Race Report Writer: Salvatore Talarico
Race: Copperopolis Road Race – 35+ 3/4
Date: Saturday, March 29th, 2025
LGBRC racers: Salvatore Talarico, Dan Scannell, Eric Brown, and Vu Nguyen
Top Results: Salvatore (3rd place)
Course: 42 miles race composed of 2 laps, where each lap features two climbs, one at the start and one toward the finish with tough rollers in between, and a brutal and technical descent at the end. For those that are not familiar with this race, this is considered among the hardest race in California not only because of the feet of climbing, but also due to unforgiving terrain, and for this reason it is called “The California Paris-Roubaix”.
Strava: https://www.strava.
Event Recap: The day of the race started with a clear ski and a perfect temperature for climbing. Coming into the race, we were all prepared with what was going to be a very tough day on an unforgiving course. Before the start of the race, we shared our impressions and plan: As we were the team with the larger presence and with four climbers, and the course was starting with a 3 miles climb, the idea was to make selection right away, break the peloton and isolate other racers on the climb, and then work together on the rollers so that to form a breakaway, and try to let it stick until the end. Plan was to pace the first part of the climb, and on the steep part light up the race and try to form a selected group. As we started the first climb, I realized right away that other teams and racers had in the mind the same strategy 🙂 and Mike from Dolce Vita and Bryan from Davis Bike Club forced a killer pace, which made a significant selection: after 20 minutes of race, on the top of the climb there was already a breakaway formed by 5 racers [2 LGBRC (Eric and myself), 1 Dolce Vita, 1 Davis Bike Club and 1 CycloSport]. Although we climbed at 5.5/6 watt/kg with some sort of rest only on the flattish parts of the climb, the gap created by the front group was probably only ~30/40 seconds, so once the rollers started we could see the peloton chasing us at a fast pace. After a minute or two to organize ourselves, we started to rotate and hammer HARD so that to keep the peloton away and form a safe gap. At this point, the pace was super fast as we were all motivated in letting the breakaway stick and even in the “draft” (which in reality was not a real draft as the road in the rollers is pretty much a gravel field full of potholes and it is impossible to stay too close to each other) I was pretty much thresholding: as the terrain was mostly favorable for bigger racers with larger absolute power, both me and Eric were suffering while we were rotating and taking our pulls on the front. Unfortunately, before the second climb could start Eric got a small gap, which quickly became larger. For a moment, I thought to slow down and work with him so that to bring both of us back and perhaps work some team strategy to break the other racers later on, but with 3 very motivated and large guys in front I also thought this could become a mission impossible for the two of us once the gap would form, and therefore while feeling guilty and selfish I continued to pace with the other 3 in the breakaway 🙁 At the top of the second climb, the group was now formed by 4 racers with a very comfortable lead of ~2 minutes. This year the road on the descent was well paved, and on the contrary of last year, I was able to relax/rest/eat and get ready mentally for the attacks to come as we reached pretty quickly the feet of the last long climb. At this point, Bjorn from CycloSport did not wait much before going all out, and only me and Bryan from Davis Bike Club were able to resist. Unfortunately, ~500feet before the top of the climb, and right before the road starts to flatten a bit and the climb gets more gentle (4-5%) I had a moment of weakness and a bike length gap formed. Unfortunately, at that moment I was unable to respond promptly and close the gap, and once we moved from double digit grades into low single digit grades the gap got immediately larger and I start bleeding seconds after seconds very quickly. Once on top of the climb, the first thing I did was to look back, but nobody was there to collaborate with, and therefore I started a desperate chase. While I could see both Bjoun and Bryan I quickly noticed that the gap was too large and was not getting any smaller… Instead of continuing the chase for a position in the more noble parts of the podium, I mentally settled for third place, and started to slow the pace and frequently monitor my back for possible chasers. This gave me the opportunity to enjoy the surroundings and to my surprise end up cheering up on the last small climb a little girl doing her first race: Katherine Ciaschini, who looked as little as my 3 years old daughter but probably a few years older, who was competing with his older brother in the junior 12 and under!!! I was so surprised to see she still had the strength to smile proudly at me, and while I was continuing my pace and cheering her up notice that she tried to follow my wheel… Big KUDOS to her, and CONGRAZ to her parents for initiating her to this fantastic sport and her mom for following her in the car!!! This is what I LOVE about the sport in general!!! With a big smile on my face, I went down the last descent and crossed the lane in third place. Thanks again to all the teammates and yet for another great day on the bike!