Racers, attendees and exhibitors on day one of the 23rd Annual Volkswagen Sea Otter Classic Powered by SRAM were treated to warm temps and bluebird skies. Day one launched with a flurry of new product releases, equipment demos, merchandise giveaways and activities for all ages. Stars from multiple disciplines were out in numbers, leading group rides, finding the fastest lines on the downhill and dual slalom courses and logging a few practice laps on the cross country.
Several classes of the SRAM Road Criterium were hotly contested, with CashCall’s Cole House taking the Pro 1,2 Men’s Race, followed by teammate Fabrizio Von Nacher and Ricardo Van Der Velde (Jelly Belly pb Kenda) rounding out the podium for third. The Women’s race saw Jade Wilcoxson (Optum pb Kelly Benefit Strategies) bring home the win.
The weatherman promises more of the same for tomorrow. The day starts with the annual Sea Otter Egg Hunt and free kids’ bike races for ages 9-12. The free SRAM Ride Zone will once again host a wide variety of brands, allowing consumers to test the latest and greatest bikes and gear from the industry’s top manufacturers. Also on deck are dual slalom course inspection, practice and finals for Category 1 riders and Speed and Style course inspection, practice and qualifying. The downhill course once again opens for inspection and practice for all ages and abilities and the Category 1 XC racers will duke it out on 40.4 and 20.2-mile courses throughout the rolling green terrain of the Laguna Seca Recreational Area and Fort Ord National Monument.
Tomorrow the pro peloton hits the road course on Fort Ord National Monument for Stage 2 of the Stage Race and cross country riders hit the short track.  The weekend is building up serious momentum with riders and attendees converging on Monterey and the surrounding communities from all over the country and world. For more information please visit www.seaotterclassic.com!
Photo by Alex StricklandÂ
