The Sea Otter Classic is a bicycling and outdoor sports festival and exposition held each spring since 1991 at the

WeatherTech Raceway Laguna Seca Laguna Seca Raceway (branded as WeatherTech Raceway Laguna Seca, and previously Mazda Raceway Laguna Seca for sponsorship reasons) is a paved road racing track in central California used for both auto racing and motorcycle racing, built in 1957 ...

Monterey, California Monterey ( ; ) is a city situated on the southern edge of Monterey Bay, on the Central Coast (California), Central Coast of California. Located in Monterey County, California, Monterey County, the city occupies a land area of and recorded a popu ...

. The four-day event is considered the world's largest cycling festival, drawing nearly 10,000 professional and amateur athletes and 74,000 fans. The Sea Otter Classic is named in honor of the southern

sea otter The sea otter (''Enhydra lutris'') is a marine mammal native to the coasts of the northern and eastern Pacific Ocean, North Pacific Ocean. Adult sea otters typically weigh between , making them the heaviest members of ...

, an indigenous mammal which flourishes along the neighboring Pacific coast. The Sea Otter Classic was founded by Frank Yohannan and Lou Rudolph. The inaugural event was held 06–07 April 1991. The first two events were held under the name Laguna Seca Challenge. The event name was changed to the Sea Otter Classic in 1993. In August 2021, Frank Yohannan, who has owned and operated the Sea Otter Classic for more than 30 years, found a new owner for the event — Life Time, Inc., a multi-billion dollar fitness and event company. Despite the change in ownership Yohannan will remain as director.

Lists of Winners

References

{{reflist Mountain biking events in the United States Festivals in California Sports competitions in Monterey County, California Sports festivals in the United States 1991 establishments in California Recurring sporting events established in 1991