Finish” towards their 3x2025 GFNY medal or the 10x medal. Go to gfny.com/medals for more information on GFNY’s multi-finisher medals.

GFNY Gear

Discover FRIVE

Frive is your personal virtual trainer. It precisely estimates your physical capabilities, analyzes your workouts and designs a customized training program for you. This program is designed to adjust according to your level of fatigue and progress, ensuring that you're in top form on the day of your big challenge, such as the GFNY France Cyclosportives.
 
Benefit from personalized training to progress throughout the season:

1.  Personalized Training Plan: A flexible training program, designed especially for you, that adjusts daily to your current level of fitness.

2.  Detailed Activity Analysis: An in-depth evaluation after each session to highlight your progress and areas for improvement.

3.  Continuous Progress Monitoring: Regular monitoring of your development and fitness level, week after week, to ensure constant improvement.

4.  Skills and Physical Potential Assessment: A complete assessment to determine your specific skills (climber, sprinter, etc.) and analyze your physical potential (VO2 max, critical power).

5.  Challenge your friends: Estimate your times on legendary courses such as Alpe d'Huez or Tourmalet and measure yourself against your friends.

Train with GFNY to have your best race

What are your GFNY goals?
            Podium!
            Qualify (finish in the top 10% of my age group)
            Improve my time
            Finish the race


GFNY Coaching is here to help you prepare for your best race day. We offer these t
wo options:
 
a) Get a GFNY Coach for personalized training: maximize results with the time you have available.
b) Get one of our GFNY specific training plans on TrainingPeaks: structure, expert advice and a motivation boost with flexibility to match your life.

GFNY Coaching

The personalized training plan written by your GFNY Coach is tailored to your schedule, cycling experience, fitness and goals. GFNY Coaches are qualified coaches with years of success in working with athletes of all fitness levels. 

No matter your goals or your cycling experience, with GFNY Coaching you get personalized training plans, advice, and guidance to focus on your target race. Whether you have a couple of months to tune-up, or half a year to change yourself completely as a rider, you will be ready to earn that PR, get your highest placing ever, or finish your first GFNY race.

Let the GFNY experts at GFNY Coaching prepare you. GFNY coaches have raced GFNYs and understand the demands of every race and course on the calendar.

GFNY Training Center

The GFNY Training Center section of coaching.gfny.com provides you content focused on training topics like nutrition, cadence, and power, as well as course guides to GFNY races around the World. This training and course strategy content is free to every GFNY athlete. 

News

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GFNY announces GFNY Bremen

19 Sep 2024

GFNY announces GFNY Bremen August 31, 2025 The Courses The competitive long route will be about 110 km long. It’s flat, but the wind will challenge you. The pre-race expo, the

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GFNY announces GFNY Bahamas

28 Jun 2024

GFNY announces GFNY Bahamas November 3, 2024 The Courses GFNY Bahamas race course is flat and fast, with both the long and medium courses starting together from West Bay Street and taking on

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GFNY Puerto Rico is back

14 Mar 2024

GFNY announces GFNY Puerto Rico November 24, 2024 The Courses GFNY Puerto Rico starts and finishes at the world class exhibition center in the heart of Ponce, Complejo Ferial de Puerto Rico.

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EuropeLatAmNorth America

Athletes´Choice Awards: best GFNYs 2023

22 Feb 2024

Category winners and rankings are based on post race surveys New York City, February 22, 2024 – GFNY announces the 2023 top 3 best events as voted by the riders based on

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Granfondo & Pro Racing

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Athletes' Choice Awards 2023

21 Feb 2024

You chose your favorites! The day after any GFNY, all finishers get an email with a post-race survey that captures rankings as well as feedback. We absolutely do read the surveys – thank

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GFNY announces GFNY Conservatória

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GFNY announces GFNY Paracas

21 Dec 2023

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GFNY announces GFNY Orcières

04 Dec 2023

GFNY announces GFNY Orcières August 25, 2024 The Courses Discover the wonders of the Hautes-Alpes during the GFNY Orcières cycling event. The 158 km course with a positive elevation gain of

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GFNY announces UCI pro race Gran Premio New York City

30 Nov 2023

GFNY announces UCI Pro race Gran Premio New York City May 19, 2024 The inaugural UCI 1.2 men elite pro race “Gran Premio New York City” will be held on May 19,

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GFNY announces GFNY Miami

17 Aug 2023

GFNY announces GFNY Miami April 21, 2024 The Courses The pre-race activities like packet pickup and expo take place is the heart of Miami. On race day, make the trip out

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GFNY announces GFNY Kota Kinabalu

14 Jul 2023

GFNY announces GFNY Kota Kinabalu December 10, 2023 The Courses The race begins from Sabah State Administrative Centre (PPNS) government office complex. PPNS is Borneo’s 2nd tallest building and offers an awe-inspiring venue

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Coaching

How to train for a 3-timer medal

02 Jun 2023

If you’re planning to participate in three GFNY races in a season to get your 3-timr medal, it’s important to schedule a training plan that will help you prepare for each race and ensure that

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GFNY announces GFNY York, Pennsylvania

28 Apr 2023

GFNY announces GFNY Pennsylvania York September 10, 2023 The Courses GFNY Pennsylvania race week activities take place at the centrally-located York Expo Center. You will be picking up your race packets

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Coaching

How to prep your bike for a GFNY

25 Apr 2023

If you’re participating in a GFNY, it’s essential to ensure that your bike is in excellent condition. Preparing your bike for a GFNY involves more than just pumping up the tires and oiling the

