There is something inherently awesome about a peloton of professional cyclists tearing across the George Washington Bridge at sunrise. New York City is a place of gridlock, potholes, and yellow cabs that treat stop signs as suggestions. It is not supposed to be a place for a UCI road race. But for the third year running, the Gran Premio New York City is proving that the best racing doesn’t always happen in the French countryside. Sometimes, it happens on Route 9W.
Let’s be clear: this isn’t a four-corner crit in a parking lot. This is a proper, UCI 1.2 ranked road race. The 137-kilometer (85-mile) course is a brute, packing over 2,000 meters of climbing into a route that mimics a Belgian Classic. It kicks off on the lower level of the George Washington Bridge before heading north into the Hudson Valley. From the punchy climbs of Alpine to the relentless rollers of the Palisades, the peloton will battle exposed crosswinds and narrow roads before looping back for a finish in Fort Lee.
The genius of GP NYC lies in its “Fox and Hound” format. The professional field starts just 10 minutes ahead of the massive GFNY World Championship amateur field. It creates a unique dynamic where the pros are racing for UCI points and a paycheck, but they also have 5,000 hyped-up amateurs breathing down their necks. It is the ultimate “Pro for a Day” experience for the masses, and a “Don’t Get Caught” scenario for the elites.
While the return of the Men’s UCI race is a major win for the American calendar, organizers GFNY have been vocal about their desire to add a Women’s Pro Race to the ticket. The hurdle remains a financial one, with roughly $100,000 in additional operational costs needed for road closures. They are currently seeking a title sponsor to make it happen. Sadly, it’s outside Cyclry’s budget. But in a city with more Fortune 500 companies than bodega cats, one would hope someone on Wall Street steps up to fund the gap.
American road racing has had a rough decade, but events like GP NYC are the blueprint for the future. It’s loud, it’s abrasive, and it looks incredible on camera. In other words: it is perfectly New York.