Race Report: Crusher Cup (XC MTB) Race #1 - Men’s Cat 2/Sport
Race: Crusher Cup (XC MTB) Race #1 Men’s Cat 2/Sport Age 35-44
Date: May 10, 2025
AVRT racers: Michael Matthews
Top Result: Men’s Cat 2/Sport Age 35-44 1st/8 (Men’s Cat 2/Sport Overall 2nd/35)
Course: ~5 mile lap completed 2.5 times for Cat 2. ~1000 ft of climbing per lap (yay! - actually). Technical course elements included loose dry corners, downhill switchbacks, a down tree, and a mild rocky section. One big separation climb and a second smaller one taken three times. Really short finishing straight in a parking lot so any late move would have to be done on the last climb to the lot. Plenty of room on the climbs to make moves. Heat was a minor factor, but luckily my race was in the morning.
Strava: https://www.strava.com/activities/14439671023
Nutrition: ~90g of carbs in a bottle for pre/during race nutrition. Consumed two thirds of it beforehand, and left the rest to sip on on the climbs.
Event Recap: I did a few technique-focused pre-rides earlier in the week near home to tune up. This paid off! Recon’d the course by watching youtube videos to learn about the dusty corners (you have to stay upright to win). I jumped all wheels in my age group and a few in the 19-34 group that started ahead on the first punchy climb to the start/finish. Had to wait through a technical single-track descent for another opportunity to pass. Full gas up that section to get ahead of the slower wheels. By the time I crested the first big climb I was off and mostly alone. Caught two groups of three (younger but still Cat 2) groups over the course of the next two laps. What was clear was that my fitness won me this race, not my technique. The last group of three that I caught took about a lap of yoyo-ing, whereby I’d lose progress on descents. I’ll rack it up to this being my first season of XC. Lots of room to improve. Stoked about the win and 2nd place overall, and looking forward to the next four races of the series over the course of the summer!
Ps. my lap times would have won (1st age group and 1st overall) in Cat 1/Expert ;)
