Levi leads the charge up the 12-mile climb of Palomar Mountain, which will be used as the King of the Mountain in the Giro di San Diego. 

One of the latest in a growing list of European-style Gran Fondo events across the U.S., Giro di San Diego brings Fondo aficionados to the Northern San Diego County town of Solano Beach on Sunday September 16th to tackle the same roads that captivated audiences during Stage 8 of the 2009 Amgen Tour of California. There are three different route options to choose from: 35-mile Piccolo, 66-mile Medio, and the full 106-mile Gran Fondo. All three options encompass the beauty of the San Diego coast along the Pacific Coast Highway, in addition to the rugged in-land climbs the area is renowned for. 

In case the Medio and Gran Fondo routes aren't challenging enough on their own, both distances feature King (and Queen) of the Mountain competitions. The 4,300-foot elevation gain of the 12-mile romp up Palomar Mountain will serve as the KOM for the Gran Fondo course, while the shorter, but still challenging, climb up Lake Wolford Road is used for the Medio KOM. Both these climbs were used during the Tour of California and proved to be very selective for even the top professional riders.

Post ride celebrations include a traditional Italian pasta feed with San Diego-based Stone Brewing Co providing the "recovery" drinks. KOM awards will be handed during the post-ride festivities. Online registration closes September 14th, while on-site sign-up will be available at the Bike Expo located in Solano Beach on Saturday September 15th. Of course, your friends at Road Bike Action will be in thick of the action. 

For additional info visit Giro di San Diego.