Race Report: Helen Pool 4th of July Criterium - Davis (Men's Cat 4/5)

Race: Davis Criterium - Men’s Cat 4/5

Date: July 4, 2025

AVRT racers: Michael Matthews

Top Result: 5th Place (of 38 starters)

Course: Flat figure eight course with choppy roads in places and eight corners. Wind was a minor factor on two south-facing straights. Most corners can be pedaled. Warm (not hot) morning weather. 

Strava: https://www.strava.com/activities/15006105564  

Nutrition: ~100g of carbs in a bottle for pre/during race nutrition. Typical breakfast eaten on the road. Food and electrolytes ready for in between races. 

Event Recap:  This race had a big field of approximately 50 people (~38 Cat 4 riders). With corners right out of the gate I knew it would be important to be near the front early. For any moves, efficient energy use, and safety. Luckily, they started the race with a neutral lap behind a Moto, which kept things mostly safe. There were a few bumps as the race got started. Over the course of the race it was fairly aggressive, with a few attacks attempting to cause a break. While never chasing them down solo or dragging the group, without a team, I didn't want to miss a break that would stick. That's my style, and was my plan out of the gate - a break or long range attack. I spent much of the race in the front 5 to 8 riders and kept a close eye on anything that went. The one attack I didn't follow was a solo rider with two laps to go from the only team that had numbers. Rio Strada (RSR) had four or five riders and played their cards perfectly throughout the race, ensuring that they always had somebody in the break or covering a move when they sent their single rider up the road. With two laps to go nobody chased the solo attack and a group of five quickly formed and chase with a lap and a half to go. We couldn't catch him and sprinted to fifth. In retrospect, I probably spent too much energy participating in chases that had lower likelihoods of sticking, but I was happy overall with the fifth place.