GFNY announces GFNY Pittsburgh-Monroeville
GFNY announces
GFNY Pittsburgh-Monroeville
September 21, 2025
The Courses
GFNY Pittsburgh-Monroeville will challenge you and take your breath away. The race starts and finishes in Monroeville, just 15 minutes east of Pittsburgh. The course travels through scenic Allegheny and Westmoreland Counties and offers a recreational 41-mile medium distance and a competitive 70-mile long distance. The distances may feel short, but tacking the rolling hills will put a sting in your legs.
The pre-race expo, the race start and finish and the post-race festival will all take place at the Wave Pool area of Boyce Park in Eastern Allegheny County, Pennsylvania. Boyce Park is a part of the county’s 12,000-acre network of nine parks. The impressive park system, including the expansive North and South Parks, are perfect for hiking, fishing, mountain biking, and other outdoor activities.
The race starts with a short descent, and then goes right into the first of ten climbs on the course. The first four miles travel through Boyce Park. The next ten miles will take you through rolling hills of Allegheny County and into Westmoreland County. The hills lead to a beautiful descent towards a bridge over the Beaver Run Reservoir. This may be one of the most scenic places on the whole course, we’ll make sure to take your picture! From the center of the bridge, you’ll start the longest climb of the day, 1.7-miles long with over 350ft of climbing, maximum incline of 10%, to the highest point of the course, the Cima Coppi of GFNY Pittsburgh-Monroeville.
Over the next 15 miles, the significant climbing of the 29-mile loop begins. There are five more significant climbs, each approximately 1 mile long, some gradual and some with steeper sections, with several sections with inclines over 10%. You’ll get some brief moments of rest on the descents. Then you’ll make the left onto Drenen Road and start the most challenging climb of the day. Although only 0.6-mile long, it has a 10.1% average incline, with a max incline over 15%. Once at the top, you can head straight to return to Boyce Park and the finish line, or make the sharp left to start the loop a second time for more climbing fun. This course will demand you to be strong: strong quads and also a strong mind.
Once you arrive back to Boyce Park and the finish festivities, enjoy a post-race meal with friends, photos, music and the awards ceremony.
Long Route – 70.3 miles / 7756 ft+
Medium Route – 41.3 miles / 4566 ft+
About Pittsburgh and Monroeville
Pittsburgh is a city in western Pennsylvania and often referred to as “Steel City” due to its prosperity from Gilded Age industry, it was the industrial capital of the US in the late 1800s. Nowadays, the city transformed itself as a hub for technology, education and healthcare. This creates a unique social mix, with multi-generational locals and new transplants mixing in this Appalachian city.
Pittsburgh’s geography makes it visually unique. It’s located at the confluence of three rivers, the Allegheny, Monongahela, and Ohio, and is surrounded by hills and bridges (446 of them!), which is why Pittsburgh is also referred to as the “City of Bridges”. The topography provides stunning views, particularly from vantage points like the Duquesne Incline, where you can overlook the city skyline, stadiums, and the rivers. Pittsburgh is known for its 90 distinct neighborhoods to explore during your visit, from trendy Lawrenceville to historic Strip District, each have their own character, offering plenty to explore in terms of food, art, and culture.
Another thing that makes Pittsburgh special is its sports culture and sense of community. The city is fiercely proud of its teams—the Steelers (football), Penguins (hockey), and Pirates (baseball). Game days are a big event, and you’ll often see fans wearing black and gold throughout the city. Whether you’re a fan of sports, art, or history, Pittsburgh offers a unique blend of old and new, making it an exciting and fun city to visit.
Monroeville is the host city of GFNY Pittsburgh and an eastern suburb of Pittsburgh. Located in beautiful nature and openness ideal for cycling, while also being a 15-minute drive from Pittsburgh and all the activities to do there. Monroeville offers a variety of hotel options, restaurants and shopping for a great stay while you visit Pittsburgh for GFNY Pittsburgh.
Getting Here
Airports:
Traveling to Pittsburgh is very easy. Pittsburgh International Airport (PIT) is only a 26 min drive from downtown Pittsburgh and a 35 minute drive to GFNY’s starting line and host hotels.
Many car rental options are available at the airport to make your trip to Pittsburgh fast and easy.
