THEY CATER TO THE CROWD. WE CATER TO YOU.
RAPHA PRESTIGE: SANTA CRUZ 2022
Rapha describes their Prestige events series as an “embodiment of adventure, teamwork & resilience” they believe that “some of the most rewarding aspects of riding a bicycle. It is not a bike race; it’s a test of fortitude and bonds between four riders who take on a challenge together, pushing their own limits and finishing as a team”.
Nearly two months on and we’ve just about gotten rid of the reminders from this ride out of the nooks of our bikes and kit, that Northern California mud is tough!
The event is like no other, the route GPX file is shared with riders only a week prior to the event date, and the information you get on top of that is incredibly sparse. You are provided the start and finish point for the ride, as well as a recommended minimum tire size but that’s pretty much it. Teams must ensure they are equipped with nutrition, spares, and water to last the whole ride with only a few opportunities to resupply.
Now that the dust (or maybe mud is more appropriate here) has settled, we thought we would gather our thoughts as team KAV in a post-ride write-up. Here’s our debrief of the Rapha Prestige Santa Cruz 2022.