Race Report: 2023 Copper Valley Circuit Race - Men’s Cat 3/4
Race: 2023 Copper Valley Circuit Race - Men’s Cat 3/4
Date: March 5, 2023
AVRT racers: Drew Mathews
Top Result: Drew (8/12)
Course: A 2.75 mile out and 2.75 mile back stretch of road with nice pavement. Rolling terrain with an overall uphill on the way out out and downhill on the way back, with the finishing straight coming after a slight downhill. Our race was held at 60 minutes long, and we ended up doing 5 laps.
Strava: Copper Valley Cat 3/4
Nutrition: Coming off of doing the Cat 4 race an hour prior to the start, I refueled in between with 36 grams of carbs from Lundberg rice cakes and two Untapped maple syrup packets chalking their way in at 26 g of carbs a piece.
Recap:
Coming off a good result in the Cat 4 race that morning, I decided to give the Cat 3/4 race a go after warming up in my car and changing into some dry clothes.
My goal was to finish with the bunch and gain some more race experience with higher caliber competition. Two other riders who did the Cat 4 race showed up at the start line along with a quartet of SJBC riders, two Velo Kings riders, and a handful of other independents.
From the start, the race was significantly more difficult than the Cat 4 race. The clouds opened up for much warmer and nicer conditions, and I think it contributed to the group's collective eagerness to have some fun racing.
Attacks went early and often in the first half of the race, with a Dolce Vita rider and the SJBC riders leading the onslaught. It felt like I was constantly chasing the group from the back, but I managed to hold on into the second half of the race.
Around the midway point, two riders managed to breakaway with a significant gap. After half a lap, one dropped back while the other surged on. This rider was part of the SJBC contingent, though I think it was unclear to some because he was wearing a slightly different jersey - a San Jose State jersey. Consequently, the SJBC riders controlled the front, making weak pulls to ensure their rider would roll on solo.
Bridge attempts went and were chased back. Some caught on to the fact that the SJBC riders were slowing things down and went to the front, including myself, to make an effort to chase him back. Eventually the lead rider put in a minute on the field, and going into the last lap, the field slowed down after realizing the leader would take it to the line.
Some attacks went on the last lap after the field slowed to a casual pace, but they were chased back. The SJBC riders took to the front on the last half lap to keep the group together, and we rolled past the 1 km to go sign, though I missed it. Riders went for the line at the 200 m to go sign, where I chased from the back to hold on for 8th.
I’m happy with the result and to have stuck with the pack to the finish. It was a fun experience to race with some Cat 3’s - the pace and strategy was definitely at a higher level. All in all, it was fun racing for a second time that day and good to get more race experience!
-Drew