Levi’s Growler Awakens with Pro Race
Top Pro’s will join Levi's GranFondo and tackle “The Growler” route ahead of the Granfondo, as it adds a race category this spring
One of America's Premier cycling events, the 14th edition of Levi’s Granfondo is enhancing the toughest Growler route with a race this April 13th 2024.
Seasoned and storied athletes will tackle a route that's as difficult as some of the most challenging one-day professional road races in the world, starting in the front of the Granfondo. There’s a $20,000 cash prize purse up for grabs!
Already, the likes of Lachlan Morton, Peta Mullens, Ian Boswell, Sarah Sturm, Peter Stetina, Heather Jackson, Petr Vakoc are confirmed on the start sheet. Along with many more pros, the grueling race will be a pure competitive format. Men and women will chase a $20,000 cash purse which will be split equitably between the top five of each group. Anyone who races the Growler is eligible. The race is open to anyone who wishes to compete and there is no requirement to qualify.
The 138-mile Sonoma County race with over 12,000 feet of climbing has been compared to racing Liège-Bastogne-Liège or Il Lombardia by Leipheimer who knows the rugged route well and having trained in the area for over 20 years.
Levi's GranFondo is part of an inspired Californian Cycling Culture that dates back more than 100 years in Sonoma County, CA.
In 2016, Tour of California race organizers selected the original Gran route as the course for the 7th stage. It was dubbed The King Stage, recognizing the caliber of roads in Sonoma County, and showcasing that Levi's GranFondo delivered on its promise of offering a challenge worthy of a world tour road race!
Leipheimer also believes that for an aspiring pro racer who hasn’t reached the big time — “it’s a great testing ground for up and coming road hopefuls, the course itself and the roads in Sonoma County are completely epic, really what it’s about for me. It’s a really hard race on incredible roads that will take strength and skill and knowledge.”
All 7 Routes Finish in Windsor
Levi's GranFondo has always offered routes for a wide range of fitness and ability levels. From a casual ride on relatively flat ground through the bucolic wine region to the highly competitive Growler which easily rivals some of the toughest one-day races in the world.
There is the 11 mile Family route, 22 mile Piccolino, 40 mile Piccolino, 63 miles Medio Fondo, 81 mile Geysers, 120 Gran Fondo and of course the 139 Growler, the toughest route with over 12,000 feet of climbing and includes the torturous climb of King Ridge Road, the endless climbs on Stewarts Point Road and steep 13% gradients of The Geysers.
Gone is the summit finish at the top of Geyser's Road. All 7 routes will now have their times captured after competitors finish the entirety of their selected course distance. Organizers, Bike Monkey are making this change to bring the excitement of finishing Levi's GranFondo into the arena of Windsor's Town Green, placing people as they roll underneath the finish line arch in front of adoring fans, friends, family members and loved ones.
Everyone will start and finish together. It is the organizers belief that this change is a necessary improvement to the overall feeling of accomplishment at Levi's GranFondo, regardless of which route you challenged yourself to.
The 100 mile Gran Fondo, the biggest and most popular distance, a definitive cycling experience in northern California that mustn’t be missed. From the damp redwood forests at the base of King Ridge to the 360-degree panoramas at the top. And if you think the climbs are amazing, the descents back down to Sonoma will stay with you for the rest of your days!
Ahead of you is an unforgettable day’s cycling, with a mass start, full support on course and full emergency services. Several aid stations, each with whole foods as well as on-bike liquid and gel energy.
NEW Growler Finishers Award
All participants who complete The Growler at Levi's GranFondo will earn themselves a unique, one-of-a-kind finisher’s award.
Recognizing the accomplishment of finishing one of the most challenging single day road courses is something we feel is very important. Beginning in 2024, everyone who completes The Growler route during Levi's GranFondo will earn themselves a one-of-a-kind award to commemorate the accomplishment.
Still Benefitting At-Risk Youth
Proceeds from all events at Levi’s GranFondo have raised more than $3 million since 2009 for the King Ridge Foundation, which serves at-risk youth organisations.
A monument for Sonoma County, the head of the bear symbolizes the ride, and will lead the charge for Levi's GranFondo next spring.
For more information, please visit: https://www.levisgranfondo.com or click the button below to register now.
