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Congratulations to the crew of Artemis II! We always imagined operating like a small, independent space agency, just without a rocket... yet. At the office, we practice some pretty epic countdowns, just to make sure we're taking our job as seriously... Not to say that putting human beings into orbit around the moon isn't hard work, but organizing America's premier gran fondo and channeling 2000 people through the veins of Sonoma County is no small task.
So on the topic of epic countdowns, we just dropped a sizzle reel for Levi's GranFondo and Skipstone's Growler Road Race. If it doesn't get you out of your chair, check your pulse.
More than 2,000 strong will start a big ass road bike ride in Windsor, California, just a couple of weeks from now. Many of you will be joining us for the first time. Welcome. Whether you're a veteran of this ride or brand new to it, a lot is happening between now and race day. So this email will be one of a handful of onramps to get you oriented. Starting with an acknowledgement of our official bike: Cervélo's Caledonia.
Cervélo Is the Official Bike of Levi's GranFondo
We're thrilled to welcome Cervélo into the fold as the official bike partner of Levi's GranFondo. And the timing couldn't be better—they've just released the all-new Caledonia, a bike that was practically purpose-built for roads like ours: technical, demanding, and spectacularly beautiful.
Here's what we love about it: the Caledonia is a legit high-performance carbon road bike that doesn't require a second mortgage. Whether you're adding to the quiver or looking for your one bike to do everything, it fills the gap that a lot of riders have been staring at in today's market. It's the kind of bike you ride hard and put away wet without a second thought. It'll be ready for battle at a moment's notice for any occasion, especially ours. You'll get to see the Caledonia at the Levi's GranFondo expo. Swing by and pay Cervélo your respects.
(https://www.cervelo.com/en-US/bikes/caledonia)
The Live Stream
Click the image below to visit the live stream page on YouTube, and subscribe to the Bike Monkey channel so you don't miss the live broadcast of Skipstone's Growler Road Race, which starts with live commentating at 10:30 AM Pacific on Saturday, April 25th. You can actually tune in earlier to see raw live footage, but the show begins in earnest at 10:30 AM. So for those of you who want to watch every single minute of action, you can tune in as early as 7:15 AM on the day of the race. Capisce?
The Race for the Masses
Big news for competitive riders who didn't make the elite field: we've expanded racing categories across the Growler, Gran, and Geysers routes. You can compete, you can podium, and you will be recognized at the awards ceremony following the presentation of awards for Skipstone's Elite Growler Road Race.
Here's the breakdown of podium spots that will be called up:
Skipstone's Growler Elite
Top 5 Men & Women (prize money goes 10 deep in each gender)
Growler
Top 3 in each: U24, U40, U50, U60, and 60+ Men & Women Top 3 Nonbinary
Gran
Top 5 Men · Top 5 Women · Top 3 Nonbinary
Geysers
Top 5 Men · Top 5 Women · Top 3 Nonbinary
Juniors
Top 5 U18 Men, Women, and Nonbinary Top 5 U15 Men, Women, and Nonbinary
Start Times
A few adjustments to note this year:
The Weekend: What's Happening and When
This isn't just a ride—it's a weekend. Here's how it unfolds.
Thursday — Shakeout Ride (New this year!)For those rolling into Windsor early, join us for a social shakeout ride from the Windsor Town Green. Check-in starts at 1:15 PM, wheels roll at 2:00 PM.
[RSVP FOR THURSDAY'S RIDE →] [https://www.levisgranfondo.com/shakeout-ride]
Friday — Expo, Music & Racer Meeting. The festival kicks off Friday afternoon, and it's packed:
[RSVP FOR FRIDAY'S SHAKEOUT →] [https://www.levisgranfondo.com/shakeout-ride]
Saturday — Race Day
Rider check-in reopens at 6:15 AM. Staging opens at 7:00 AM on McLelland Drive. The National Anthem at 7:14 AM. And then we go.
The free GranFondo Festival opens to the public at 10:00 AM with live race coverage beginning at 11:00 AM. The elite awards ceremony follows the finish of the women's race, with DJ Earse of Maize carrying us through the afternoon. Festival closes at 6:00 PM.
Sunday — Recovery Ride
Legs heavy? Fix that with our Skratch recovery ride. Join us in the morning at the Town Green for a final send-off. Gather at 8:30, roll around 9:00.
[RSVP FOR SUNDAY'S RECOVERY RIDE →] [https://www.levisgranfondo.com/shakeout-ride]
More is coming. Over the next two weeks, we'll be sharing a more comprehensive details that come into focus in the last 10 days leading up to the big day. So stay tuned, set your reminders to watch the live stream if you're not riding this year, and share that link with your friends who might be interested in tuning into the next big thing in live broadcast road racing in the U S OF A.
Catch you again in a few days!
The cast and crew of Levi's GranFondo at Bike Monkey
