The global amateur GFNY series will premier a new French event on 27 March 2022 based out of the southern French film capital of Cannes. 

GFNY Cannes will start in front of the world-famous Palais des Festivals et des Congrès de Cannes in the heart of the city, where the annual film festival takes place, before promenading past luxurious palaces, under palm trees and along beautiful Cote d’Azur beaches. 

The 120 kilometre gran fondo route then heads inland up into the Esterel massif range, where the racing action will quickly put riders into a spot of bother on Tanneron, a narrow 7.6 kilometre climb averaging 5% gradient, but with some bits over 10%.    

After rolling up through a series of charming French villages, the race hits the second big climb, a 14km two-step staircase up Col d ‘Avaye, on a narrow and steep road through the rugged inland Provencal landscape.  At the 750 metre summit riders will be rewarded with a 30km downhill run to Lake St-Cassien. 

With the big climbing done, roleurs of the peloton will now have the opportunity to shine and chase down breakaways on the final undulating run back to the coast, where the timed portion of the race ends atop the last roller, 10km from sunny Cannes.

In addition to GFNY Cannes, GFNY France now offers five additional gran fondo events in 2022: 22 May Villard de Lans, 12 June Lourdes Tourmalet, 19 June La Vaujany, 10 July Grand Ballon, 28 August Alpes Vaujany.

Riders finishing in the top ten percent of their age category at GFNY events qualify to start in the front corral at annual GFNY World Championships in New York City.

PHOTOS: Cannes Travel

Worldwide Gran Fondo  and Gravel Event Calendar