GFNY World Championship NYC
19 May 2024
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Thann
Nestled at the foothills of the Vosges mountains, the town of Thann has a rich heritage that earned it the title as one of the 100 most beautiful destinations of France (Les Plus Beaux Détours de France). The historic town center is spread around the St-Thiébaut collegiate church, a jewel of Gothic architecture. As you stroll along the narrow streets, you will discover 16th century houses, fountains, oriel windows, towers and fortifications dating from the 14th and 15th centuries and the embankments of the Thur River.
Charming villages are set throughout the heart of two valleys in southern Alsace. The routes will lead you to waterfalls and mountain lakes, and will offer you a panorama and a breathtaking landscapes of the Alsace plain to the Bernese Alps. You will be able to take in the beauty of the mountain range by crisscrossing the ridge route.
Thann lies at the start of the 170km Alsace Wine Route and boasts a wine-growing tradition and exceptional vineyards. The route shows idyllic landscapes, cultural highlights and, of course, the vineyards themselves. Set on steep sides of mountains, the unique vineyards produce some of the world’s most remarkable vintages.
Long Course
The long course of GFNY Grand Ballon will take you through the heart of the scenic Balloons des Vosges Nature Park, to test yourself on the most legendary and demanding climbs of the Hautes Vosges Mountains.
The race starts from the historic center of Thann, at the gateway to the Alsace Wine Route. The climbing starts 1km into the race, up the little-known climb Le Plan Diebold, just before joining the ascent of the mythical Grand Ballon. Grand Ballon is highest point of the Vosges Mountains and its road culminates at 1325m.
After descending Grand Ballon, you will race along the ridges towards the Markstein Ski Station at KM 35 and then you’ll reach the Florival Valley and its small typical Alsatian villages. Your next Vosges climbs are the Col du Firstplan at KM 70, the very demanding climb Wasserbourg with its maximum incline of more than 21%, Petit Ballon at KM 86.5, Col du Platzerwasel at KM 103, Route des Crétes, a second ascent to the top of Grand Ballon at KM 117 and finally the last climb, Viel Armand, a place of historical significance from the First World War at KM 128. The descent will lead you through Cernay before taking the Thann Road and completing the race. Beware of the headwind and stay with a group, your determination to reach the finish line will help you get through this flat section.
Make no mistake, we are in the middle of the mountains with the well-known climbs of the Tour de France will leave you very little respite, but the breathtaking views on the Vosges Balloons and the magnificent Alsace Plain will make you forget the challenges.
Back in Thann, a festive post-race celebration and meal await you. Celebrate your accomplishment in the historic center of Thann after a day of enjoying the surrounding nature.
The race starts from the historic center of Thann, at the gateway to the Alsace Wine Route. The climbing starts 1km into the race, up the little-known climb Le Plan Diebold, just before joining the ascent of the mythical Grand Ballon. Grand Ballon is highest point of the Vosges Mountains and its road culminates at 1325m.
After descending Grand Ballon, you will race along the ridges towards the Markstein Ski Station at KM 35 and then you’ll reach the Florival Valley and its small typical Alsatian villages. Your next Vosges climbs are the Col du Firstplan at KM 70, the very demanding climb Wasserbourg with its maximum incline of more than 21%, Petit Ballon at KM 86.5, Col du Platzerwasel at KM 103, Route des Crétes, a second ascent to the top of Grand Ballon at KM 117 and finally the last climb, Viel Armand, a place of historical significance from the First World War at KM 128. The descent will lead you through Cernay before taking the Thann Road and completing the race. Beware of the headwind and stay with a group, your determination to reach the finish line will help you get through this flat section.
Make no mistake, we are in the middle of the mountains with the well-known climbs of the Tour de France will leave you very little respite, but the breathtaking views on the Vosges Balloons and the magnificent Alsace Plain will make you forget the challenges.
Back in Thann, a festive post-race celebration and meal await you. Celebrate your accomplishment in the historic center of Thann after a day of enjoying the surrounding nature.
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 medium course of GFNY Grand Ballon will take you through the heart of the scenic Balloons des Vosges Nature Park, to the top of the mythical Grand Ballon, and back.
The race starts from the historic center of Thann, at the gateway to the Alsace wine route. The climbing starts 1km into the race, up the little-known climb Le Plan Diebold, just before joining the ascent of the mythical Grand Ballon. Grand Ballon is highest point of the Vosges Mountains and its road culminates at 1325m.
At the top of the mountain, you will turn around and descend via Viel Armand, a place of historical significance from the First World War. The descent will lead you through Cernay before taking the Thann Road and completing the race. Beware of the headwind and stay with a group, your determination to reach the finish line will help you get through this flat section.
Make no mistake, we are in the middle of the mountains with the well-known climbs of the Tour de France will leave you very little respite, but the breathtaking views on the Vosges Balloons and the magnificent Alsace Plain will make you forget the challenges.
Back in Thann, a festive post-race celebration and meal await you. Celebrate your accomplishment in the historic center of Thann after a day of enjoying the surrounding nature.
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 Grand Ballon
THE JERSEY: All riders receive the official GFNY Grand Ballon race jersey, which is mandatory attire at the race. The jersey is designed in NYC and Made in Italy.
CHIP TIMING: GFNY Grand Ballon 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 Grand Ballon finisher receives a medal, no matter which distance they complete. All finishers also earn a “Finish” towards their 3x2024 GFNY medal or the 10x medal. Go to gfny.com/medals for more information on GFNY’s multi-finisher medals.
GFNY Gear
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 two 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.
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.
Training Plans on TrainingPeaks
Benefit from training structure and work out smarter by following a GFNY training plan. The easy-to-follow GFNY training plans are designed to give you flexibility and control over your training process and adjust based on how you feel, the weather and your physical condition.
The plans are written by GFNY Coaches, with options based on your cycling experience, and are tailored for the type of GFNY race course you’ll be racing - flat-to-rolling, or mountains.
The plans are written by GFNY Coaches, with options based on your cycling experience, and are tailored for the type of GFNY race course you’ll be racing - flat-to-rolling, or mountains.
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.
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