Race Report: Watsonville Criterium (Men's Masters 35+ 1/2/3/4)

Race: Watsonville Criterium - Men's Masters 35+ 1/2/3/4 

Date: July 5, 2025

AVRT racers: Michael Matthews

Top Result: 11th Place (of 26)

Course: The course has five corners and a little kicker to the finish. Rough roads in places and killer drainage, like the wheel-eating kind. Wind was a factor on a few straights. Crispy cool ocean-town weather.  

Strava: https://www.strava.com/activities/15019203196   

Nutrition: ~100g of carbs in a bottle for pre/during race nutrition. Clif bar, gel, caffeinated beverage and electrolytes after the C4/5 race.
Event Recap: This was my first time racing with a masters category 1/2 field, so I knew it would be fast. My goal was to finish with the bunch. Cyclesport had a strong team of five, and San Jose Bicycle Club had a team of three. I was solo. My instincts played out as usual, and I tried to join breakaway attempts with other solo riders. After a few attempts that were foiled by Cyclesport each time, I knew it was their race to lose. No one made any serious moves after that and the pace just stayed high until the last few laps. I managed to stay with a group of five as we crested the hill with three laps to go. I could feel every muscle fiber in my legs after this and the three other crits, I’d done in the last 36 hours. I knew I would have nothing for the sprint, but that was no surprise. I finished at the back of the bunch, but I made it! And that's worth celebrating, this time ;) !