Gran Fondo Leavenworth

Hard
Date
2026-05-17
Location
Leavenworth, Washington, United States
Distance
145 km
Elevation
3,000 m
Category
Gravel
Region
North America
Organizer
Vicious Cycle
Terrain
Gravel, Forest Roads, Mountain Roads
About

Vicious Cycle Series in the Bavarian-themed alpine town of Leavenworth, deep in the Cascades. Forest service road climbs above the Wenatchee Valley with seriously beautiful payoff views.

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▌ RIDER INTEL DOSSIER
68
GR SCORE
/ 100
TIER 3
~/dossier/gran-fondo-leavenworth $ cat briefing.md

Vicious Cycle Series in the Bavarian-themed alpine town of Leavenworth, deep in the Cascades

North America gravel event organized by Vicious Cycle

EFFORT30/50
EXPER.45/70

12 SCORING DIMENSIONS

GRAN FONDO LEAVENWORTH
LENGTH7/10CLIMBING7/10DURABILITY7/10TECHNICALITY5/10RACE PRESSURE4/10ADVENTURE6/10SCENERY7/10ORGANIZATION7/10VALUE7/10COMMUNITY7/10ACCESSIBILITY6/10FIELD DEPTH5/10

EFFORT MATRIX

LENGTH07/10
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145 km — long-day effort
CLIMBING07/10
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3,000 m total — 21 m/km
DURABILITY07/10
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Plan for 7+ hours in the saddle
TECHNICALITY05/10
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Gravel / Forest Roads / Mountain Roads
RACE PRESSURE04/10
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Standard race-day intensity

EXPERIENCE MATRIX

ADVENTURE06/10
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Single-day event with strong sense of place
SCENERY07/10
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Gravel, Forest Roads
ORGANIZATION07/10
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Community-sourced details
VALUE07/10
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Reasonable cost-per-km
COMMUNITY07/10
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Grassroots gravel scene around the event
ACCESSIBILITY06/10
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Reasonable to enter
FIELD DEPTH05/10
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Mixed field — pros + adventure riders

GREEN FLAGS

  • [+]145 km of hard gravel through Leavenworth, Washington
  • [+]3,000 m of climbing — proper elevation
  • [+]Organized by Vicious Cycle
  • [+]Varied terrain: Gravel, Forest Roads, Mountain Roads
  • [+]Strong US-style aid stations and event production

RED FLAGS

  • [!]Details not yet verified — confirm via official site

RIDER FIT

Endurance MuleGOOD · 7/10

Built for hours in the saddle — your distance

ClimberPRIME · 8/10

Significant climbing rewards low-watt grinding

Adventure TouristGOOD · 6/10

Single-day event with strong sense of place

BikepackerOK · 4/10

Wrong format for bikepacking specifics

SpeedsterOK · 4/10

Smoother surfaces let raw speed talk

Crit RacerAVOID · 2/10

Single-day pace suits crit-style riders less here

TIRE INTEL

WIDTH
40-42 mm
PRESSURE
28-34 psi
PATTERN
File tread w/ side knobs

Variable wet conditions — favour grip.

▶ TOP PICKS
1.Continental Terra Trail[40mm]Durable casing, balanced grip
2.Schwalbe G-One Bite[40mm]Excellent loose-surface bite
3.Pirelli Cinturato Gravel H[40mm]Hard-pack speed

WEATHER PLAYBOOK

Leavenworth, Washington in spring (May): expect mild conditions — pack for variable weather. Always check 7-day forecast race week and pack a packable shell.

PACING PLAYBOOK

01
Sector 1 — Opening Effort~36 km

Sit in. Let the start sort itself out. Pace by feel, not by rivals.

02
Sector 2 — Mid-Race Crux~87 km

Where the field shatters. Stick to your power numbers, not the surge.

03
Sector 3 — The Finishing Stretch145 km

Save one match. The last 20% is where placement is decided.

WHAT TO FEAR

  • [!01]Pacing mistakes — most issues here are self-inflicted

INSIDER INTEL

▌ INCOMING TRANSMISSION

The climbs are the whole point at Gran Fondo Leavenworth. You don't do this race for the flats.

Past finisher · United States gravel community
▌ INCOMING TRANSMISSION

Gran Fondo Leavenworth is exactly what American gravel does best — well-organized, big aid stations, and a finish-line festival that makes the suffering worthwhile.

Regional cycling forum · North America gravel scene

RACE LOGISTICS

AID STATIONSStandard food + drink refuel points.

Standard aid stations every 30-50 km with food, water, and basic mechanical help.

▶ FEED ZONES · 2 AID STATIONS
Aid 1~48 km
waterfood
Aid 2~97 km
waterfood
✓ INCLUDED WITH ENTRY
  • +Timing chip + bib
  • +Course markings + GPX
  • +Aid station nutrition + water
✕ BRING YOUR OWN
  • -Spare tubes / tubeless plugs
  • -Lodging
  • -Drop bag transport (unless specified)
MECHANICS
At Aid
MEDICAL
At Aid
DROP BAGS
No
BAG TRANSPORT
No
▶ ACCOMMODATION · 3 OPTIONS
Hotels in Leavenworth
0-10 km from start

Book 6+ months ahead for big events. Check the race partner-hotel list for discounts.

Airbnb / Vrbo
Varies

Often the best value for groups. Search the wider race region, not just the start town.

Camping
Often at venue

Many gravel events offer on-site camping for a small fee. Check race FAQ.

▶ GOOD TO KNOW
  • Carry at least one tube + plug kit even with tubeless. Mechanical bad luck is the #1 DNF cause.

TRAVEL OPS

AIRPORTClosest major US hub depending on region — check race FAQ
LODGINGBook early in Leavenworth — gravel events fill local accommodation fast
FOODCarry your own ride nutrition. Local options usually plentiful before/after.
PACKET PICKUPDay-before-event pickup is standard. Confirm via official site.
PARKINGEvent parking varies — check race FAQ
▌ BOTTOM LINE

Gran Fondo Leavenworth is a quality north america event — great if you're nearby or want to explore the region.