Course: Check out the course map (with elevation) on the Wente Brut RR page.
Course Description: A hilly 15 mile loop with about 1000 feet of elevation gain per lap.
Road Surface: Mostly good road surfaces.
Gearing: Strong riders will be okay with a 39x21, but I usually bring a 23 so I can take it easy on the steep climb.
Facilities: Porta cans and water at the Wente Winery parking area. Maybe a porta can at the start area a mile down the road.
Weather: The weather should be nice in April. Allergy sufferers beware and bring your favorite USOC approved medication.
Feeding: The feed zone is on Carroll Rd. at the top of Altamont pass just after the steep part of the climb and before you cross I-580.
Rules Specific to this race:
Race Advice: The steep climb on Carroll Rd. is the main obstacle of this course. But the fun doesn't stop there. After crossing I-580 on North Flynn Rd. you go through a long false flat section for about two miles. If somebody is putting the pressure on here it can hurt. Be careful the first time down the descent on South Flynn Rd. There are a couple of pretty tight turns that you can come into with WAY too much speed if you're not careful.
Onto Patterson Pass and Cross Rd. you'll find more false flat sections along with a few short, but steep rollers. Finally you get to start downhill again and then into the flats on Tesla Rd. Watch for a possible cross wind on Tesla Rd.
The finish is on a hill and you'll definitely want to be careful that you don't go too soon in a sprint. At the end of a race what once was a small little hill can feel much bigger.
The steep climb on Carroll Rd. is the big obstacle that will break up the field. It's possible for a small group to get away here and it's likely that groups of riders will get shelled out the back here also. I've also seen groups go away on Altamont Pass Rd. as you head up towards the turn onto Carroll. What happens is that a few riders will attack, and thena couple of more will join them while everybody else is thinking, "I'm not going to kill myself just before we get to the big climb and then get dropped." While the pack is hesitating behind waiting for somebody else to do the work the group can open up a big gap. Of course if you go in this group you can find yourself getting dropped on the climb if you're not as strong as the other riders.
This is a good race because you have to be a strong rider to make it through all the climbing and tough false flat sections. But, it's not just a slog where the strongest rider wins. There can be a lot of tactics involved also. So a strong rider who's pretty smart and knows when to use their energy can do really well here.
Specific advice for women racers:
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Corrections and additions, please email me!
Kevin Metcalfe
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