SAN FRANCISCO — A Labor Day tradition reaches a round-number milestone Monday: the 50th Il Giro di San Francisco brings a full day of criterium racing to Levi’s Plaza and the historic waterfront.
The official Giro site describes a fast, technical 3/4-mile course and explicitly invites spectators to bring a chair and pick a place along the circuit. The event includes juniors, masters, amateur racers and elite fields, plus the 2026 Northern California/Nevada district criterium championships for top Open and Women riders.
What time does the Giro di San Francisco start?
The first scheduled race begins at 8 a.m. Monday. The published BikeReg schedule then runs through the afternoon:
| Race | Start |
|---|---|
| Master Women 40+/50+ | 8:00 a.m. |
| Category 5 | 8:45 a.m. |
| Master 50+ 1/2/3 | 9:30 a.m. |
| Women 3/4/5 novice | 10:15 a.m. |
| Category 3 & 4 | 11:05 a.m. |
| Master 35+ 1/2/3 | Noon |
| SF Kids Race | 12:50 p.m. |
| Category 3 | 1:10 p.m. |
| Women 1/2/3/P championship | 2:05 p.m. |
| Category 1/2/P championship | 3:15 p.m. |
The final two championship races are scheduled for 60 minutes each, so the racing extends well into the afternoon even though the first riders roll out in the morning.
Where is the course?
The Giro is centered on Levi’s Plaza, around Battery and Greenwich streets. The organizer describes the race as an L-shaped waterfront criterium: short laps, repeated turns and a wide finishing stretch make it easier for spectators to see the same riders several times rather than wait for one pass.
The event site lists Levi’s Plaza at Greenwich Street and Battery Street. BikeReg lists the event address as 1105 Battery St.
Which streets close for the Giro?
SFMTA’s holiday-week traffic advisory says the following closures are required from 7 a.m. to 6 p.m. Monday:
- Battery Street between Vallejo Street and The Embarcadero;
- Sansome Street between Broadway and Greenwich Street;
- Greenwich Street between Sansome and Battery streets;
- Union Street between Sansome and Front streets;
- Green Street between Sansome and Front streets;
- Vallejo Street between Sansome and Front streets; and
- Front Street between Union and Vallejo streets.
SFMTA also lists multiple closed intersections along Sansome, Battery and Front. Drivers heading through the northeast waterfront should expect the race footprint to matter even if they are not attending.
Does the Giro affect Muni?
SFMTA says there is no Muni service impact from the Giro itself. That does not mean every Labor Day service pattern is a normal Monday: Muni is operating on a Sunday schedule for the holiday. Check SF News Today’s Labor Day parking and transit guide before relying on a usual weekday frequency.
Where should spectators watch?
There is no single grandstand that everyone needs to reach. The organizer encourages people to bring a chair and settle in along the course. A criterium is built for repeat viewing: the same field comes back around every few minutes, so a spot near one of the technical corners gives a very different view from the wide finishing stretch.
If you want to see the fastest championship fields, the most important planning times are 2:05 p.m. for the Women 1/2/3/P race and 3:15 p.m. for the Category 1/2/P race. Families may prefer the 12:50 p.m. SF Kids Race.
Is it free to watch?
Yes. The event’s spectator information invites the public to watch from along the course; there is no spectator ticket requirement. Registration fees apply to racers, not people coming to watch.
What should drivers know?
Do not plan on finding normal curb access inside the race footprint. The street closures last longer than the race schedule because crews need time to secure and reopen the course. If your destination is not the Giro, route around Levi’s Plaza and the affected Battery/Sansome/Front blocks rather than trying to cross the circuit.