Monterey Bay’s characteristic morning mist cleared just in time for some of the world’s top cyclists to find their places on the famous Laguna Seca Raceway in Salinas Thursday.
It was the start of the 2025 Sea Otter Classic. And this was the first time the Men’s and Women’s Elite races happened on a gravel course.
The race marked the first of six nationwide Life Time Grand Prix events that will dole out a total of $380,000 in prize money this year. Monterey native Karissa Lamb was one of dozens of professional cyclists competing.
“My dad grew up on this track and so it's kind of like an homage to him in a way, and my family and my heritage being a fifth generation Californian,” she said.
Lamb says gravel racing is a way to connect back to nature while avoiding the traffic and noise that comes with riding on paved roads. The discipline finds a home somewhere between road and mountain biking.
“Gravel is such a popular discipline within cycling right now,” said Sarah Stutman, associate director of off road event marketing for Life Time. “Everyone's loving gravel. And so we're giving our athletes a chance to test themselves on a new course.”
The stoke over the race lineup and festival overall is palpable and something that keeps riders, spectators, sponsors, and exhibitors like Cheyne Parrott coming back. Parrott is the North American marketing manager for Italian sport gear band Fizik and one of many people at the celebration that keeps spokes spinning.
“It's the fun, for sure. It's camaraderie. It is the beginning of the season, you know, regardless of what happened in the economy or the industry,” said Parrott. “This is a place to get re-inspired, to know why you're in the industry and why you ride bikes.”
The four-day festival celebrating the power of cycling throughout the world will continue through the weekend. Sunday is Family Day when children under the age of 12 can bring in two adults free of charge so the whole family can explore what the festival has to offer.
