Racing isn’t everything—but it’s a part of everything we do.

At Argonaut, racing is more than competition; it’s connection. It’s how we stay sharp, stay inspired, and stay rooted in the soul of cycling. From the brutal cobbles of Hell of the North to the sunbaked trails of Monterey, wherever riders are pushing the limits of what’s possible on two wheels, we’re watching—and more often than not, we’re right there in the mix.

While the legendary Paris-Roubaix was turning heads in Europe, we had our eyes on the American opener of the gravel season: the Sea Otter Classic. It’s a proving ground not just for gear, but for grit. And while we could go on about how the GR3 is the ultimate gravel bike for spring racing—designed to deliver precision in every turn—we’re not here to pitch you today.

We’re here to share what it felt like.

To kick off our race coverage from Sea Otter, we’re bringing you straight into the story. Cassius Anderson and Matthew Wiebe lined up with the Men’s Elite Gravel field last Thursday, both coming in hot off a winter of hard efforts, quiet miles, and the relentless pursuit of progress.

The following interview with Cassius offers a raw, post-race reflection. His answers are honest, insightful, and filled with the kind of perspective that reminds us why racing matters—win or lose. Because for riders like Cassius, it’s not just about crossing the line. It’s about showing up with heart.

Q: What got you fired up before the race? Tell us how you geared up mentally and physically to take on the challenge.

Cassius:
After a solid start to my season in Adelaide and a local Grasshopper, I was pretty disappointed not to have a big race in March after Mid South got canceled. The only race I did that month was a local crit. So yeah, I was itching to get back between the tape. I had plenty of time to train, so I came in both mentally and physically prepared—or so I thought. As it turned out, I ended up suffering more than expected in both areas, which I’ll get into in a bit.

Q: Describe the first few seconds after the race started. What did you see, hear, and feel in that chaotic rush?

Cassius:
The starts in these races are always brutal, and I usually struggle with that full-gas effort right from the gun. I made sure to get to the line early and landed about three rows back, which felt like a solid position. This course kicks off with what’s basically a two-minute all-out power test to make the front group before a decisive pinch point at the top of the track. I tried holding my spot, but I slipped back quite a bit before we hit the top. By the time we got to the dirt, I was sitting somewhere around P40. Honestly, all I really remember is the suffering—and thinking, we still have a long way to go.

Q: How did the conditions push you? Whether it was heat, wind, mud, or technical terrain—what tested you the most?

Cassius:
Definitely the heat. My Garmin showed a max temp of 88 out on course, which doesn’t sound too crazy, but I really struggled to regulate my body temperature. I started dealing with dehydration pretty early, and that kind of dug my grave for the rest of the race. Looking back, I probably should’ve brought a hydration pack—or picked one up on the second lap. That would’ve helped a lot. I haven’t really had heat issues in the past, so I think some focused heat training could make a big difference, especially with more hot races coming up.

Q: Did this race challenge you beyond the physical? Maybe a mental battle, a lesson learned, or a moment of sheer joy?

Cassius:
Honestly, I never really felt fully locked in mentally. Part of that probably came from not racing since the end of February. But more than anything, I just didn’t have it on the day. Being that far back—like 40 wheels deep—after the first big descent, even after going deep to hold position, really cracked me. In hindsight, the groups were actually massive, and I ended up in what was probably the second or third group on the road once things settled. That should’ve been motivating. But combine that with overheating, major dehydration, and just not finding my legs… it was a grind, mentally and physically. The lesson? Don’t give up—and bring a hydration pack next time.

Q: What was your very first reaction—relief, triumph, exhaustion, or something else? Describe that raw feeling.

Cassius:
Relief. No question. After that level of suffering, I was just relieved for it to be over. Another Sea Otter in the books. I thought I’d feel more disappointed—and sure, I was—but as a bike racer, you learn pretty quickly that dwelling on negative thoughts doesn’t do you any good. You’ve gotta keep a short memory. Even though the result wasn’t what I wanted, there were definitely some key takeaways and small lessons I picked up along the way.

Q: How has this race influenced your goals or mindset moving forward? What’s next on your horizon?

Cassius:
Getting back to racing was huge for me after what happened with Mid South. I needed to feel that energy again—to be in a big race environment. Even though I took a beatdown, I’m super excited for the next two weekends. I know what needs to change to put together a better performance. Next up is Levis Gran Fondo. I ride some of those roads pretty often, it’s a road race (which I prefer over gravel), and the start list looks pretty similar. Plus, I’ve shaken off a lot of the nervous energy from last weekend. I’m fired up for this one.

Up next, we’re proud to share another exclusive perspective—this time from Matthew Wiebe. In part two of our series, “From Matthew’s Eyes,” he offers a behind-the-scenes look at the detailed race reports he writes for the San Francisco Cycling Club—a cornerstone of Bay Area cycling culture and community.

Read From Matthew’s Eyes now >
Catch up on his previous perspectives here >