This Saturday marks the 50th anniversary of the San Jose Bicycle Club‘s Cat’s Hill Classic bike race which starts and finishes in Los Gatos. Beginning at 8am on Saturday, March 21, participants of all ages gather at the corner of Tait and Nicholson avenues, and spectators can come and view the racers in the historic Almond Grove District in downtown Los Gatos.
The race takes places in a one-mile loop, and kids race free with a pre-registration required on the day. A hallmark race like the Cat’s Hill invites locals to be part of a tradition that promotes community and encourages healthy lifestyles. And this year, Lamborghini Los Gatos will handle lead-out duties.
50 years of Cat’s Hill
The first Cat’s Hill took place in 1974 and was put on by the Los Gatos Bicycle Club. It’s now run by the San Jose Bicycle Club. A couple years were missed due to the Covid-19 pandemic, which is why they are still celebrating this year as the 50th anniversary.
That makes it “one of the very few races in the United States that’s been able to achieve this milestone,” said race director Diana Hellman. Famous bicyclist Greg Lemond has biked in the Cat’s Hill multiple times (he won the Tour de France in 1986, 1989 and 1990).
“This race has been known among cyclists for a long time as a very important race to many cyclists,” Hellman added. “And because it’s gone on for so long, they are able to close the roads and also receive a lot of support in the neighborhood with watch parties to enjoy the race.”
Another other well-known participant is Megan Guarnier, who rode for Rabobank-Liv Giant, Boels-Dolmans and Tibco-Silicon Valley Bank teams.
Luke Lamperti also rode in Cat’s Hill, and took home a victory at the United States National Criterium Championship in Knoxville, Tennessee.
With races from 8am-5pm, the cyclists go around a loop for a set period of time. The length is adjusted based on the age and the experience. The younger juniors, at just 9-14 years old, race for 20 minutes. Then, another junior group, of 15-18, race for 30 minutes. The way that the day is built starts with the most exciting races—with Women Pro 1/2/3 and the Open Pro 1/2—with these expected to bring in the most viewers. For children 2-8 years old, there is a free race that starts at 12:20pm, which will only go two blocks for about 10 minutes, before the 12:35pm commemoration ceremony.
Volunteers
The Town of Los Gatos granted the Cat’s Hill race $7,500 in October 2025. The organizing committee that works alongside Hellman is a team of seven people. There are more than 250 members in the club. This Saturday, 300 cyclists and 800 spectators are expected. Early registration starts at $50, and the day of it increases to $75. A third of the money goes to the Los Gatos-Monte Sereno Police Department, because the event requires them to close the street and provide security. They have to have insurance, DART emergency officials, as well as EMTs on site. Sponsors of the event include Los Gatos Roofing, Lamborghini and De Mattei Construction.
The mayor and vice mayor are expected to attend the event, alongside past champions. On Saturday night, there will be a celebration at Campo di Bocce at 6:30pm to help raise funds for future editions.
