Oh shit it's me! Thanks Jeff & Will! Last lap I was def planning on the kid in yellow bridging up - he is like, 14-15, insanely strong, cleans up a lot at the weekly crit series. Took me way too long to realize he was truly popped (rewatching, it's obvious even after the first corner). edit: Also, didn't really notice any out of town racers, this is just how good CO is lol. Def had people going all out as this was the last big crit of the year, though. Primal in particular seemed to burn a few guys at the start to try & shatter the field.

FYI. The winner of this race finished top ten OA in the Unbound 100. Racing against people like that is typical in Colorado, even in lower Categories. A lot of fast gravel, mtb, triathletes, or just non racers (but are super fit) who haven’t done a ton of USAC races.

I always appreciate the constructive criticism when you review Cat 4/5 races.

I did the Pillar to Post hill climb up Lookout Mountain (4.5 miles 1250 climbing) when I first moved to Colorado. I got dropped in the first 1/4 mile. The Cat 4 winner was only 17 seconds slower than the P/1/2 winner. I finished mid-pack more than 7 minutes back. I switched over to being a triathlete, where I could just race the course to protect my crushed ego... The Colorado race scene is insanely fast.

For anyone watching, keep in mind Littleton sits at 5300’ asl, so power / Hr not comparable to most at sea level. CO is some of the fastest / deepest fields you’re going to find. No one in this race is a sandbagger, 4/5 races averaging 27-28mph is typical in CO.

Nice recap Jeff and Will! Littleton is a great race! One correction, this was not a Cat 4/5 race. The Cat 4s and 5s have separate races at this event; this was exclusively the Cat 4 field. It's a super fun course and huge crowds. But yeah, the racing scene in CO is strong!

I learned never to underestimate cat 4/5 races. There are lots of strong guys from other endurance sports like swimming, rowing, and cross country running who are trying out bike racing for the first time. They are as physiologically strong (VO2max and LT) as anyone in a higher category fields. As you pointed out, cat 4/5 racers often lack experience, tactics, and bike handling.

lol, colorado is an insane place to compete. when i was a 4 in colorado i had an FTP of 4.6+ w/kg and still had to work for it

The speed and level of fitness in Colorado is insane… living and training at altitude maybe has something to do with it.

Super cool to see a buddy make the channel! National level cat 4/5 can be fast!

So something to note for crit racers in the Denver area. Every wednesday night during the summer they hold training crits at the CSP training course up on South Table Mountain. So a lot of these cat4/5 guys that are local have probably been getting experience in those training crits. The Boulder Jr Cycling kids are crazy fast, they're new to crit racing though. I've been in some XC races with BJC kids in the field and they were crazy fast up all the hills.

"the fitness seems really high" yea, welcome to colorado! the race is at 5500 ft above sea level to boot. Huge combined "open 4" field, which partially explains the speed

Love the race breakdown series

I would say over the many years I spent riding and racing in SoCal this has been the pattern for much of that time. Fitness outstripping bike handling and skill in the peloton. Even on the smaller group rides where guys had moved up categories very quickly based on strength but still rode like less experienced riders etc. I found that frustrating at times when out of competition and training with the smaller or modest sized rides.

This is SM 4 open race, any age. Purple Natural Grocers rider# 736 , finished 7th, average watts 211 for 30 minutes, max 860 watts

As a Masters racer I come across former CAT 1/2 but since they only race a few times a year and once or twice during COVID, they're now Cat 4s. Brutal.

more cat 4/5 content 🙏

I rode in an event that was the state championships for the state of Michigan. It was my return to racing after many years away from the sport so myself and a few club members entered the Cat 5 race. None of them had raced before other than a training race. I warned them that the races start out fast and eventually settle down after eliminating the slower less experienced riders. The beginning for me felt like an all out sprint at 28-30 mph. They were dropped immediately and I was hanging on for dear life up to the point where I accelerated to bridge a gap to get back in the draft of the pack in an opening that was quickly closed right into my front wheel causing me to crash. Race over! I was cooked anyway. Someone slammed into my rear quick release and my wheel was out of the dropouts.

Nice race!

LOVE your stuff. Big question for you and anyone: What app do you use to overlay fit/gpx data over your footage?! Still using that old one I saw you made a video about 5 years ago? Or Garmin Virb edit? The map overlay is buggy. So what do you use? Thank you!!! Inspiring stuff man.

As a more recent 4/5, I would argue that the last 2k plan of your is less likely... in my experience lots of 4/5s will chase even when they're solo or if it doesn't make sense, hence why they're 4/5s!

CAT 4 races have always been as fast as the 3's & 2's. The adrenaline to race as fast as possible have kept the Crit CAT 3'S Plus 4's at warp speeds. I'm a ex CAT 3 racer, I remember ...

The best are the Masters Races. The strong older former (and current) cat1's aren't exactly sandbagging, but they will definitely make you better.

In the us is there normally a race between 4/5 + p12s?

Interesting how the FOV really changes the sense of speed. 28 looks like 20 on that cam

This is normal cat 4 fitness in Colorado

When it's open rider I like to talk another rider into exchanging lines with me til the finish and we can duke it out for finish.

always identify the ringer. some people drop down in category to get a win.

Sandbagging happens everywhere. Many want to win, even if it means competing against competition. they know they're a level above..

The dude in yellow on a Titanium bike? Color and sheen looks very familiar...

Is this footage slowed down? Something looks off

When cat four and five racers race together, are they scored out of the same race or by category?

Couple of these guys (fluoro jersey/socks at 8:40, for example) have the telltale sign of someone who has trained hard, and/or raced for years........toothpick upper arms; yet they are racing 4/5. Dead giveaway of a sandbagger.

The only reason I do well in crits is because I come from mountain biking. Purebred roadies typically don’t have great bike handling skills

Да с таким пульсом гнать всю гонку не каждый сможет.

So what's the difference between cat 1 and pro tour racers. Like what's the actual level of training, nutrition etc. Does that mean that cat 1 still has a day job and pro tour racers main job is riding?

Jeff should do a push up for every like this comment gets

Bad Elk 42

C’Mon Jeff…only doing 300w for the last two laps in breakaways/flyers in Nor Cal 4 races definitely was not getting it done. It’s been a while since I’ve turned a pedal but I remember the power files! I think Cherry Pie cat 4/5 masters race was 600w for the last lap to stay away

It was like the speed didnt match the video. Seemed like they were going much slower than 45-50km/h

2k to go and he had already given up. No push at all to move up or improve position. Is this a smaller rider? Very high HR for the power.

Cal angie yesterday 4/5 race was faster then this whith 2 pinched corners

Racing is different in Colorado. It's FAST there. Faster than anywhere in the country (at all levels) in my opinion.

Sometimes I see someone with an obviously bad bike fit and it makes my knees hurt in sympathy. 4:09

My heart rate is in the red just watching how poorly guys held their lines. Yikes. I don't miss 4/5 racing at all.

Jeff your missing a very important reason why cat 4/5 don’t look like they used to….. It has to do with indoor training and thanks to guys like you educating people on the proper way to train and race! Nice job as always!!🍺👍

First

Athletic boy 80

Yumshoq yo'lbars 47

"cool little course". Wide open, no features and 2 corners away from being an oval track. It's about as dull a course as you could get 😂

i unsubscribed to much bull crap and excuses for something that is clear the patterns dont change just the riders ehhh its dope call them out ask they get tested the official will test them if there is a reason like you show here maybe its the good ole boy network we always see