GFNY Day Returns To 'Iconic Route' In Rockland In August

ROCKLAND COUNTY, NY — Rockland County's verdant roads and hills beckon, and cyclists will drink in the vistas and ride for pleasure on the fourth annual GFNY Day, coming up Aug. 20.

"It’s a celebration of GFNY and sport," company CEO Uli Fluhme told Patch. "And the GFNY Day ride in NYC is obviously centered around the racecourse in May through Rockland. Since GFNY's inception in 2010, Rockland has been at the heart of the GFNY NYC race held each year on the third Sunday in May."

Held on the third Sunday in August, GFNY Day is global because GFNY has become much more than just race day in May.

GFNY was founded by Uli and Lidia Fluhme based on their love for the authentic Italian granfondo. It is now a global cycling marathon series that covers 20 races annually on four continents. And it’s a year-round community of riders who ride together and prepare for the New York competition and other granfondos around the world.

The GFNY Day in August is meant to recognize that.

"We celebrate our sport together, revolving around the GFNY experience. Riders take part in GFNY Group Rides, get outside by themselves and go for a ride while wearing their GFNY jersey," he said. "Riders are riding in small groups at a casual pace on parts of the course and other Rockland roads."

The race in May serves as the World Championship and every May, thousands of cyclists in neon green GFNY jerseys gather at dawn on the George Washington Bridge, the starting line.

"The race features the most international peloton in the world with riders from almost 100 nations coming together to challenge themselves against the clock and fellow riders over the iconic route," Fluhme said.

Unlike the race in May, GFNY Day riders will blend in with any other cyclists out on the road as part of the traffic, he said.

Locally, GFNY Day includes the 51.8 mile Rockland ride, which starts and ends in Fort Lee, and a group ride in Central Park.

"Hundreds of riders ride in Rockland because it’s the perfect training ground with a healthy mix of flat roads and hills. And they eat at delis/bagel shops/coffee shops, use car and other services and stay at hotels," Fluhme said.

GFNY officials estimate their events have brought over $10 million of economic impact to Rockland County since 2010.

"There are also over 3000 Rockland residents who have participated in GFNY," Fluhme said.

"Sport has a positive impact on people’s lives. But, many people are often held back from discovering sport and the benefits it can bring them," he told Patch. "Furthermore, we are living in a world where we spend more time than ever with our heads buried in our phones. The growing influence of social media and the Metaverse is a depressing extension of this, and the effect on our health and wellbeing cannot be ignored."

There's a growing need for exercising for well-being in today’s society, he pointed out.

"GFNY is proud of our mission of bringing people together through the power of sport by providing them a goal for a healthier lifestyle," he said.