Little Race on the Prairie: Winfield, Russell Win 2018 Almanzo 100 Gravel Race – Results

2018 marked the 12th year of the Almanzo 100 gravel race held on the unpaved roads around Spring Valley in southeastern Minnesota. After a 2017 race that was marred by 35-degree temperatures and rain, this year’s race was drier and dustier, with temperatures reaching the 70s and the sun peeking through the clouds at times.

Conditions were dry and the course covered in dust. 2018 Almanzo 100 Gravel Race. © Eric Wynn

Almanzo is known for its laid-back approach to gravel. Participants register by sending in a postcard to event organizers and as it has been every year, the event is free. There are no podiums at the finish, but many folks stick around to share stories, light up the grill and re-connect with old gravel friends from Minnesota, Iowa, Wisconsin and beyond.

The event—which began with a ride from Rochester to Mankato in 2007—is named after Almanzo Wilder, who was the husband of Laura Ingalls Wilder. Anyone who has read the “Little House” series knows the family moved around quite a bit, and the race is so-named because the family spent time on Wilder’s family farm outside Spring Valley. Fittingly, the Laura Ingalls Wilder Historic Highway passes through the town of Spring Valley.

The Almanzo 100 event features three different race lengths. Saturday’s shortest race, at an actual distance of 101 miles, is the “marquee” race that draws the most participants. There is also the 162-mile Royal race that starts earlier on Saturday morning and the 380-mile Alexander that starts at the crack of dawn on Friday. This year, 550 riders finished the 100, 37 the 162-mile race and 3 for the 380-mile Alexander.

The Almanzo 100 starts in downtown Spring Valley, which is located south of Rochester. 2018 Almanzo 100 Gravel Race. © Eric Wynn

Like all gravel events, the Almanzo lets participants choose their flavor of riding. Want to race? Head to the front behind the ambulance lead-out from downtown Spring Valley out onto the (this year) dusty roads. Taking on the challenge of finishing? Enjoy the scenery and stop at the three checkpoints along the way to help make sure you make it back to Spring Valley in one piece. As a special treat, the recently retired Guitar Ted was at checkpoint three handing out bacon, licorice and drinks to help riders tackle the home stretch.

Part of the appeal of the Almanzo 100 event is that it is by no means an easy ride. Southeast Minnesota has its fair share of hills and river valleys, and in total, the 100-mile event includes 6,000 feet of climbing. The Royal 162 route adds more elevation gain as the route heads further south into northern Iowa.

Climbs were aplenty at Almanzo, with over 6,000 feet of vertical gain for the 100-mile race. 2018 Almanzo 100 Gravel Race. © Eric Wynn

For those racing, an early climb of over 200 feet near mile 10 presents an early challenge to clear to stick with the lead group. As riders who traveled from afar to race at Almanzo experienced, climbing in the Midwest means something a little different than it is in some other parts of the country. Most climbs are on short, steep hills that require brief 1-5 minute efforts followed by a strong recoveries. Riders who tackle the Almanzo 100 challenge would no doubt report that the short bursts add up with the miles.

Like many events, the toughest part of the Almanzo 100 course seemed to come in the second half of the ride. Starting around mile 65 or so, the gravel turned from a light layer on a hard pack base to a slog of freshly laid stone. Riders at the finish talked about how their groups rode the grass on the side of the road trying to find some respite from the energy-sapping stone, ala Paris-Roubaix and the lines riders choose to get off the cobbles.

Many riders worked to find a clean line around the thick, freshly laid gravel. 2018 Almanzo 100 Gravel Race. © Eric Wynn

There is a creek crossing at mile 80 and then the dreaded Oriole Road climb at mile 90. The creek crossing is a memorable part of the race no doubt, but there is no way it shares the dread inspired by the Oriole Road climb. Riders turn right onto the road to face a steep gravel incline that at that time, probably resembles a wall. Hike-a-bike is a common occurrence, even for those near the front of the race.

The creek crossing is a memorable part of the Almanzo race. 2018 Almanzo 100 Gravel Race. © Eric Wynn

Top Almanzo Honors

After last year’s brutal slog in the cold, wet conditions, this year’s race was fast and dusty. Finish times for many were quick and spirits were high in the party zone at the finish. Although there were no official podiums, riders had number plates on and you know what they say what happens when you put a number on…

Top honors in the Men’s Almanzo 100 race went to Luke Russell of Minnesota who finished in 5:14:38. Parker Bloom and Tyler Curtis rounded out the podium that did not actually exist.

The Women’s race was, aptly given the Midwest setting, a barn burner. In what was a new kind of bike race journalism for me, I had the privilege of riding with the lead group of women for the last 60 miles of the race. I guess there is no better way of covering a race than actually watching the race from in the race.

Starting around mile 80 after the post-creek climb, Dee Dee Winfield, Kristen Legan and Jenna Rinehart traded attacks as they tried to get space on each other. Legan won the unofficial “Most Courageous” award for her efforts in the thick, deep gravel, but when the trio hit the famed Oriole Road climb, they were still together.

Winfield opened a small gap on the recovery after the climb up the Oriole wall, but Legan again closed it down. After the last climb at mile 95, Winfield finally got a decisive gap and held it for the win in a time of 5:48:34. Legan finished in second a minute behind and Rinehart followed closely for third.

Long-time reader likely remember Winfield’s name from the latter half of the 2000s, when she was one of the top riders on the U.S. UCI circuit and a member of the 2007 Worlds team.

The top woman in the Royal 162 was Jill Suurmeyer and the top male was Ian Hoogendam. Dylan Morton led the three finishers in the Alexander 380 with a time of just under 30 hours, if my interpretation of the reported results is correct.

Full results for all three races are below. Results are provided as available on the Almanzo website.

2018 Alexander 380 Results

2018 Royal 162 Results

2018 Almanzo 100 Results