Cozumel Chases Latin American Final of GFNY Cycling Circuit

Cozumel, Quintana Roo — Cozumel is bidding to host the Latin American final of the Gran Fondo New York (GFNY) cycling circuit, organizers said after the island’s 13th GFNY México Championship drew about 3,000 riders from 40 countries on Sunday.

GFNY México founding partners Sean Gath and Miguel González Castelán said the medium-term goal is to bring a GFNY Latinoamérica final to the island so it can serve as the continent’s qualifying hub on the road to the world championship in New York. They added that they are in talks with the International Cycling Union (UCI) to assess the conditions for eventually staging a professional World Tour race on the island.

Castillo and Tamez take overall titles

Ulises Alfredo Castillo Soto and Sofía Monserrath Tamez Escamilla won the overall men’s and women’s titles at this year’s event, which also served as the national championship for all of GFNY México’s series.

Defending champions and leading figures including Olympic cyclist Raúl Alcalá and three-time winner Flavio de Luna agreed that the island’s toughest challenge is its wind gusts and humidity — the conditions behind the race’s special “King of the Wind” prize.

Governor starts race for first time in 13 years

Governor Mara Lezama fired the starting gun on Sunday, Nov. 8 — the first time in the race’s 13-year history in Cozumel that the state’s top official has attended. The event offered two routes of 154 and 77 kilometers across 18 categories, drawing riders from every Mexican state as well as the United States, the United Kingdom, Ukraine, Spain, Peru, Germany, France, Colombia, Canada and Brazil.

Lezama welcomed the competitors and highlighted her government’s support for sports tourism.

Mayor José Luis Chacón Méndez said the race is an engine of wellbeing and economic development for Cozumel families, noting that hotels, restaurants, transport operators and artisans reported exceptional occupancy and activity.

Activities began on Saturday, Nov. 7, with the opening of the Expo at the Convention Center and the Gran Fondo Kids event, in which more than 200 children took part as part of efforts to develop the island’s future cyclists.