Even the tallest spectators, standing on their toes with their necks craned, could not see the end of the throng of cyclists waiting in Santa Rosa for the start of Levi's GranFondo, one of the nation's most successful recreational cycling events.
Before the ride began at 8 a.m. Saturday, nearly 6,000 riders were packed on to the northbound lane of Stony Point Road at Finley Park, 30-plus riders across. In the rear, many blocks away, the queue spilled onto southbound lanes.
When it was all over, Levi Leipheimer, the world-class Santa Rosa cyclist who dreamed up the ride two years ago, was blown away.
"I don't know what to say," Leipheimer said as he made his way to the showers. "This is way more than I ever expected. It just makes me really proud to be a part of Sonoma County and a member of the cycling community here."
The charity event - which featured 32, 65 and 103-mile routes - drew 2,500 more riders than last year's inaugural event. As many as 3,000 additional spectators, friends and riders' family members showed up at Finley Park for a day-long festival that celebrated all things cycling.
"Just about everybody showed up," said Greg Fisher, "marketing guy" for Bike Monkey, which produced the ride for Leipheimer.
The first riders to return, from the shortest of the GranFondo's three routes - the 32-mile Piccolo - started arriving at 10:30 a.m. About a half hour later, those who tackled the 65-mile Medio route started showing up.
Shortly after 2 p.m., Tamara Zablocki of Jenner stood in the shade of the black inflatable archway that marked the starting point, waiting for her son, Zachary Peterson, to complete his ride.
Zablocki, whose son owns Exact Plumbing in Sebastopol, said Peterson rented his bike for the ride.
"He doesn't do road bike stuff but he got inspired to do this today," Zablocki said. "He really liked the idea of pushing the limit and trying to do 100 miles altogether. An event like this really brings out the best in what humans can do."
Leipheimer finished the ride at about 2:17 p.m., at the center of a mass of dozens of cyclists.
The Fondo required the closure or partial closure of some streets in west Santa Rosa. As riders ventured into west Sonoma County, they shared the roads with vehicles. A team of California Highway Patrol officers provide traffic assistance.
Several accidents were reported, CHP officials said. The accidents were minor, with the exception of one involving a cyclist who was airlifted to a hospital with a head injury.
In just two years the event, a fundraiser for local nonprofit groups and charities, has become enormously popular. Last year, the ride raised about $100,000. Fisher said the event is expected to raise double that amount this year, with funds going toward "improving the local cycling community ."
The non-profits and charitable groups that will benefit include the Keep The Tour campaign, which works to bring the Tour of California back to Santa Rosa every year; Forget Me Not Farm, which cares for abused animals with the help of local at-risk children, and LiveStrong, Lance Armstrong's group aimed at helping people in their fight against cancer.
Funds also will be used to help schools located along the GranFondo route.
Throughout the afternoon, cyclists trickled into Finley Park, taking shade under trees and resting on the grass. At times, scores of cyclists lined up for a complimentary plate of Gerard's Paella, as others browsed through cycling vendor booths.
Wright Sherman from Kensington, just north of Berkeley, rested with a friend and his young son after finishing the Medio ride. He came at 1:15 p.m.
Sherman, an architect, marveled at how well organized the event was, from pre-registration to the route directions to the food.
"There were a lot of smart people putting this thing together," he said. "The paella was spectacular."
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