Race Report: 2025 Tucson Bicycle Classic - Men’s Cat 4

Race Report: 2025 Tucson Bicycle Classic - Men’s Cat 4

Race: Tucson Bicycle Classic  - Men’s Cat 4

Date: Feb 24, 2025

AVRT racers: Clark Penado, Jack Lund

Top Result: Jack (9th GC)

Stage 1 - Time Trial : Short TT of 4.5 miles, flat. No TT bikes allowed.

Push watts while crouched down in aero.  Jack 10:34 (10/50), Clark 10:48 (17/50).

Stage 2 - Road Race: Two laps totalling 41 miles, 1700ft elev.  Rolling terrain ending in a gentle 3% grade finish

Clark and I were feeling pretty good going into the day.  This was a pretty large field of 56, but there were no large or dominant teams controlling the race.  While there were a few antsy riders occasionally causing the pace to surge, there were no real breakaways except for the prime lap bonus.

With such a large field, maneuvering was challenging within a single lane.  Unfortunately this resulted in a small pile-up on the flat backstretch of the last lap.  Clark got caught behind this, but fortunately he emerged with the bike and body mostly fine.

As I turned the corner and started the final 4 mile gentle climb to the finish, there were a series of attacks whittling the field each time.  With 1k to go a rider sneaked off the front.  I saw this happen, but I was close to the limit and wanted to save my last match.  I was hoping someone else would push hard to reel him back.  Instead one other rider launched an explosive bridge, and suddenly the break was two.  After this move they wouldn’t be caught again and I used the rest of my energy for a field sprint for 7th.

Stage 3 - Circuit Race 30 mins.  2.7 mi loop with a gentle-grade hill – 170 ft elevation per loop. 

This was pretty full-gas since it was such a short time.  I had guessed that we would probably drop half the field on the first lap, so I tried to position near the front.  I was correct. For the remainder of the race I hung on as several riders pushed the pace and we continued to drop riders.  We rolled in for a final sprint and I didn’t have much left in the tank, ending 11th.

All in all it was a fun weekend and a well-organized event.