Meyer and Devaux fastest at Sold Out GFNY Grand Ballon

Over 1,200 cyclists climbed through the Vosges mountains in one of the most beautiful destinations in France

Last Sunday, GFNY Grand Ballon offers cyclists a 146.3 km Gran Fondo with 4,041m of climbing through the Vosges mountains in one of the most beautiful destinations in France. The third edition sold out with a record number of riders. The Medio Gran Fondo was 57km with 1,565m of climbing.

Host town Thann lies at the beginning of the Alsace Wine route, nestled in the foothills of the Vosges mountains. Thann boasts a wine-growing tradition with exceptional vineyards as well as a dizzying variety of roads from flat to mountainous for ideal riding.

The race started with the little known climb of Le Plan Diebold, before joining the ascent of the mythical Grand Ballon, the highest point of the Vosges Mountains.

The road top out at 1,325 meters above sea level, winding through the heart of the scenic Ballons des Vosges Nature Park, where riders were tested on climbs made famous by the Tour de France.

Frenchman Thomas Devaux was fastest (4:30:04), outsprinting well known Belgian cyclist Tim Alleman in second and Michiel Minnaert (Bataia Brigade) in third place in a close tie.

German Janine Meyer was fasted in the women's category (5:00:34), ahead of Frenchwomen Aurore Pauchet in second and Frenchwomen Emma Wasser in third place.

Link to 2024 GFNY Grand Ballon results: https://gfny.cc/results/2024/grandballon