2025 BWR Quad-Tripel Crown of Gravel Series

7,000 cyclists brave heat for Levis GranFondo

With temperatures approaching 100 degrees, some 7,000 cyclists took to Sonoma County roads Saturday for Levi’s GranFondo, the popular 103-mile cycling event that features some of the county’s most challenging and scenic roads.

The hot weather brought additional challenges to riders, organizers said Saturday. Just before the start of the ride at 8 a.m., event organizer Carlos Perez warned riders that “it’s going to be one of the hottest days of the year.”

Perez, the founder of Bike Monkey, the event management company that produces the GranFondo, said riders should seriously consider choosing a shorter route if they were adversely affected by the heat.

Cyclists were allowed to choose one of three rides, the 32-mile piccolo, a 65-mile medio and the gran route that travels along 103 miles and climbs more than 9,000 feet. The gran route features the King Ridge Road climb.

Two North Bay cyclists were among the top finishers: Alison Tetrick of Mill Valley had the fastest time for women on the all-pavement version of the gran route. Some cyclists chose a slightly shorter version of the gran route that included a section on dirt. On that course, Santa Rosa resident Brian Finnerty finished first for men.

GranFondo spokesman Greg Fisher said after the race was over that the heat did not seem to cause many more riders than usual to suffer injuries or drop out.

“We were surprised,” he said. “The coast may have moderated it enough.”

Eleven people were taken to local hospitals, with three suffering injuries serious enough they required a helicopter lift or code 3 ambulance, the county’s emergency dispatch service said.

Fisher did not know the exact nature of the injuries but said he expected everyone to be discharged from the hospital by Sunday afternoon.

The ride, named after retired pro cyclist Levi Leipheimer of Santa Rosa, last year pumped about $3.15 million into the local economy and raised about $277,000 for local nonprofits, including its primary beneficiary Forget Me Not Farm, a working farm for at-risk children and abandoned animals.

U.S. Congressman Mike Thompson, on hand Saturday morning to kick off the ride, said the event has become a community asset. Thompson said that beyond the economic boost and the money raised for local nonprofits, the GranFondo showcases the importance of exercise at a time when so many young people struggle with obesity.

Aside from Leipheimer, celebrity participants included former baseball star Barry Bonds; Kristin Armstrong, professional road bicycle racer and two-time Olympic gold medalist; Lucas Euser, a member of the UnitedHealthcare pro-cycling team; Max Plaxton, Canadian cross-country mountain biker; and Alison Tetrick, a world class cyclist who races for the Astana BePink team.

Fisher said big changes are planned for next year’s race. The event has been held for the past six years.

“This is the last year that we rest on the original formula,” he said.

Fisher said organizers are trying to retool the ride to create an enduring and “fresh” event that will be known for more than the King Ridge challenge. That might include changing the route and adding more days to the event.

“We want to provide a harder route for people who want a challenge,” Fisher said.

Link to official results - http://www.levisgranfondo.com/results

7,000 cyclists brave heat for Levis GranFondo