Levi’s GranFondo bicycle ride brings cyclists, road closures to Sonoma County

An estimated 5,000 cyclists will depart from Finley Community Center at 8 a.m. What to expect if you are planning to drive though west Santa Rosa.|
CLARK MASON
THE PRESS DEMOCRAT

Levi’s GranFondo, the annual mass bicycle ride over west Sonoma County backroads, returns Saturday morning when an estimated 5,000 cyclists will depart from Finley Community Center in Santa Rosa.

The mass start on Stony Point Road near West College Avenue gets rolling at 8 a.m., so motorists should be aware of the closure or partial closure of local streets to accommodate the onslaught of cyclists.

Besides west Santa Rosa, areas that will be impacted include Graton, Occidental, Monte Rio, Duncans Mills, Cazadero to King Ridge Road, Fort Ross Road, Tin Barn Road, Stewarts Point Road, Kruse Ranch Road, Hauser Bridge Road, Seaview Road, Meyers Grade, Highway 1, Willow Creek Road, Coleman Valley Road, Joy Road, and Bittner Road. The ride was launched in 2009 by Santa Rosa professional cyclist Levi Leipheimer. In prior years, the number of participants was as high as 7,500, but the proliferation of similar rides around the state has cut into attendance.

Cyclists have a dozen route options, ranging from a family-friendly 8-mile loop to a 116-mile route for diehards that takes in the hills west of Cazadero and winds up on the Sonoma Coast before heading back to Santa Rosa.

Since its inception, the ride has raised nearly ?$1.5 million for local nonprofit groups.

Proceeds benefit charities that include Forget Me Not Farm, a program that connects at-risk youth with animal care.

Road closures in Santa Rosa include:

From 1 to 7 a.m. northbound Stony Point Road between West Ninth Street and West College Avenue

From 7 to 7:45 a.m. northbound and southbound Stony Point Road between West Ninth Street and West College Avenue

From 7:45 to 9 a.m. full closures of the following road segments will be in effect: Stony Point Road between Glenbrook and West College Avenue; West College Avenue between Stony Point Road and Cassasa Way; Hall Road; and West Ninth Street at Stony Point Road (access to the shopping center will remain open).

Further road closure details are available at ?levisgranfondo.com.

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