← All eventsSea Otter Classic Gravel (Fuego XL)
The Life Time Grand Prix opener at the Sea Otter Classic in Monterey, California — a fast, punchy ~112km (70mi) Fuego XL gravel race plus a longer ~143km (89mi) option, on fast Laguna Seca fire roads. Date approximate (est. mid-April 2027).
The Life Time Grand Prix opener at the Sea Otter Classic in Monterey. A fast, punchy gravel race on the fire roads around Laguna Seca, not a long ultra: the Fuego XL is a 4 to 6 hour race, and the front is genuinely raced.
The Fuego XL runs roughly 112km with repeated punchy climbs rather than big cols. A longer 143km option adds durability. Fast California fire roads reward rolling speed and confident descending.
This one rewards race fitness, not survival pace. Repeatable threshold power on the climbs, held across the day, decides it. Meter the early efforts or you will crack before the line.
Is Sea Otter Classic Gravel (Fuego XL) for you?
- Riders with real high-end punch. The race is decided on repeated short climbs, so it rewards those who can hit threshold power and do it again on tired legs.
- Racers, not tourers. As the Grand Prix opener the front is deep and fast, so it suits riders who want to actually race, not just finish.
- Confident descenders. Fast fire-road descents are free speed for anyone who can carry it and stay in the group.
- Riders stepping up from the road to gravel. Fast fire roads reward a road engine far more than technical singletrack does.
Training plan for Sea Otter Classic Gravel (Fuego XL)
A training plan for Sea Otter Classic Gravel (Fuego XL) isn't a generic base build. Beina reads the event's exact demands, looks at your specific profile and the time you actually have, and maps a highly adapted plan to the start line.
- Repeated punchy climbs, short and sharp, not long sustained cols
- Fast-gravel race pace held over 4 to 6 hours, higher than an ultra
- Race positioning in a deep field, so you are placed for the climbs
- Fast fire-road descents that reward confident handling
- Repeated Climb Threshold: 4 to 5 x 8 to 12min at threshold on gravel climbs
- Over-unders: 3 to 4 x (2min over, 2min under threshold) for the surges
- Race-Sim Long: 4 to 5hr on gravel with repeated race-pace climbs and full fuelling
- Sweet Spot Gravel: 3 x 20min at 88 to 93% FTP for durable climbing power
- Built from your current fitness and the time you actually have
- Adapts every week as Beina learns how you respond
- Syncs your sessions straight to Garmin and Wahoo
- One clear next session, never a wall of spreadsheet
