After being cancelled last year due to flooding the Gran Fondo Hincapie cycling series made its first ever West Coast appearance on Saturday – on gravel roads in Merced, California.

Former World Tour pro George Hincapie rolled out with upwards of 400 gravel enthusiasts from the heart of Merced through open green fields and rugged ranch land, and then up and down the rolling foothills of the famous Sierra Nevada Mountains outside Yosemite National Park.

“Cycling has changed a lot since the days when the MERCO Cycling Classic was an annual event in Merced, or the time when the Tour of California had a stage start here,” local organizer Doug Fluetsch told the Merced County Times. “Cycling has moved away from road racing and more into what is called gravel. So this event, which hopes to become an annual occurrence, brings top level athletes from all over the country, including former Tour de France stage winners, back to the streets of Merced and on a route into the foothills around Hornitos before returning to Merced.”

The 84 mile Gran Fond Hincapie Merced route, including 45 miles of gritty gravel, was won by 42 year-old Adam White with an overwhelming 23 minute gap over the next rider. White finished in 4:24:05, with Andrew Sanders next at 4:47:39 and Elliott Petterson taking the final podium step at 4:48:16.

Eleanor Wiseman, 34, won the women’s gran fondo in 5:00:33, followed by Jennie Phillips and Marin Voth.

In the shorter 50 mile medio fondo, Steve Heaton for the men and Aimee Baker for the women were the fastest.

Complete Hincapie Gran Fondo Merced results HERE.

Photos: Facebook/GranFondoHincapie