Strambecco rates the Best Road Cycling Events Southwest 2025 based on factors including reputation, route quality, location, rider feedback, and the event’s or race’s overall uniqueness.  Spanning California, Nevada, Utah, Arizona, and New Mexico, the Southwest terrain features of Strambecco’s best list include mountains, canyons, mesas, buttes, high broad basins, plateaus, desert lands, and some plains characteristic of the Basin and Range Province.  The entire southwestern region features semi-arid to arid terrain.  The list includes events in Northern California marked by old-growth forests, spectacular coastal routes, and generally cooler temperatures.

If we had to pick the best of the best road cycling events Southwest 2025, or those you’d classify as bucket list events, we’d recommend two Northern California events,  Levi’s Gran Fondo in the Spring and Tour of CA Alps (aka The Death Ride) in July.   We’d also recommend the Utah-Cache Gran Fondo in the Fall.    We find a strong correlation between the best events and professional event producers.  The Southwest premiere event producers include Outside Events, Life Time Events, and the Gran Fondo National Series.

Strambecco does not list every event.  We strive to identify and review events that are special and noteworthy.  If you have suggestions on other events we should consider or review, please get in touch with us here or send us a note at editors@strambecco.com.  You can also see some of our other best guides here:

Best Gravel Cycling Events in the Southwest