Race Report: Santa Cruz Classic Criterium - Men’s Masters 35+ 1/2/3

Race: Santa Cruz Classic Criterium - Men’s Masters 35+ 1/2/3

Date: March 22, 2026

AVRT racers: Paul Levy

Top Result: Paul Levy 12th/33

Course: 40 minutes of a short, flowy circuit featuring a downhill hairpin into a fast descent, followed by a short uphill rise, a tight turn, and a steady uphill drag to the finish

Strava: https://www.strava.com/activities/17821121662

Nutrition: Fruit snacks before the race, plain water during the race.

Recap (written by Paul Levy): Not feeling quite as good today as I was at Cat’s Hill yesterday, also a larger group than yesterday. Tested myself on one prime lap and could tell I should be a bit more conservative today. I did still attempt to follow a handful of moves, but none of them stuck. The race finished in a bunch sprint. I was towards the back going into the last lap and had to go around a few riders sitting up at various parts of the final lap. I didn’t really think I’d be in contention from back there but wanted to finish with the main bunch at least so I tried to go around and stick with them. I finished at the back of the main group, midpack overall.