Quick answer: The 13th GFNY Cozumel, a mass-participation road bike race (a "gran fondo"), takes place on Sunday, November 8, 2026. It starts at 7 am on Avenida Rafael Melgar at Avenida 11, by the main plaza downtown. Riders choose the long course, two laps of the island (about 154 to 160 km), or the medium course, one lap (about 77 to 80 km), with a cut-off around 3 pm. This year GFNY also plans a professional race, the Gran Premio Cozumel, which starts a few minutes before the amateurs and does one full lap. Roads on the course are closed or controlled by police during the race, so plan drives around the island for the afternoon.
What's happening
GFNY started in New York and now runs races around the world; Cozumel has hosted one every November since 2014, and it's one of the series' most popular events. Last year about 2,000 riders from around the world took part, and organizers expect a bigger field this year. The loop follows the coast road: south from town along the west coast, around Punta Sur, up the wild east side with its crosswinds, and back across the island to San Miguel.
| What | When and where |
|---|---|
| Start corrals open | 5:00 to 6:30 am, downtown |
| Gran Premio Cozumel (pro race) | A few minutes before 7 am, one lap (pending UCI approval) |
| GFNY start | 7:00 am, Av. Rafael Melgar at Av. 11, next to the main plaza |
| Courses | Long: 2 laps, about 154–160 km. Medium: 1 lap, about 77–80 km |
| Course cut-off | About 3:00 pm |
Entry and the full schedule are on the GFNY Cozumel website.
If you're on the island on November 8
- Expect closed or police-controlled roads on the coast road all morning and into the afternoon, and around the waterfront downtown at the start and finish. Taxis to the south beaches and the east side may be slow or detour.
- Plan your beach day close to your hotel, or go after the cut-off. Snorkel and dive trips that leave by boat from town piers aren't affected.
- Come and cheer. The start downtown at 7 am is the liveliest moment.
- Two weeks later, IRONMAN. IRONMAN Cozumel is on Sunday, November 22, with similar road closures.
Questions and Answers
When is GFNY Cozumel 2026?
Sunday, November 8, 2026. The race starts at 7 am downtown on Avenida Rafael Melgar, by the main plaza.
How long is the GFNY Cozumel course?
The long course is two laps of the island, about 154 to 160 km, and the medium course is one lap, about 77 to 80 km.
Are roads closed in Cozumel for GFNY?
Roads on the course, mainly the coast road around the island and the downtown waterfront, are closed or controlled by police during the race, from early morning until about 3 pm.
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Top photo: a cyclist racing on a closed street in Cozumel during an earlier triathlon. "70.3 cozumel AO" by Qwasert, via Wikimedia Commons, licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0. Resized.
