# Sea Otter Gravel race being sent out in front of the XC Race this year

**URL:** <https://www.trainerroad.com/forum/t/sea-otter-gravel-race-being-sent-out-in-front-of-the-xc-race-this-year/27892>\
**Category:** Racing\
**Created:** [January 14, 2020, 8:22pm UTC](https://www.trainerroad.com/forum/t/sea-otter-gravel-race-being-sent-out-in-front-of-the-xc-race-this-year/27892 "2020-01-14T20:22:09Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 4\
**Page:** 1

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**Author:** ![GilbertsGrapes](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/e9c0ed/32.png) [@GilbertsGrapes](https://www.trainerroad.com/forum/u/GilbertsGrapes)\
**Post date:** [January 14, 2020, 8:22pm UTC](https://www.trainerroad.com/forum/t/sea-otter-gravel-race-being-sent-out-in-front-of-the-xc-race-this-year/27892/1 "2020-01-14T20:22:09Z")

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Uh…does anyone else think is a horrible idea both for the gravel riders and for the XC race?

> **[Get Ready for the Sea Otter Classic’s First-Ever Gravel Race](https://www.bicycling.com/bikes-gear/a30483018/sea-otter-classic-gravel-race/)**
>
> The 30th annual NorCal bike extravaganza will host its first gravel grinder in 2020.

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**Author:** ![vladrath](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/trainerroad/forum/user_avatar/www.trainerroad.com/vladrath/32/12895_2.png) [@vladrath](https://www.trainerroad.com/forum/u/vladrath)\
**Post date:** [January 14, 2020, 8:42pm UTC](https://www.trainerroad.com/forum/t/sea-otter-gravel-race-being-sent-out-in-front-of-the-xc-race-this-year/27892/2 "2020-01-14T20:42:16Z")

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Seems like a great idea. Gravel is probably the fastest growing segment in the sport of amateur cycling now, it makes sense that Sea Otter would be embracing it.

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**Author:** ![jeremy](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/trainerroad/forum/user_avatar/www.trainerroad.com/jeremy/32/27460_2.png) [@jeremy](https://www.trainerroad.com/forum/u/jeremy)\
**Post date:** [January 14, 2020, 8:46pm UTC](https://www.trainerroad.com/forum/t/sea-otter-gravel-race-being-sent-out-in-front-of-the-xc-race-this-year/27892/3 "2020-01-14T20:46:14Z")

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I fail to see the problem here. They’re going to be on largely different courses, and the gravel field should be fast enough and with enough gap that the front of the XC field doesn’t run into them. The folks at Sea Otter know what they’re doing. Also, I don’t think this is going to be the classic ramble on all day in the countryside affair - it’s 40 miles, sanctioned, and at sea otter. Should be a banger, a road race that happens to be largely unpaved. I kinda want to do it.

Also, I wonder how they determine entry requirements for Pro vs Amateur for the Gravel race. It’s not like you can have a Pro Gravel license (yet)…

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**Author:** ![jeremy](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/trainerroad/forum/user_avatar/www.trainerroad.com/jeremy/32/27460_2.png) [@jeremy](https://www.trainerroad.com/forum/u/jeremy)\
**Post date:** [January 14, 2020, 8:51pm UTC](https://www.trainerroad.com/forum/t/sea-otter-gravel-race-being-sent-out-in-front-of-the-xc-race-this-year/27892/5 "2020-01-14T20:51:04Z")

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> [@GilbertsGrapes](#):
>
> My issue isn’t them having a gravel race, it’s the timing.

I get that. I would bet good money the courses don’t overlap much once you leave the track.