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Overview: |
 Two very different races that should deliver Pro Chase qualifiers with strong all around skills.
The longest continuously run road race in northern California, the Mount Hamilton Classic starts in San Jose, California, in the heart of Silicon Valley, and hits riders hard out of the gate with a 19 mile long ascent of Mt. Hamilton, the highest peak in the bay area. It isn't strictly one for the climbers, and racers who are strong enough to hang close have their opportunity after the summit where the course turns into a technical descent down the back side of the mountain into and across the San Antonio Valley before two more 5-minute climbs that test riders’ resolve and downhill drag race toward a sprint finish.
The Memorial Day Criterium is located in Morgan Hill, in southern Santa Clara Valley and surrounded by the Santa Cruz mountain range to the west, and the Diablo mountain range to the east. Its picturesque hillside setting provides the perfect backdrop for the suffering that will occur on its city streets. This race is fast and furious with wide open boulevards that encourage powerful breaks. Although winning breaks are possible, this long running criterium has a history of providing the perfect venue for a well-organized sprint train to dominate a field sprint finish on the super wide finishing straight.
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Course Profile: |
A single day mountainous road race, the Mount Hamilton Classic features a large mountain pass followed by long flat valley, two small climbs, then a long 1% downhill grade toward the finish.
The Memorial Day Criterium is a flat and fast 3 corner criterium course with broad lanes for mass sprint finishes.
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