Two Breakaways at the 2015 Barry-Roubaix Gravel Race: Full Results and Interview with Winner MacKenzie Woodring

Mackenzie Woodring Makes It Four for Seven at Barry-Roubaix

Mackenzie Woodring, Crystal Anthony and Kelli Richter made up the top three of the extended podium at Barry-Roubaix. © Andrew Reimann/Cyclocross Magazine

62 miles of gravel, sand, deep ruts, potholes and rare sections of pavement made up the course at Barry-Roubaix, which included over 4,000 feet of climbing. The second field to head off after the Open Men was a combined field of Open Women and Masters Men, which included Mackenzie Woodring (Foundry Cycles), 2015 Worlds Team Member, Crystal Anthony (Riverside Racing) and Chicago Series Cyclocross favorite Kelli Richter (PSIMET Racing).

The pace was set at a blistering speed right from the start, with the Masters Men at the front pulling strong as Woodring matched the pace. Riders like Anthony, who started further back in the wave, were forced to react to the quick attack at the beginning in an attempt to wind through the large combined field.

“It’s was a different race to compete in,” Anthony said after she crossed the finish line. “I might have done better if they had call-ups!” She enjoyed the event and the course, and although she was a little disappointed at being the runner-up, she had a fantastic ride fighting away from the rest of the Women’s Open Field and coming in for second five minutes behind Woodring.

“It’s a road race,” Woodring defined Barry-Roubaix in the full video interview shown below. She has the course dialed, and reports that this is the big event that she targets every year. In 2014, she narrowly lost in a final sprint to Stephanie Swan (rarediseasecycling.org). This year, however, she was able to impressively stay with the lead of the combined pack, which was able to separate her from the rest of the Women’s Open field until the finish.

Lombardo Fends off Pack for 59 Miles for Win

David Lombardo made an early break to take the win ahead of Nathaniel Beams and Rudyard Peterson at Barry-Roubaix. © Andrew Reimann/Cyclocross Magazine

Illinois State Cyclocross Champion and eighth place finisher at U23 Nationals in Austin, TX, David Lombardo (Herriott Sports Performance/Hagens Berma) was not going to treat Barry-Roubaix like a gravel road race. Three miles into the 62 mile race, Lombardo attacked off the front of the 162-rider pack.

The young rider spent the next 59 miles suffering alone out in front of a strong peloton that included riders like Cody Kaiser (LangeTwins / Specialized), ninth place finisher at 2014 Cyclocross Nationals Tristan Schouten (Rolf Prima/Atitude Sports), and past Barry-Roubaix winner Michael Simonson. Although Lombardo built a substantial lead halfway through the race, 27 chasers remained tight-knit behind. Had the peloton an extra mile to work with, they may have dashed Lombardo’s hopes, but as the race stood, he was able to take the win with 14 seconds to spare.

The group of 27 riders behind all contested for second place in a massive group sprint, with Nathaniel Beams (American Classic Elite Gravel Team) leading the group across the line followed by Rudyard Peterson (Northstar).

We caught up with Cody Kaiser, who was only one of two riders in the Open Field who made the trip out from the West Coast. When asked about the race, he replied, “I don’t get in too many gravel races. It was a fun event even though I didn’t know the course at all. We were winding through the town near the finish and I saw the finish line almost pop up out of nowhere. Still, what could you do… A great course overall.” Kaiser went on to finish tenth in the final sprint, getting to be the last rider still in the money.

With Lombardo taking the win at the 2015 edition, the trend for the Men’s Open race remains the same: No winner of the largest gravel race has ever taken a repeat title.

Interview with Mackenzie Woodring

2015 Barry Roubaix Open Women's Results

2015 Barry Roubaix Open Men's Results