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De Crescenzo and Swenson take home top cash prizes at Levi's Gran Fondo

The inaugural edition of the Growler at Levi’s Gran Fondo surpassed expectations, as Lauren De Crescenzo and Keegan Swenson celebrated first place in a talented field of top gravel riders in difficult conditions

De Crescenzo and Swenson take home top cash prizes at Levi's Gran Fondo

Touted as one of America's Premier cycling events, the 14th edition of Levi’s Granfondo was enhanced, the toughest Growler route took place this weekend. 

Seasoned and storied athletes tackled 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, and the day’s wet and cold weather made the 138-mile Sonoma County race with over 12,000 feet of climbing even tougher than expected.

The race having 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. Racers had to contend with a long course rife with endless punchy and muddy climbs. The new Growler route being labelled "America's Toughest One Day Race".

In the women's race Lauren De Crescenzo attacked with some 80 miles to go and time trialled solo to the finish, some 12 minutes ahead of U.S. Gravel National Champion Lauren Stephens in second place, with Belgian Waffle Ride winner Sarah Sturm in third place.

In the men's race, SBT GRVL champion Keegan Swenson outsprinted former WordTour pro Belgian rider Lawrence Naesen in second, with 2016 Brabantse Pijl champion Petr Vakoc in third place.

The race paid out $55,000 to the top five women and men on the podium.

In 2016, Lauren De Crescenzo suffered a traumatic brain injury in a life-altering crash, and spent 7 days in a medically induced coma. After months of rehabilitation she returned to cycling winning Unbound Gravel in 2021. Since then she's won SBT GRVL, Tour of the Gila, The Rad Dirt, 2nd at US Pro Road Nationals, and 2nd at Big Sugar and Tushar Crusher. Lauren also held the Everesting World Record for 5 days. Lauren is a champion of the crucial message of traumatic brain injury awareness. She aims for her performances to showcase tenacity, grit, and hard work in the face of adversity.

All participants who completed The Growler at Levi's GranFondo earned themselves a unique, one-of-a-kind finisher’s award.

Levi's GranFondo offered 7 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.

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.

2024 Levi's Growler Gran Fondo Women Top 10

1- Lauren De Crescenzo
2- Lauren Stephens
3- Sarah Sturm
4- Flavia Oliveira Parks
5- Emily Newsom
6- Heather Jackson
7- Maude Farrell
8- Sophie Von Eckstaedt
9- Isabel King
10- Leah Van Der Linden

2024 Levi's Growler Gran Fondo Men Top 10

1- Keegan Swenson
2- Lawrence Naesen
3- Petr Vakoc
4- Ian Boswell
5- Griffin Easter
6- Pete Stetina
7- Matthew Wiebe
8- Matthew Zimmer
9- Elouan Gardon
10- Nick Spano

Link to 2024 Levi's Gran Fondo results: https://my.raceresult.com/285708