With Skipstone’s Generous Support, Levi’s GranFondo is Set to Become the Richest One-Day Road Race in the World, Offering the Largest Prize Purse for Professional Cyclists to Date, While Continuing its Commitment to At-Risk Youth Through its Partner Non-Profit, King Ridge Foundation
Geyserville, CA (January 7, 2025) — Skipstone, a leading CCOF-certified Alexander Valley estate winery focusing on Bordeaux varieties, today announced that it is the new title sponsor for Levi’s GranFondo. This renowned annual cycling event blends professional and amateur racing with casual ridership and community. The partnership will increase prize dollars for participants and grow the Levi’s GranFondo race into the “richest” and “goodest” professional one-day road race in the world, allowing Levi’s GranFondo to take direct action in response to the decline in domestic road racing and innovate new models for the sport to thrive.
Skipstone was founded in 2001 by long-time avid cyclist Fahri Diner and brings together two of his greatest passions: cycling and making a difference in the community. “We are thrilled to be teaming up with Levi’s GranFondo to support professional and amateur cyclists, our community, and the youth,” said Fahri Diner, proprietor of Skipstone. “Offering a trifecta of world-class wines, an incredibly diverse terrain for cycling, and spectacular weather all year around, our home turf in Sonoma County is the ideal location for this event and a lovely place to visit any time for countless reasons. I wish the best of luck and good legs to the racers in keeping the ‘chain-to-the-right.’”
At its core, Levi’s GranFondo is an annual, one-day road cycling event in Sonoma County, California, offering various routes and levels, from kid and family-friendly options to a well-supported race for elite cyclists. The event brings together professionals, enthusiasts, and local community members for a weekend of cycling-related activities, riding, racing, and fun. This year’s event will take place on April 19th, including defending champions Lauren De Crescenzo and Keegan Swenson, as well as Sonoma County native Luke Lamperti, who rode multiple early editions of Levi’s GranFondo beginning at age eight. Luke now races for the UCI WorldTeam Soudal-Quick-Step and will be a favorite to win.
“We are so grateful for the generous support from our friends at Skipstone. Together, we aim to reinvigorate domestic road bike racing. By investing in our roots and the foundation of professional racing, we will support and inspire the next generation of US athletes,” says Levi Leipheimer, founder of Levi’s GranFondo. “When we started this event in 2009, my goal was simply to bring people together and share the roads that shaped me as an athlete. Now, with this partnership, we are able to complete the circle, giving back in a meaningful way to help the sport that allowed us to become America’s premier gran fondo.”
With Skipstone’s sponsorship, a grand total of $156,000 will be available and split evenly amongst the top ten men and top ten women to complete the Growler, the longest of seven routes at Levi’s GranFondo. At 138 miles with nearly 14,000 feet of elevation gain, it is the most challenging road race in North America. Additionally, this year’s purse doubles the number of athletes over last year who can earn part of the cash distribution, which will be awarded in denominations of $25,000, $15,000, $10,000, $7,000, $6,000, $5,000, $4,000, $3,000, $2,000 and $1,000 for both men and women racers. A total of 20 people will earn a cash prize.
Together with Skipstone, Levi’s GranFondo will continue working with its nonprofit partner, King Ridge Foundation, this year to support organizations that serve at-risk youths around the country. Since its inception, Levi’s GranFondo has worked with the King Ridge Foundation to distribute more than $3 million to at-risk youth organizations and community groups providing aid during emergencies like the Tubbs and Valley fires. Cycling is community-based in-care, and charitable work will always be an important pillar of the community and its commitment to doing good for those in need.
Levi’s GranFondo is created and organized by Bike Monkey, an event planning and production company with more than 20 years of experience designing, planning, and executing complex road and off-road cycling events in the United States. To learn more about Levi’s GranFondo, register to participate, or become a sponsor, visit www.LevisGranFondo.com or reach us by email at info@bikemonkey.net.
About Levi’s GranFondo
Levi’s GranFondo is the premier long-distance cycling experience in Sonoma County that provides a unique opportunity for cyclists of all abilities to come together and enjoy Sonoma Valley’s world-class roads and scenic wine region. The annual event is organized and run by Bike Monkey, a professional event planning and production company, and was founded in 2009 by renowned cyclist Levi Leipheimer and Bike Monkey’s CEO Carlos Perez. Levi’s GranFondo offers seven routes of various degrees of difficulty and welcomes professional and amateur cyclists and kids of all ages; participants under the age of 23 ride for free. Levi’s GranFondo believes that charity and community are at the heart of cycling, and some proceeds of the event will go toward the King Ridge Foundation to support organizations serving at-risk youth. The event’s popularity has drawn a host of notable guests throughout the years, such as actors Patrick Dempsey, Ethan Suplee, Mark-Paul Gosselaar, professional athletes Barry Bonds, Mike Richter, Jan Ullrich and many others. Learn more about Levi’s GranFondo by visiting levisgranfondo.com.
About King Ridge Foundation
King Ridge Foundation is the primary beneficiary of Levi’s GranFondo and leverages the event’s reach to raise money and awareness for small organizations serving at-risk youth. To date, the Foundation has distributed over $3 million to numerous organizations and more than 500 bicycles to children across the country to empower and inspire. Visit www.kingridgefoundation.org to learn more.
About Skipstone
Since 2001, Skipstone has been a leader in limited-production Alexander Valley wines from its 27-acre vineyard. This CCOF Certified Organic estate is poised between two hillsides in the highlands, known as Pocket Peak (soon to be designated as an official American Viticultural Area.) Winemaker Laura Jones carefully crafts each release in partnership with renowned international winemaking consultant Philippe Melka. For additional information about Skipstone, please visit www.skipstonewines.com or phone 707.433.9124.
