Rouge Roubaix

First some context. The Rouge Roubaix was an epic spring gravel race. It is to the gulf south what the Tour of the Battenkill was to the Northeast in its hay day. Finishing it is a big accomplishment for riders. This is my 3rd attempt at the race.

Cat 4 Race Report

9:00 am.
Ride starts. Easy roll for 35 miles.

Mile 36.
Someone on the front is charging hard down the rollers on Pinckneyville Road. Everyone is too frisky. I ease up. The road is pitted with small deep potholes. We are at about 28mph. A rider in the middle of the Peloton tries to bunny hop a pothole. He comes down a little awkward. He flips over sideways and slams down hard on his back. A water bottle he had stashed in his jersey pocket explodes. No carbon crunch or screams. Hope he is ok.

Mile 43.
It’s like a social group ride at this point. People complement each other’s bikes and kits and ask questions about tire selection. No one wants to do any work.

Mile 52.
We pass a race official peeing on the side of the road. We all cat call at him and share a laugh.

Mile 62.
I wish the riders around me good luck. Some ask why. Some laugh.

Mile 63.
The race starts. I shift down to the small ring as soon as we hit the gravel. Shifted too early. Heart rate jumps from 140 to 185. I see dirt. Soft. Loose. Packed. A deep crevasse on the left cuts the dirt road in two. I try to shift down more but I’m out. I think about walking. I test coming out of the saddle. Back wheel still gets traction. I’ll be good. It’s a longer hill than I remember. The group is blown up. I get to the top. I am out of water. I shout for my musette from a teammate at the feedzone. I’m desperate and not sure how far back I am. I miss my hand up. I grab a water from someone else. I see some riders up ahead. I encourage a few guys around me to gap up to them. We quickly connect. The 10 of us start charging hard. Someone got away.

Mile 65-80.
At mile 68 he is 40 seconds ahead of us. We are working together well. No one is willing to go too hard but we are going solid. We are averaging around 25mph. Shouldn’t be much longer. At mile 80 we are informed he has 2mins and 40secs on us. Who the hell is this guy. Everyone eases up in disbelief. He won. Good for him.

Mile 85.
This road is not pleasant to ride on. It is a patchwork of asphalt and potholes. It has a way of slowly crushing you from the inside out. Someone says there are now two riders up the road. This is news to me. I must have missed the second rider while looking down at the road. I don’t care. We are now racing for third.

Mile 87.
Moeller is on the front and gently pushing the pace. I think about going. I know he’ll latch on. I chicken out.

Mile 96.
Everyone in the chase is content to sit in and wait for the sprint.

Finish.
Sprint starts before the left hand turn. Moeller and the 4D Kid take off. I go with them. Nope - legs finally cramped up. Moeller takes 3rd in the sprint. 2nd place to Blake Williams. 1st place to Lucas Muniz who soloed home from 36 miles out. Impressive stuff.