The 2025 Sideshow and Grand Depart were wonderfully successful. Both group starts had an eclectic mix of riders who indulged in their self-supported journey to the fullest.
The Grand Depart route returned to a 400 mile epic, with an additional twist to the route for some new scenery and a bit of added mileage and elevation. The riders started as usual out of Idyllwild, but veered over to Julian and down through the Cuyamaca mountains before reaching San Diego in a nod to the original clockwise version of the route.
As they followed the coast northbound and turn east, the route took a less traveled cut through past Eagle Peak to return through the mountains, and then dropped into the desert on the ever recognizable path, passing through the usual haunts in the Anza Borrego Desert.
The riders enjoyed beautiful singletrack in and out of Idyllwild that has been reopened after a decade of closure due to fire. For the first time in years, we had incredible weather, and the conditions were typical for a year with less rainfall in Southern California.
The first rider to reach Idyllwild was Zachary Morvant, but sleep deprivation, dehydration, and everything else that comes along with that got the best of him toward the end, and he ended up on a different climb off route. These things happen! He messaged me to let me know- so his finish is recorded with an * next to it.
This means the title of the first finisher of the entire route is Jocelyn De la Rosa, who came in shortly after!
Emma Missale was the next rider in, and the first woman to finish. She was stoked on the desert.
Frances Hacker was the first non-binary rider in, enjoying all the birds on the route.
Al Parks was the first singlespeeder to finish, and they loved the tailwinds dropping into the desert!
Gregory Ruben is our lantern rouge, holding it down as one of the most regular riders to complete the grand depart each year.
Thank you to everyone who came out. Look forward to a thoughtful reflection from Brendan, with some photos that he shot along the way.
Top Finishers (inc. Men):
*Zachary Morvant (first in but with deviation, got lost and took wrong dirt climb) 46:28
Jocelyn De la Rosa 46:57 (first finisher to complete entire route)
Emma Missale 49:51
Alex Shultz 52:05
Women:
Emma Missale 49:51
Sarah Didier 53:45
Hannah Simon 59:29
Non-Binary:
Frances Hacker 54:54
Al Parks 58:02
Singlespeed:
Al Parks 58:02
Eric House 59:24
Drew Raney 82:40
Proud of everyone!
SoCal Bikepacking 