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Coaching

5 tips on riding in a peloton

18 Apr 2023

Riding in a peloton is a fundamental aspect of road cycling, and it’s essential to master the art of group riding if you want to improve your performance. A peloton, which refers to a

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Coaching

6 tips on how to improve your climbing

10 Apr 2023

Climbing is a challenging aspect of cycling that requires both physical and mental strength. Whether you’re training for a mountainous race or simply looking to improve your climbing abilities, there are several strategies that

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Coaching

5 tips on how you can mentally prepare for a cycling race

04 Apr 2023

Cycling races can be both physically and mentally demanding. While physical training is important, mental preparation can also significantly impact your performance. Here are five tips to help you mentally prepare for a cycling race:

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The 2023 GFNY NYC Jersey

30 Mar 2023

The all new, 100% Made in Italy GFNY race jersey features a lighter, softer and even more breathable fabric on the back slightly angled outside back pockets for easier access a more modern

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GFNY announces GFNY Khao Yai

13 Mar 2023

GFNY announces GFNY Khao Yai October 8, 2023 The Courses Khao Yai has a variety of landscapes including the national park with its forest, sunflower fields, a winery and fields growing

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GFNY announces GFNY Khao Yai

11 Mar 2023

GFNY announces GFNY Khao Yai October 8, 2023 The Courses Khao Yai has a variety of landscapes including the national park with its forest, sunflower fields, a winery and fields growing

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GFNY announces GFNY Mandalika

10 Mar 2023

GFNY announces GFNY Mandalika November 26, 2023 The Course The start for the Long and Medium Distance will be in the Pertamina Mandalika Street Circuit. Enjoy the flair of an international

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inside the peloton

International Women’s Day spotlight

08 Mar 2023

The cycling industry should tap the purchasing power of women cyclists, says first-time GFNY rider Miki Edelman. Miki Edelman, who works in the financial industry in New York, first got introduced to cycling by way

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Your 2023 GFNY World Races

02 Feb 2023

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

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Athletes' Choice Awards

28 Jan 2023

The day after a GFNY is held, every athlete who finished the race gets an email with a post-race survey that captures rankings as well as feedback. The race organizers do read the

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TrainingPeaks - Official Partner

03 Jan 2023

Training Plans GFNY has partnered with TrainingPeaks to help you prepare for your next race with a GFNY training plan. The easy-to-follow plans will help you get started with structured workouts and train smarter to achieve your

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GFNY announces GFNY Maryland (USA)

07 Dec 2022

GFNY announces GFNY Maryland October 1, 2023 The Course Join us at Maryland’s hardest and biggest road race! 92 miles of racing with police-moderated intersections along the entire course. Approachable medium course

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GFNY Puerto Rico is announced as the GFNY North American Championship

22 Nov 2022

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inside the peloton

An Unlikely Run

08 Nov 2022

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inside the peloton

Q&A: Meet Rob Weissman

31 Oct 2022

Walden Siew: How did you get back into riding? Rob Weissman: “In my late 20s and 30s, my career and family life took me away from cycling, except for teaching my kids to ride, which

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inside the peloton

Getting off the roller coaster

24 Oct 2022

“My job involves a lot of pressure, which can cause me to stress-eat. Cycling has been an integral part of my effort to fight that reaction, keep my weight under control and maintain a healthy

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inside the peloton

Veteran Endurance Rider Takes on GFNY

17 Oct 2022

Tracy Draper is a novice to the GFNY race, but she’s a veteran of many challenges. Draper, 56, a personal trainer for seniors, is a passionate cyclist and has been riding for a dozen years

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inside the peloton

From roads to mountains, Costa Rican rider eyes new trails

11 Oct 2022

“I enjoy riding because it clears my mind. I use it as a relaxation therapy to ease my mind and my body,” says Michael Picado Fuentes. Michael Picado Fuentes, a senior software engineer from San

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inside the peloton

Philippe Hendrickx’s Road to Recovery

05 Oct 2022

‘I clung on,’ the Niçoise rider says. “The mile became two, then 10, then 20, and finally I found Cannes.” NICE, France — Cycling has always been part of Philippe Hendrickx’s life, from the moment

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Drugs Good/Motors Bad — The Doper’s Omertà Ethics

21 Sep 2022

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GFNY announces GFNY Krabi

13 Sep 2022

GFNY announces GFNY Krabi February 26, 2023 The Course Ao Nang Landmark, Krabi’s beach-front shopping, dining and entertainment center, will serve as the Race Village of GFNY Krabi. The start line is

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GFNY Gruppo

Win an entry for GFNY NYC 2023 // GFNY Gruppo Show #81

09 Aug 2022

On this show find out how to win one ticket for GFNY NYC World Championship 2023. We have 2 tickets for 2 lucky winners and it’s super easy to participate on this giveaway! Also,

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GFNY announces GFNY Kuala Lumpur

02 Aug 2022

GFNY announces GFNY Kuala Lumpur February 12, 2023 The Course The race begins in Kuala Lumpur’s City Center, at the historical clock tower building of Bangunan Sultan Abdul Samad at Dataran Merdeka, Kuala Lumpur. You will

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Gran Fondo New York Gr8 event finished 13th

26 Jul 2022

Getting to KM 0 I flew down from Toronto to Newark on Saturday May 14th in time to complete registration and replace a front tyre, with help from the crew at Hudson Bikes, that somehow

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GFNY Helmets

10 Jul 2022

The GFNY helmet “Air” is focused on safety, light weight, ventilation – and style. While easily surpassing all major safety standards, including the stricter US standards, it remains with a low weight of under 250g

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