Metromint Giro di San Francisco September 3, 2007

Il Giro di San Francisco began life as the “San Francisco Gran Prix” and was started by George Pagni of the San Francisco Columbus Day Celebration Committee in 1975. The race moved to Lake Merced for 1976-77 before being renamed “Il Giro”, Italian for “The Tour”.

The race moved to the northeast part of the City in 1978, with a course that included many of the same streets used by the current San Francisco Grand Prix, as well as a descent down the bricks of Lombard Street! In 1979 and 1980, the race took place in the North Beach Area, with both editions won by a young Greg LeMond, who would go on to win three Tours de France.

Il Giro moved to its present area in 1981. Tom Simpson and the Peninsula Velo bicycle club worked with the CDCC, and then brought in Velo Promo to run the event in 1980.

The race remains under the direction of Robert A. Leibold of Velo Promo, and is organized this year by SOMA Beverage Company, Metromint Cycling, and Lombardi Sports.

Official Website: http://www.metromint.com/metromintgiro/