Remembering Megan Guarnier and the Legacy of Berkeley Hills Road Race

For longtime Northern California racers, the Berkeley Hills Road Race has always been more than just another race on the calendar. It’s a race where talent gets discovered, fitness gets tested, and future champions quietly begin writing their stories.

Back in 2016, Megan Guarnier raced the Berkeley Hills Road Race MEN’S P/1/2 field before going on to represent Team USA at the Olympics later that year.

Think about that for a second.

One of the best women cyclists in the world lining up against the men on the legendary Three Bears course.

That moment perfectly captures what makes Berkeley Hills Road Race special. The course doesn’t care about reputation, categories, or hype. The rollers, positioning, attacks, and relentless pace demand real fitness, smart racing, and grit. Over the decades, the race has attracted everyone from local legends to national champions, Olympians, and future pros.

The history of this event runs deep.

The Berkeley Hills Road Race has grown into one of the longest-running road races in America. For 70 years, generations of racers have come through these roads, some chasing their first finish, others building toward professional careers and international competition.

What makes the race meaningful isn’t just the history itself. It’s the continuity.

You see juniors racing the same roads that legends raced decades earlier. You see collegiate riders testing themselves against experienced veterans. You see first-time racers discovering what real road racing feels like. And every once in a while, you witness someone special before the rest of the cycling world fully notices.

That’s part of the magic of Berkeley Hills Road Race.

The race has always been rooted in community. Volunteers waking up before sunrise. Local residents supporting road closures. Teams bringing tents and cheering from the roadside. Sponsors helping keep grassroots racing alive. Parents introducing their kids to the sport. Riders coming back year after year because this race means something to them.

And today, the mission continues to evolve.

Berkeley Omnium now helps raise money for six East Bay NICA high school mountain bike teams, investing directly into the next generation of cycling. The goal isn’t only preserving a historic race, it’s making sure the sport continues to grow.

Seventy years later, Berkeley Hills Road Race is still creating stories.

Some riders come to chase results. Some come for the history. Some come to test themselves on the Three Bears. And some may be future Olympians that we simply haven’t recognized yet.

That’s what makes this race special.