Issue #16: Rhythms of the road

Velo Promo’s 50-year ride comes to an end

By Zachary Morvant

I still remember my first road race.

It was early in 2012 and I was somewhere east of Oakdale, California in a tiny unincorporated community called Knights Ferry. Its eponymous race was my introduction to Velo Promo, an organization known for hosting some of California’s most legendary road cycling events.

As I would come to notice, Velo Promo races had a few hallmarks:

1. An all-star cast of volunteers, half of whom seem like they walked off the set of a cowboy movie
2. Far-flung locations in California hamlets I’d never heard of
3. A regular warning to tighten your bottle cage bolts (and for some folks, to freshen up your denture adhesive)
4. A masters-aged van that veteran racers would catch you looking at and slyly ask “have you ever heard the story of that van?” (IYKYK)
5. Some of the gnarliest, hardest-fought racing I’ve ever experienced.

The rarely-photographed Robert in Velo Promo’s signature van. Photo: Haley Smith.

Everyone shows up to Velo Promo events, from fresh-faced juniors to leathery-skinned 60+ hardmen (and women), World Tour pros, gravel privateers, and everyone in between. (Ask me about the time Andrew Talansky showed up to Copperopolis, my favorite of VP’s sprawling calendar.)

Velo Promo’s calendar often takes racers to little-known California locales. Photo: Kevin Gong / @kgongg

Robert Leibold and the team at Velo Promo were foundational in shaping the racer I became — and to some degree believe I still am — today.

Thanks for all the lessons, the memories, and showing me places in our great state I otherwise might never have seen. Myself and California’s road racing community are forever indebted to you all.

And now, some words from Haley Smith of Super Sprinkles, who will be carrying the torch for our hometown race: Il Giro di San Francisco.

Super Sprinkles to host the 50th Giro di SF

By Haley Smith of Super Sprinkles

Super Sprinkles first became involved in hosting the Giro in 2024, when Robert and Velo Promo reached out asking if we wanted to help put on this iconic event. It was obviously a natural fit. It’s a race on our home turf. We dipped our toes in the water by taking on volunteer coordination to learn the basics of how this multi-faceted race gets run.

The Super Sprinkles crew keeps things fast and fun. Photo: Haley Smith.

In 2025, we leaned in more to the race orchestration. We shadowed Robert through the whole process of hosting a bike race. This ranges from filing permits to orchestrating local community partners to building a budget. It’s clear when working with Robert the expertise he has in this process — it’s so ingrained in his bones that he operates flawlessly and smoothly. He’s unfazed by any stressors that might rattle a newer organizer. He’s spent years building the relationships and systems that have made the Giro (and all his races) sustainable.

Robert’s dedication is unwavering on race day. He and his team show up early, set up efficiently, and let the race speak for itself. Velo Promo’s race style is minimalist and yet there is so much character and fullness to each event. From the iconic Velo Promo van to announcer Big Rick to handing out sandwiches to the volunteers — everyone feels seen. While cycling can be intimidating, Robert and Velo Promo make races warm and welcoming. They’re the familiar faces at all the races who are genuinely thrilled to see people showing up to pin on a number or just hang out to cheer.

Team huddle! Photo: Jake Inserra / @inserra.misc

Super Sprinkles was formally established in 2022, and while we’re still building our team identity, hosting the Giro is an important piece for us to plant roots in SF and the Norcal racing scene. We know il Giro di San Francisco will be fully in our hands in 2027, and we’re prepared to keep the tradition going.

As 2026 is the 50th anniversary of the Giro, Super Sprinkles is excited to expand the community aspect of the event. Levi’s Plaza is a stunning location tucked into the Embarcadero, and this year, we’ll have food trucks and local vendors onsite. In 2025, the Giro brought out 329 racers, 63 volunteers, and 32 kid racers, and we know that we can continue to build upon this strong foundation. Come race. Come hang out. Take in the beauty of the little corridors of San Francisco most of us didn’t know existed.