Leesville Gap Road Race

31st Annual

ROAD RACE

                              “The Ex-Governor’s Cup”   

Held under USAC Rules and Permit 2023-7716

Date: Sunday June 30, 2024 

We need 100 riders to make this race possible, 130 to break even. Enter today!

A return to most of the old course, with beautiful paving now on Leesville Grade, and some 8 miles of gravel/dirt. 

Location: Williams, CA, in Colusa County, Hwy 5 at Hwy 20,  north of Sacramento

Directions: Take Interstate 5 to Williams, exit at Business Hwy 20 (downtown- E Street) and turn west through town. At 11th Street, turn right and park at the school, straight ahead.

Registration: Opens at 7:00 a.m., closes at 15 minutes before your category’s scheduled start, at Williams High School (260 11th Street, 95987). Showers may be available; bring a towel.

Course: Nearly the same as 2001-14 and 1990-98, and exactly the same as 2019,  2021 and 2022. One 60-mile nearly complete loop, with one major climb (Leesville Grade, 1,500’) and several smaller ones. There's also a fast steep descent off Grapevine Pass. Narrow roads, with 8 total  miles of rideable gravel, in three sections, the first two mostly flat (on Freshwater and King Roads) and the third after Leesville, including a downhill stretch. One short construction set is still before Lodoga with a temporary bridge followed by potholes. The pavement sections are excellent to fair, including 12 miles – the entire length of Leesville Road brand new and smooooooth. But tighten all your bolts (including brakes, brake hoods, seat bolts and stem bolts)! Route: B and 7th streets in Williams, to a left on Freshwater, the same as the past five years. Then continuing on Freshwater to its end (first gravel stretch). Left on Manor and right on King (second gravel stretch after hump over the canal), right on Leesville, begin pavement again. West over the grade to go north on Leesville/Lodoga Road, last 3.9 miles of gravel);  (becomes Lodoga/Sites, then Maxwell/Sites), south on Danley (jog to left at canal) to Freshwater, turning left to finish on Freshwater just before old 99w). Finish is 1 1/2 miles from parking/start area.

Events:                                        miles    places    value      fee      start        limit
Cat 1/2/Pro**              60         6              $100       $50     8:00        50
Category 3                  60         6              $100       $50     8:05        50
Mstr 35+1/2/3             60         6              $100       $50     8:10        50

                Category 4                  60         6              $100       $50     8:15        50
Open Novice              60         6              $0*          $50     8:20        50
Junior 15-18               60         6              $50         $40     8:25        50
Mstr 35+ Cat 3/4/5    60         6              $50         $50     8:30        50

              Women 1/2/3/Pro*     60         6              $100       $50     8:35        50
Mster 50+ 1/2/3          60         6              $100       $50     8:40        50

                Mstr 60+ 1/2/3/4         60         6              $50         $50     8:45        50           
Mstr 65+                      60         6              $50         $50     8:50        50

                Mstr 50+ 4/5                60         6              $50         $50     8:55        50

                Women 4 & Wm novice 60    6              $100       $50     9:00        50
Mstr Wm 40+/50+      60         6              $100       $50     9:05        50
Groups may be combined (separate picks/prizes) if small; 2nd groups can be run for full categories. Women 3 will be started separately out if enough Cat 3 riders (10) show. * Novice prize list s tee shirts for top six.

                               **Cat 2 riders also picked out separately for points and a $50/ 3 place prize list

Prizes: Prizes are tee-shirts and minimal cash (40%) to each $100 event; shirts and some cash to $50 events. Traditional watermelon feed after finish.

Facilities: Williams is a full-service travelers/farm town. There are many motels and restaurants and a large market (though not a super market) and a good museum.

    Covid-19 Mitigations:  Mitigations mirroring CDC, California and Colusa County guidance regarding Covid-19 will be undertaken If you have Covid, have been exposed to it in the past 14 days, or have symptoms of it, don’t come. Those not following the mitigations will be asked to correct or leave

How to Enter: 

          ---via On-line at www.bikereg.com (https://www.bikereg.com/leesville-gap-road-race) from today  to June 23, 2024 for above fees plus on-line surcharge. From June 24June 26 the fee on-line is $12 additional. No on-line entry after midnight PST Wednesday June 26. 

          ---By Mail: You may still enter by mail, but if a group is filling, go on-line. By mail, send standard USAC entry form/release along with fee above (if Postmarked by Friday June 23 to Velo Promo/Leesville, 19780 Soulsbyville Road, Soulsbyville, CA 95372. For those postmarked after, add $12. Note: indicate what category you are entering on check or form. Entries for several races in one envelope ok, but be sure to list race names on the outside. Envelopes without names of races on the outside may go to the wrong race. Mail in entries will not be processed until after the opening of online reg.

          ---At Race:  You may enter at the race, provided your event is not filled, for the above listed fee  plus $10. 

          2024 USAC license required (available at race). One day licenses are available only for Novice categories. Entry fees include $3.00 NCNCA and $5.90 USAC insurance surcharges.  Numbers will be provided.

Credit for another VP race will be given if you follow the below procedure  by 5 pm Wednesday 6/5 letting us know that you can't compete. No credit issued if you plan to enter another race instead; no cash refunds. No substitutions (transferring to another rider) for cancellations. Procedure: Go to "Edit My Entry" link on the BikeReg.com registration page, in your confirmation email, or in your BikeReg account to access this credit system. 

Champion Discounts: Champions pay normal fees up front; Current NorCal/Nevada District Road Race Champions and National Road Champions will get a refund at the reg desk of all but $6 per day if 1) their entry is received by the early (June 28) deadline above (otherwise they pay full fee, including late fee) and 2) they ride in the category they won the championship in (Master Cham­pions may ride down in age, and ride for $6, and Juniors may ride up. District jersey is not required

Rules: USAC rules apply. Feeding allowed in feed zone, 5.2 miles west of Sites. (a neutral feed will be available here)  It can be hot, carry plenty of water. Only USAC-insured neutral follow vehi­cles allowed on course (other than to and from feed zone) as provided by entrants/interested others and approved by Chief Ref. (There may be no follow vehicle for your group, carry pump and spare). While warming up in Williams, please observe traffic regulations (stop signs, etc) as the Williams police are on our side so far. Course will be marked with cones and may have course marshals. There is other traffic on the roadway, including trucks hauling boats and farm equipment; always be aware of it and prepared to slow and/or maneuver; warn riders behind you of hazards.

FOLLOW VEHICLES NEEDED; PLEASE VOLUNTEER!!!! (Gas money for your trip to and in the race for those who volunteer, and a race credit)) – You need to contact us no less than a week prior to the race to sign up and be insured (and MVR is required with USAC – this takes two weeks).

Further Info: Velo Promo, (209) 604-1354. velopro1@gmail.com     www.velopromo.com