Sprint finish at GFNY France-Orcières

July 30, 2025

Cassoulet and Manfredi win after 4,461 meters of climbing

New York City (July 30, 2025) /ENDURANCE SPORTSWIRE/ – This past Sunday, the alpine village of Orcières Merlette hosted GFNY France-Orcières, where riders tackled a grueling 158 km course with a staggering 4,461 meters of elevation gain.

In a thrilling sprint finish, Paul Cassoulet claimed the overall victory in 5:03:06, edging out 2023 GFNY La Vaujany runner up champion Alexandre Banegas and legendary GFNY multi-time podium finisher Julien Bérard, who completed the all-French podium.

In the women’s race, Italy’s Mara Manfredi delivered a commanding performance, securing the win in 6:18:17. She finished 16 minutes ahead of Mallorie Mazzilli (France), who recently took third at GFNY La Vaujany 2025, and Marine Crampe, who rounded out the podium.

Orcières‑Merlette 1850 is a high-altitude ski resort in the Southern French Alps (Hautes‑Alpes), offering over 100 km of ski runs from 1,850 m up to 2,725 m, with a diverse mix of pistes for beginners to advanced levels and Europe’s longest zip line (1,870 m).

In summer, Orcières‑Merlette transforms into a vibrant high‑altitude playground, with three lifts whisking visitors up to 2,650 m for mountain‑bike descents, the “Monde des 6 Lacs” alpine lake hike, paragliding, via‑ferrata adventures – and one of the most spectacular GFNY races.

Next up on the GFNY World Series calendar is the 6th annual GFNY Alpes Vaujany Croix de Fer, scheduled for August 24, 2025.

About GFNY Global Endurance Sports Series

GFNY Global Endurance Sports Series is a sports event company with three decades of experience in racing, planning and organizing events. The global endurance sports brand hosts multiple events throughout the year around the world on five continents.

Working with partners around the world to deliver a first-class experience, GFNY Global Endurance Sports Series puts its athletes first.

The official GFNY website is: gfny.com.

Cycling – Mass Participation

Dozens of races held around the world. View the latest calendar here.

Riders get to BE A PRO FOR A DAY ® by competing against others, themselves and the clock in a personal endurance challenge.

Top 10% (20% at regional championships) of finishers in each age group qualify for the Elite Qualifier Corral at every GFNY event.

Michelob ULTRA GFNY World Championship NYC

The 14th annual Michelob ULTRA GFNY World Championship New York will be held on May 17, 2026. Athletes take on a challenging route to compete against each other, the clock, and themselves in a personal endurance challenge.

The official Michelob ULTRA GFNY World Championship NYC website is NYC.GFNY.COM.

Cycling – Pro Racing

At Gran Premio New York City, professional teams race the same course as riders at the Michelob ULTRA GFNY World Championship NYC – but with a 10-minute head start. The third edition will be held on May 17, 2026.

Adding a women’s pro race would elevate the event further. The proposed format would have women starting 45 minutes ahead of the men’s pro race, giving them their own stage. However, the extended road closures required for this addition increase costs by $100,000.

For those interested in supporting women’s racing, GFNY is inviting companies and organizations to help sponsor this important addition. Contact GFNY to discuss partnership opportunities.

The official Gran Premio New York City website is GP.GFNY.COM.

Further Material for Media Use

Official GFNY Orcières video: here

GFNY Press Images: here

GFNY Results: here

GFNY World calendar graphic: here

Previous GFNY press releases: here

Media Contact

Gran Fondo New York Inc.

Uli Fluhme, uli@gfny.com

Caroline Lindsay, caroline@gfny.com