Peloton Star: 2012 Barry Roubaix, Ripon Spring Classic, Iowa Spring Classic

Photo: Derek Graham

MICHIGAN: Middleville - Barry Roubaix - RESULTS - The first of the Midwest 'spring classics' is in the books with Mike Anderson (North Country Cyclesport / Trek) taking a huge victory over Brian Matter in the last 300 meters of the 62 mile gravel road race. Crucial in the victory was a *RUN* in the sand - cyclocross style. Bary Roubaix is the second stop in the east coast 6 race "ultracross" series, the next being the Hilly Billy Roubaix in Morgantown, WV.

Place	No.	Name	Team	Age	Time	Rate
1	5	Mike Anderson	North Country Cycle Sport	23	2:51:05	21.7
2	154	Brian Matter	Gear Grinder/bontrager	34	2:51:08	21.7
3	270	Nathaniel Williams	Bissell Abg Nuvo	30	2:51:57	21.6
4	3	Shawn Adams	Carbon Racing	37	2:52:39	21.5
5	26	Steve Broglio	Lathrup Industries/giant Bicycles	37	2:52:39	21.5
6	118	Dan Korienek	Leadout Racing/kentwood Cycling And	39	2:57:30	21.0
7	151	Ernesto Marenchin*	Carbon Racing	40	2:57:31	21.0
8	272	Adam York	Cleveland Clinic Sports Health	26	2:57:32	21.0
9	221	Michael Simonson	Rbs Mtb Team	32	2:57:37	20.9
10	139	Matthew Light	Alderfer Bergen Racing For Riley	24	2:58:24	20.9

From Kolo t.c.:

The Elite 62 mile racers took the gun first. A neutral start was not, according to a few, all that neutral, and the power men took off quick on Gun Lake Road. After some distance, Mike Anderson (North Country Cycle Sport) broke about ten meters in front of the leading pack, dangling there to be joined shortly by Brian Matter (GearGrinder/Bontrager). The two took advantage of the rough, muddy roads to forge out a fragile lead. As Mike Anderson noted in a post-race interview, the pair worked together to keep clear of a large chasing pack. While Anderson and Matter practiced their two-man time trial off the front, a group of about 10 or 15 could not organize. As Einstein Racing’s Jorden Wakeley put it later via Facebook, “No one wanted to play nice and try bridging back to the leaders.”
In the finale, Mike Anderson took off as he and Matter made the turn into the mile-long drag to the line. He shook Matter about 300 meters from the and coasted in to a huge victory. Matter cruised in three seconds back. Third place was seized by Nate Williams (BISSELL AVG Nuvo), with Shawn Adams (Carbon Racing) and Steve Brolio (Lathrup Industries/Giant Bicycles) rounding out the podium places. (A special nod to last week’s There Will Be Blood champion Dan Korienek (Leadout Racing) who slipped in sixth).

Watch more video of Barry Roubaix: The Killer Gravel Road Race on thom.cyclingdirt.org

Watch more video of Barry Roubaix: The Killer Gravel Road Race on thom.cyclingdirt.org

WISCONSIN:Ripon - Ripon Spring Classic - While not a race at this point, perhaps this 110 mile ride of gravel and hills could grow and become one of the official Midwest spring classics. If this nice March weather continues to be the norm, the Ripon Spring Classic would fit nicely into the calendar with the pair of April races in Illinois - the Hillsboro Roubaix and the Leland Kermesse
which have become integral in the Illinois cycling scene. Promotor Ric Damn of Ripon College has plenty of experience putting on the Wisconsin State Criterium Championship and stages of ICC Superweek, so the potential is there.

Photos: Team Big Ring Flyers

Next up on the racing calendar is the final day of the Kenosha Velosport Training Series later today as well as the Kent Park Classic in Iowa, followed by the Gaper Block Crits in Chicago and the ever popular Burnam Racing's Spring Super Criterium in South Beloit, IL not to mention the Waterford Hills training series in Michigan and the MSU "Get Tough" RR and TT also featuring sections of nasty gravel roads!

IOWA: Colfax - Iowa Spring Classic - RESULTS - Not much news out of this one, but the course looks killer!