Race Report: 2025 Sand City Criterium Women’s 4/N & Women’s Master’s 1/2/3 35+
Race: Sand City Criterium 2025, Women’s 4/N & Women’s Master’s 123 35+
Date: Sunday: July 27, 2025
AVRT racers: Katie Monaghan, Elena De La Paz, Chris Davis, Janene Ostrow
Top Result: Katie Monaghan 2/11
Course: Approximately 1k in length: 10 corner criterium with a very short steepish (max 9%) hill after corner 3. Slightly downhill after the hill into corners 5 and 6 and pretty flat from there. Good pavement. Honestly great course: fun, technical, punchy
Strava: https://www.strava.com/activities/15255602946
Nutrition: Coffee and Peanut butter and banana sandwich on drive over. Gushers before the race (am I 5 years old?) Nothing during.
I had been eyeing this race for some time. I wanted to race it in April of last year and when it was rescheduled to July, it no longer worked with my schedule. So I was excited that I could race it this year because it seemed like a great course. Honestly, it did not disappoint. Not too far from home, technical, fast, good pavement and a punchy little hill that is not punishing like Cat’s Hill.
I was a little disappointed at the small field size. I like to race when I'm a small fish in a big pond. We eventually got the registration numbers up to 11 racers, so it was at least a solid field. The field combined women’s 4/N and women’s masters 35+ 123. At the start of the race I targeted Rachel from Sprinkles. We have raced each other a few times, trading higher placements. I did not know the master’s women well.
The race mainly went at a fast but controllable pace. I really liked racing with the master’s women. They were assertive, safe, mouthy in the best way and looking to keep the race interesting.
I wasn’t really sure if I wanted to try for a break or sprint. I’ve never been in a break and my sprint is solid but nothing to write home about. About 10 minutes into the race, I attacked thinking I could maybe hold a solo break. I had a good gap on the field but when I would look back, the peleton continued to be only maybe 20 meters behind me. My heart rate was high and 30 more minutes of that misery seemed awful, so I eventually gave up and slotted back into 5-6th wheel for a few laps to recover. Hannon recently called me out at Egan for only trying when I think something is fun and he’s honestly not wrong. Attempting a solo break to suffer in my own misery hurts. Cornering with and around others is engaging, dynamic and fun.
After that I mainly tried to stay in the first 4 wheels and not take too many pulls. I occasionally was on the front again if I wanted to move up a wheel or two since our race was small, but I tried to keep those short.
Entering the final lap, I was sitting second wheel behind Andrea (San Jose Bike Club). I actually hadn’t seen Rachel (Sprinkles) in a minute but she came around the outside on the hill to attack. I quickly jumped on her wheel for the final 5 corners. This was my mistake for 2nd place. I stayed on her wheel for all the corners but was feeling pretty in control. I ended up having to break behind her at the final corner before the sprint and came away with second. I wish I sent it around her sooner but ya live and ya learn.
To be honest, I have very much wanted a podium this season because I’ve felt a lot stronger. It was nice to get this and it does secure a Cat 3 upgrade for me. However, I am really looking forward to racing as a support role for a while. My most fun race of the season was Land Park where we slowed the field for Steph’s break and I got to tag team with Louise as a lead out for Kat for 3rd. I am really a ball sports/team effort person at heart and not an aerobic monster, so I’m excited for more of these types of efforts in the future.
