Former WorldTour pro now gran fondo organizer Levi Leipheimer is taking Levi’s GranFondo in Northern California to the next level in 2024, offering $20,000 USD in cash prizes for The Growler event.

On 13 April starting and finishing in Windsor, California, the one-day single loop 139 mile Growler gran fondo hopes to reinvigorate road racing in North America with a big ride, big payout and big field. Amateurs, weekend warriors and pros will start together and race side-by-side for the same cash payout, with $20,000 split evenly among the top five men and top five women finishers. Everyone else will receive a one-of-kind finishers medal.

“I’ve always wanted to make it a race,” Leipheimer told Velo. “I moved to Sonoma County purely because I fell in love with the roads. When I was training there for 22 years, I would dream about big races coming through.”

Leipheimer also indicated professional athletes Lachlan Morton, Ian Boswell, Peter Stetina, Petr Vakoč, Heather Jackson, Peta Mullens and Sarah Sturm are on The Growler start-list, each trying to earn a big payout after what will likely be the hardest road race in the North America this year.

Although there are seven route options available at Levi’s GranFondo, only the longest and most challenging Growler route, with 13K feet of climbing, will have cash prizes on the line at the finish. Riders on other routes will ride and race for personal pride, glory and bragging rights.

Started in 2009, Levi’s GranFondo is one of the largest mass participation gran fondo style events in North America, typically attracting upwards of 7000 riders annually to the world famous Sonoma and Napa wine regions of Northern California.

Levi’s GranFondo information and registration HERE

Photo Credit: Levi’s GranFondo

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