The San Rafael Police Department in Northern California announced in a press release that long-distance randonneur cyclist Peter Grace, 70, was hit and killed by a driver while participating in the Estero Americano 200km Paris-Brest-Paris (PBP) qualifying ride on Saturday 2 December.

Grace apparently crashed while crossing railroad tracks, landing in the path of a truck that was unable to stop before hitting Grace. Emergency responders declared him deceased on-scene.

Taking place north of San Francisco Bay, the Estero Americano ride started in Richmond and traveled north to Sonoma County and Marin County, before returning to Richmond. It was organized by the San Francisco Randonneurs as a qualifying event for Paris-Brest-Paris, one of the most difficult long-distance (750km) endurance rides in the world held every four years in France.

Grace qualified for the most recent 2023 PBP, but was not able to participate due to a training crash and resulting injury. He planned to qualify once again and participate in the 2027 edition.

Rob Hawks, President of San Francisco Randonneurs, told SFGate about the wonderful person the club lost after only four years, “​In that short time it became very apparent how gracious and generous and how kind of a person he was.”

Photo Credit: Jasmine Wu

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