Riders Take On 2016 Barry Roubaix in Perfect Conditions – Race Report, Men’s Open Results and Interview with Winner

by Aaron Cruikshank

Over 3,000 racers were greeted with near perfect temperatures, clear blue skies, and dry gravel roads in Hastings, Michigan, recently for the annual running of Barry Roubaix. A slight date shift put the race later in the season, making it the third Midewest gravel grinder of the year, and the first to be raced without snow. With race options ranging from 22-miles to 62-miles and categories such as Tandem, fixed gear, and fat bike, Barry Roubaix has something to offer just about anyone willing to throw a leg over their top tube for an early season test.

Things got underway at 10:00am with 200+ riders taking the line for the Men’s 62-mile open race. A semi-neutral roll out of through downtown saw the field onto the first of many of the day’s dirt sections. Fighting for position during the neutral roll out, with a couple hundred riders breathing down their necks, Matt Acker took up the mantle and lead the field into the dirt and onto the first of the “Three Sisters” climbs. These back-to-back-to-back climbs were used in last year’s icy edition to launch a solo winner, and the field, motivated by ghosts of races past, and the stellar condition of the gravel road kept things close knit. Riders swapped turns on the front, with a few well-represented teams from Canada driving things. Still, the field seemed nervous. The freshly graded roads were much looser than in years past, and riders were often seen drifting from one side of the road to the other as they entered deeper gravel sections.

Things at the front remained calm until mile 15 when riders again began jostling for position. As the field passed through the Yankee Springs State Park’s outskirts, it was clear that it would be a race to the left turn onto Sager Road.

Poor weather conditions the last two years had forced organizers to omit this section, but it was back in the mix this year. Walking the line between a double track and a single track trail, Sager has a short climb, deep ruts and sand sections that often see the field break into small groups and this year was no different. Rudy Perterson led the main pack onto the segment and carnage ensued. Riders were shuffled off to the side with dropped chains or sucked in by deep sand. The leading group was quickly whittled down to about 10 riders. The remaining riders were left to fend for themselves by assembling into groups of three and four. Slowly a few groups were able to reel the leaders in and the lead group swelled to 15.

The 2016 Barry Roubaix Men’s Open podium. © Adam Cruikshank / Cyclocross Magazine

Nerves were again tested as the leaders took a right turn and had to share the course with the 22-mile race. Riders picked their way through their fellow competitors, but the additional riders, especially on the climbs, made it hard for the leading pack to keep thing cohesive. Luckily, this proved to be a short section, and again the Men’s open field was on its own.

Riders took this small lull in the action to assess the situation, find teammates and eat some much need food. The respite was cut short, however, when two racers from the Panaracer team attacked and opened a small gap. Three riders from the group including Aaron Beebe of Bissell and Adam York of Team Giant gave chase. As the lead group descended onto the next dirt section, gaps ranged from three to five seconds. A wreck in the group took out four riders including teammates of both Beebe and York, while also creating enough confusion to limit the chase for the time being.

The rest of the race was described by Aaron Beebe as “a Saturday afternoon group ride.” Attacks came in one’s and two’s with Rudy Perterson, Beebe and at times teammates from the Panaracer team going off the front. Regardless of the combination nothing seemed to work.

Everyone seemed content to let this one come down to a sprint finish as things remained calm on the final dirt section and road climb of the day. Navigating between riders in the fat bike, single speed and 36-mile edition, the lead group entered the downtown criterium-like finish. While some riders admitted to being unsure of the finishing turns, Rob Bell of Panaracer took the bull by the horns and was the first to attack. Peterson followed and was able to utilize his road gearing to come around Bell on the downhill sprint. Jonathan Card wrapped up the top 3 with Beebe and York rounding out the top 5.

In the women’s 62-mile race it was a war of attrition. Rachel Langdon took the win by nearly seven minutes, while Christine Thornburg and Mary Penta each were separated by around three minutes to come home in second and third place respectively.

As always thank you to the race promoters, volunteers, Founders Brewing, and of course the wonderful town of Hastings for again playing host to this great event.

2016 Barry Roubaix Men's Open Full Results