This partnership allows us to offer the biggest race purse in the world, and expands our reach for at-risk youth.
Please join us in welcoming Skipstone into the fabric of Levi's GranFondo as our new title sponsor! With their generous support, we are taking steps toward reshaping the state of continental racing in North America. This was just a dream two years ago before we endeavored to reinvent the Growler as America's toughest one-day road race. Today, the future of the Growler becomes more certain.
With this partnership we now become the “richest” single-day professional road race in the world, with the top men and women to finish the Growler sharing part of a $156,000 purse. Additionally, Levi's GranFondo will now offer a race for junior men and women. The importance of this achievement cannot be overstated, as it will help us reach some major goals.
We have long recognized that the popularity of highly publicized American road racing is what inspired Levi's GranFondo, and caused it to quickly become one of the most celebrated events in the world. But road races with media coverage in the United States have vanished from American soil. These events took place in time zones which allowed us to tune in live, and on roads that literally brought the world's top talent through our neighborhood streets. They made cycling relevant to everyone.
Today, the Amgen Tour of California, USA Pro Cycling Challenge, and Tour of Utah are long gone, and many other notable domestic races have fallen like dominos. This has eliminated opportunities for aspiring cyclists in North America to compete at the highest level. The chances of being discovered by the eyes of USA Cycling and international teams are few and far between.
As an event that was born from the cauldron of American professional road racing, we are inspired not to sit and watch our sport slip away. High profile pro racing is at our core, is a part of our foundation, and must be strengthened. For a decade and a half we have produced an event that tipped its hat to professional racing, but that's no longer enough. With the invention of The Growler we have created a true road race, and a test for the worlds best athletes in a setting that brings more than just elite racers together for one day. Levi's GranFondo is truly now something for everyone, all at once.
With expanded coverage of the racing component of Levi's GranFondo, we will reach more people, inspire talent, and expand the reach for our charitable efforts for King Ridge Foundation. With every mile ridden this year, we will donate ten cents to at-risk youth. A new remote option will be offered that allows people from around the world to ride the same distance as any of our popular routes no matter where they are with 100% of their registration fee going directly to charity.
The sport of cycling, the athletes that inspire, and our event form an ecosystem that gives us the capacity to do good in our community in significant ways. The health of that ecosystem directly influences the success of King Ridge Foundation, which would not exist otherwise. The importance of breathing life into the sport upon which we built Levi's GranFondo cannot be overstated. Without professional road racing there would be no GranFondo, there would be no King Ridge Foundation, and there would be no Growler.
The past 16 years have been storied, to say the least--for us, for cycling, and for the world. I hope that you will join us this year, and partake or witness this groundbreaking shift for Levi's GranFondo as we vie to become one of the most important events not just for novice and amateur participants, but for aspiring and seasoned WorldTour professionals.
In the coming weeks we will begin announcing the favorites of this year's Growler road race. If you thought 2024 brought big hitters, just wait and see who comes out of the woods this spring to throw down right here in Sonoma County.
Thank you to our loyal sponsors, our participants, and to Skipstone for helping us reach for our dreams.
Do not miss Levi's GranFondo on April 19th.
See you at the start line.
Skipstone is a premier producer of limited-production Bordeaux-focused varietal wines from its certified-organic Alexander Valley estate, set within the valley’s hillsides known as Pocket Peak. The 200-acre Skipstone estate, located at the foot of the Geysers on Levi’s GranFondo route, features a 27-acre vineyard, state-of-the-art winery, olive orchards, and the private Residence at Skipstone, available for overnight stays.
At Bike Monkey, we place a premium on you sharing the experience with your friends and reward you for doing so if you take advantage of our group buy discounts. If you bring 3+, 5+, or 7+ people, you can save 10%, 15%, or 20% respectively. That's significant if you're signing up for some of our longer routes.
Why would we do such a thing? Because we honestly believe that your experience is even better with friends. In exchange for you sharing the word, we offer a hefty reward.
Click here to check out our group buys, and instructions on how it works.