24 MONTEREY COUNTY WEEKLY APRIL 16-22, 2026 www.montereycountynow.com Everything about the Brompton World Championship California bike race is different, even how it starts. Imagine walking up to the start line without a bicycle and then, once the countdown ends, sprinting to the bicycle, unfolding it, hopping on and then pedaling away. Since the race covers multiple laps on the WeatherTech Raceway Laguna Seca track, riders get to traverse the famous Corkscrew. This is all while they are wearing a suit jacket and a tie, or any other wacky outfit one wouldn’t normally associate with riding a bike. Think business attire more than spandex. I’ve competed in this race twice before (in 2017 and 2018) when it was held at the Life Time Sea Otter Classic, and in my case, I’ve worn a vintage plaid skirt suit. During one year, my friend, who was watching from the trees next to the Corkscrew, yelled to me, “Tuck it, Karen, tuck it,” as I zoomed down the steep, winding hill feeling solid on the 16-inch wheels. The top of that famous hill, overlooking the Corkscrew, is a great spot for viewers. It is also a good place for hand-outs, such as cups of beer which my fellow Italian racer sportily handed to me after he took a chug. The Brompton World Championship takes a different path, from the Le Mans start and athlete attire to the audience vibe—big, raucous—and the bikes themselves. In 1985, the Brompton bicycle was invented in a small flat in London overlooking the Catholic church London Oratory, otherwise known as the Brompton Oratory, hence the name. Since then, roughly 1.26 million bicycles have been manufactured at the factory. Built as a healthy, more convenient vehicle, Brompton bicycles are foldable, allowing them to easily fit in many airplane overhead compartments, in cars and on trains. Brompton races originated to prove that the bikes can be fast and efficient even with small wheels, according to Will Butler-Adams, CEO of Brompton. For the first time since 2018, the Brompton World Championship is back at the Sea Otter Classic. This year, costumed racers will gather at the track on Saturday, April 18 at 3:40pm and have an opportunity for a parade lap after opening remarks. This is the time for spectators to grab a cold beverage and find a spot along the start line for the Le Mans start, where all competitors run to their bikes. The racers will activate their leg muscles for a fast three laps on the track. Not only is the racing fast-paced, but the showmanship extends beyond the outfits. One year, for instance, the men’s winner was so far ahead he folded and unfolded his bike on each lap—not required to win, but a fun way to show off what is unique about these bicycles. Why the fun outfits for bicycle racing? Brompton wants to show that it is an inclusive ride, not just for super-fit cyclists. The company’s ideology is that riding bicycles creates urban freedom, which leads to living happier lives. There are a slew of new or revised events at this year’s Sea Otter Classic to check out either as spectator or as a racer. Sea Otter Classic is bringing back e-mountain bike racing on a viewer-friendly course. Never mind the power assistance, racers must still work hard on the uphills and navigate a much heavier bike down the tricky descents. A previous year’s course included a downhill, rocky, waterfall-type section, where riders launched off the rocks. Also returning to Sea Otter Classic is the popular Enduro racing with new downhill courses in Toro County Park. Enduro consists of multiple stages of mountain bike racing where only the downhill sections are scored. Toro Park has technical trails with steep descents, so the racing should prove challenging for the competitors and exciting to watch for spectators. The competition at Sea Otter Classic is not limited to the dirt. Returning to the event is the criterium race. Typically held on a short, tight course through city streets, at Laguna Seca, competitors will race on a 1.2mile loop section of the track. The racing spans over a few hours on Saturday, April 18 with the elite riders racing for an hour. Expect very tight turns where riders jostle for position as they sprint around the course. No matter how you navigate the racing scene at Sea Otter Classic, you’ll be sure to find much entertainment— and probably a bicyclist on a Brompton drinking a beer. EXPANDED HORIZONS Brompton returns to Sea Otter Classic with its lively bike racing scene while Enduro gets a new course, among other events. By Karen Loutzenheiser Life Time SEA OTTER CLASSIC Above: Cory Williams wins the 2022 Life Time Sea Otter Classic Criterium race. RIght: E-mountain bike racers head down a rocky section of the course in 2024. Right: Colorful attire is part of the fun at the Brompton race at Sea Otter Classic in 2018. Below left: Racers run to their bikes in the Le Mans start of the Brompton race. Below right: Riders start the famed Corkscrew descent at WeatherTech Raceway Laguna Seca. COURTESY OF BROMPTON COURTESY OF BROMPTON COURTESY OF BROMPTON KAREN LOUTZENHEISER COURTESY OF SEA OTTER CLASSIC
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