Nearly 3,000 Cyclists Set for GFNY Mexico Cozumel Race on Sunday

Cozumel, Quintana Roo — Close to 3,000 cyclists will line up Sunday for the 13th edition of the GFNY Mexico race in Cozumel, an event organizers describe as the country’s largest gathering of women riders, with 47 percent of the field female.

The race also serves as Mexico’s national final, drawing past champions and competitors from other states, which organizers said should make for a highly competitive field.

Organizers Miguel González Castelán and Shawn Gad said the event has grown steadily over its 13-year history and will remain based in Cozumel. Each edition adds something new, they said, and this year’s national final is a step toward a longer-term goal: hosting a Latin American final in the coming years.

154 kilometers and two laps of the island

Riders will cover 154 kilometers — two laps of the circuit that runs around the island. Some will take on the half-distance event, while others will compete in the pairs category, in which teammates must cross the finish line together or within a maximum gap of 30 seconds.

Besides prize money and bicycles from sponsors, the winners earn a place at the grand final in New York, where the top cyclists from the 30 countries that host GFNY events compete.

Cozumel is a favorite among riders because the course is flat, but the island’s wind provides a formidable rival. That has given rise to the King of the Wind competition, decided by combining times from the two stages held along the island’s eastern shore, where the fastest total wins.

7 a.m. start and road closures

The race starts at 7 a.m. Sunday in front of the municipal government building. Authorities asked residents to plan ahead, since several main avenues will close for the competition.