2025 Cantua Creek Road Race - Men’s Cat 4

Race Report: 2025 Cantua Creek Road Race - Men’s Cat 4

Race: Cantua Creek Road Race - Men’s Cat 4

Date: Feb 15, 2025

AVRT racers: Jack Lund, Wil Gibb

Top Result: Jack Lund (1/23), Wil Gibb (3/23)

Course: Approx. 70 mi and 2000 ft of elevation. The course consists of three out-and-back laps with good pavement. The section of road is mostly straight and flat with some rolling hills near the start/finish. The finish is 0.8 miles with a 3% gradient. The flatness and lack of features contributed significantly to the race dynamics.

Strava: https://www.strava.com/activities/13636666489

Nutrition: Three gels, and two bottles of high carb maltodextrin/fructose

Recap:

Wil and I reviewed the course ahead of time.  We determined that being in a break for such a long course would be very difficult and we would rather contest the last mile.  Apparently every other rider had the same idea too.

The pace was very mellow in the first two laps, as we were all determined to save energy.  At one point in the first lap, two riders tried a break.  They didn’t get more than a 20 second gap before the peloton was able to form a paceline and reel them back.  I think the ease with which we brought them back discouraged any future attacks for the remainder of the race.  

Three hours in, at mile 65/70 I had averaged just 170W.  I was getting a little bored of all the chit chatting we were doing, but we were all determined to race smart and save energy.  We even had a pee break during lap 2.

Finally as we neared the end, the pace picked up dramatically.  Wil and I positioned ourselves near the front, ready to hop on any attacks.  We surfed wheels for a bit, always staying near the front.  Wil then launched a monster attack with a little over a mile to go. I latched onto his wheel and Wil pulled us to a 5 second gap ahead of the rest of the field.  Coming out of the final roller, I launched a sprint to finish first, and Wil followed in for third.

This was a big strategic success for us.  In the final mile I was close to max HR (even though I was second wheel to Wil).  I have no doubt that I would have faded if I had attempted this solo.  A good lead-out with just a two person team can be really effective, and ultimately took the day.