Levi’s GranFondo is an extremely popular mass-start cycling event that takes place each autumn in Sonoma County, California. The event is heralded as one of the best-organized cycling events in the world by sources such as Red Kite Prayer, Road Bike Action, and Outside Online. It began in 2009 with the inaugural ride hosting 3,500 participants and is the brainchild of former professional cyclist Levi Leipheimer. The main event is the 100-mile Gran Fondo around King Ridge but there are several other less challenging options.

From the damp redwood forests at the base of King Ridge to the 360-degree panoramas at the butcher knife-thin top, this is the stuff of memory. And if you think the climbs are amazing, the descents down Hauser Bridge Road and Meyers Grade will stay with you for the rest of your days. Whilst the Gran Fondo is only 164 kilometres long, it is not for the faint of heart; the fastest times recorded on this route are barely under 5 hours and done by professional riders who compete at the topmost level of the sport.