Villavicencio is the capital city of the Meta department and the gateway to Colombia’s Eastern Plains, Los Llanos. The city is strategically located where the Eastern Andes descend into the vast, tropical savannas of the Llanos and serves as the historic and commercial bridge between the Andean capital of Bogotá and the plains leading to the Orinoco River. This landscape is far from the mountainous image normally associated with Colombia. Due to its foothill location, it features a warm, tropical climate with cool mountain breezes.

Villavicencio is the cultural center of the Llanos, characterized by its cowboy heritage, the lively joropo music and dance, and traditional ranching sports like coleo. Villavicencio’s rich cultural traditions are built on pride, fortitude, and a deep connection to the land, something you can feel in every corner of the city. The local cuisine, like the carne a la Llanera, reflects this same identity, bringing people together and celebrating the region’s ranching traditions. 

Villavicencio also offers a dynamic landscape for cycling, from smooth urban roads to rolling hills to challenging climbs. Riders are constantly rewarded with breathtaking views and an authentic connection to Colombia’s cycling culture, making every kilometer an experience to remember. 

The GFNY Villavicencio activities take place at Parque Las Malocas. The pre-race group rides, the pre-race expo, the race start & finish, and the post-race festivities will be hosted from Villavicencio’s main events center, which offers ample parking, a covered outdoor expo area and many statues celebrating Villavicencio’s culture and history.

From Parque Las Malocas, you will ride through Catama Avenue on a false flat until reaching Puente Eduardo Santos, also known as Puente Amarillo. The important bridge connects Villavicencio and the municipality of Restrepo and offers a privileged view of the Guatiquia river valley to the east and Buenavista, the Bavaria Forest and the Vanguardia Forest to the west. For the long route riders, a glance to the left gives insight into the climb up Buenavista that you will tackle later on, as well as a view of Loma De Servita, Alto Pertachuela and other peaks at this edge of the Eastern Andes.

After the bridge, you will ride along a fast section that has a slight decline on Via Restrepo, the historic road, which is now a national highway, that connects Villavicencio and the municipality of Restrepo. After the toll plaza, you will start a gradual climb to Restrepo. From Restrepo, you will have another fast section that is a slight decline until Cumaral. Just past Cumaral, you will enter a roundabout that will serve as the turn-around point of the course. From there, you will ride on another false flat incline through Cumaral and Restrepo, returning to Villavicencio.

You will cross the Guatiquia River over Vilavicencio’s secondary bridge, Puente Rio Guatiquia, towards Puerto de Buenavista. All the riders make a left after the bridge and follow the road until the Rotonda La Grama roundabout. This is the split of the long and medium courses. The medium route riders will make a left and will return to the finish via Avenida Catama, the same road as on the way out. The long route riders will make a right to Calle 44 and head towards Villavicencio’s most important climb, Alto de Buenavista.

The Buenavista climb is 8km long from the Rotunda La Grama to the top of Buenavista. It has an average of 8.3% and a 13.1% maximum, and is an Hors Catégorie climb. The road is steep and will test your legs and your fortitude. It starts at 5-8%, then ramps up to 10-13%. You’ll have a brief 2% section that will allow you a small rest before the next section that is 11-13%. Then another rest and the final 1.5km at 8%-11%. The highest point of the race is at KM 77 at 1188m. 

From the top, there is a 2km descent, a short counter-climb, and from there, the course descends all the way to the finish line. You will pass through the municipality of Servita, and then in Pipiral, you’ll enter Highway 40. You will pass through two Buenavista tunnels, the first less than 500m long, and the second 4.5km long, offering a once-in-a-lifetime chance to ride your bike through the tunnels, which are normally only for vehicles. Both will be fully closed to cars for GFNY and are well illuminated and ventilated. Follow Highway 40 until it turns into Calle 1. It will join Avenida Catama, and you will return via the same route as you started the day. 

Back at Parque Las Malocas, a festive celebration with your family and friends to enjoy the joropo music and dance performances, medals, awards ceremony and post-race meal await you. 

LONG COURSE IS A COMPETITION: Only the finishers of the long course are eligible for category rankings and Overall and Podium awards. If you want to race and be ranked in your category, you must complete the long course. Top 10% of finishers in each age group earn a spot in the Qualifier Corral at every GFNY World event.

MEDIUM COURSE IS NOT A COMPETITION: The riders of the medium course will be provided their start-to-finish time, but will not be ranked by finish time. All finish times will be listed in alphabetical order.