94 miles with 6,100 feet of elevation gain*
Locate ride on interactive map.
[Interactive Course | enlarge]
[Route Profile]
Sea Otter Classic - Gran Fondo - Counties Visited:
Monterey County
Sea Otter Classic - Gran Fondo - Cities/Towns Visited:
Carmel Valley Village
Sea Otter Classic - Gran Fondo - Climbs:
Mile 53 (cat. 2), 84 (cat. 3), and 91 (cat. 4)
Sea Otter Classic - Gran Fondo - Stops:
Mile 23, 42, 63, and 83 (Carmel Valley Village)
Sea Otter Classic - Gran Fondo - Description:
Now celebrating its 20th anniversary, Sea Otter Classic is a four-day festival of cycling, attracting road and mountain bike racers, riders, families, and friends. The event hosts about 47,000 spectators, 8,500 athletes, 4,500 campers, and 300 exhibitors. Sea Otter Classic includes multiple road and mountain bike events as well as recreational rides such as a Gran Fondo.
The Gran Fondo starts and finishes on Laguna Seca Raceway and follows the «Monterey Loop» through the coastal valleys of Salinas. Initially the route leads north-east on Barloy Canyon Road, before traveling south-east through a large agricultural area (Reservation Road, River Road, and Fort Romie Road).
After Zabala's Vineyards, the route leads south-west on Arroyo Seco Road and soon thereafter north-west on Carmel Valley Road. Around mile 53, the gradual 10 mile ascent to Cahoon Summit starts, but only the last few miles are somewhat steep (this is the timed segment). The route then descends towards Carmel Valley Village, where is turns north over Laureles Grade, a three mile steep climb, followed by B Road, a one mile even steeper climb.
Back at Laguna Seca Raceway, I added a 2.2 mile loop on the track (in reverse direction), which includes the famous «Corkscrew», one of the motorsport world's most challenging turns, due to the blind crest and apex on the uphill approach as well as its drop in elevation.
Sea Otter Classic - Gran Fondo - Pictures:
[Gran Fondo Start]
[Zabala's Vineyards Stop]
[Cahoon Summit]
[Wildflowers in Carmel Valley]
[«Corkscrew»]
Sea Otter Classic - Gran Fondo - Personal Notes:
Sandra, Lisa, and I had a great weekend. The Monterey Peninsula is an awesome destination, and combined with a fine cycling event even more so.
We arrived on Friday, picked up the packages, and had dinner watching the Pacific sunset. On Saturday, I rode the Gran Fondo and ended up finishing 25th on the hill climb. The ride included bike valet, hot shower, 15 minute massage, beer, and food - anybody beat that! Afterwards we were hanging out with Alex R. from Chico and went relaxing in the penthouse jacuzzi of our hotel on Cannery Row.
Sunday morning we visited Monterey Bay Aquarium and in the afternoon went wine tasting. On Monday, we took the long way home, including 17 Mile Drive and the spectacular Big Sur coastline, which was one of the best parts of the California Coast bike ride.
Sea Otter Classic - Gran Fondo - Current Weather:
