Throughout its nearly two decades, the Sea Otter Classic has evolved as a cycling festival as much as its competitors have evolved as athletes.
World champions to Olympic gold medalists to Tour de France riders have all made yearly treks to Laguna Seca Recreation Area in Monterey for this event.
The majority of participating athletes are amateurs, with newbies to nearly lifelong recreational competitors progressing through age-group divisions. Some of their children are now doing the same.
An increasing number of cyclists in recent years have participated in the Sea Otter Classic, which begins Thursday, as an extension of the NorCal High School Mountain Bike Racing League.
Now in its ninth year, the league has 35 teams and about 425 participants. The corresponding first-year Southern California division has 15 teams and about 85 athletes…Â Details