Rouge Roubaix 2014
Awesome as always. The best and worst I have seen these roads. The dirt was like pavement, but the holes dominated the roads. What can you say? It's Rouge Roubaix. The race is always a challenge, maybe The roads? The competition? The location? It's all of the above and then some. If you know the race or have followed it over the years, you know it ranks as one of the top 12 toughest races in America. This year, a 102 miles that starts and finishes in St. Francisville, LA. The race winds through some rough backcountry roads and about 20 miles of gravel road along the way.
Outnumbered, was the story of the day.
New to the race this year, a team competition, so our Incycle/Predator Components team gathered 4 riders and were going to chances. Fast forward, headed to second gravel section at about 65 miles, one rider from Finish Strong at 3 minutes, and about 50 riders in the field. The second dirt section features the Pond Store climb, and where the race changes, really only the strong come out in front. I put in the first push up the climb followed by Heath Backgrove of Boneshaker (BS). A quick assessment of the situation, we had a good gap and I was outnumbered 2 to 1. I would only do a little work in this group really just rolling through to keep from killing the momentum. Through the feed zone and back to pavement we continued, another quick look back a small group was chasing, back far enough I could not see who was there, but close enough they might make contact before the next dirt section. Patience, I look back again, and spot a neon yellow jersey, I have at least one teammate in the group behind. Good and bad, Calixo is there, but 2 more BS riders and a mix of other rider, I would say we swelled to about 15 riders headed to the 3 dirt section.
Game on, no one looked excited, I was, time to even the odds, and blow this thing to pieces. If you didn’t see it coming, you weren’t looking. As soon as the road started to get bad I moved up the right side to the front. By the time I hit the front, my front wheel hit the dirt. This climb is hard, slippery and steep, close to full gas, then Heath and a teammate came by me on the left, not hard enough. Heath says “first time I’ve made it”. I believe that is 1 for 3 up that climb for him. Catch your breath, and go again. No looking back, just make the climb as hard as possible, no drafting, you just have to suck it up. About this time I hear my name, “Michael”. I figure Calixo is close, I back off the gas and tuck in behind two Boneshaker riders. We swell back up to 7 riders now including: 4 BS, 1 Elbowz, 2 Incycle/Predator, outnumbered not good.
The Run In
Twenty miles on Louisiana's best roads: holes, gravel, rollers, just hard riding. Attacks start almost immediately, Calixo and I covering everything. I attack up a short hard roller, it must have hurt, because of the comments about the attack from Heath, Heath and I jaw for a second then decide to work together; one to sustain the gap, and two save some energy. the best thing I can hope for is we all drive it in and wait for the sprint. All one happy bicycling family, until I yell flat. 90 some miles behind me, now I flat. Well it must have been the road, a quick assessment and asking the rider behind me if the tire is flat, my tire is fine. Damage done, I look up to find Calixo up the road with two riders from BS and one BS bridging. The Elbowz rider, Stephon, and myself start working to minimize the damage, it is way too late. The third BS rider joins to the break. Not good odds for us, Stephon and I work to bridge the gap, but it stays about the same distance up the road.
A little saving grace, a BS rider falls off the break, flat tire. The next I am not sure of, I see Calixo’s hand up in the air, Stephon and I pick up the pace and collect Calixo and the other BS rider. The race is pretty much over at this point, Heath is up the road and out of sight, we try to make pace to the leader, without success. Frustration, I have great legs and nothing to show. I make an attempt at the sprint, but am quickly passed by everybody. Great day of racing, things to improve on, just not the result we wanted. The winner of the day, #cannondalebikes, #Ursuswheels, wow the bike and wheels stood the test today. Trainhard4life
