2008 Hillsboro-Roubaix Race Report

Some photos at the Start/Finish

I left Naperville around 9am Friday morning for Hillsboro. Hillsboro is about 226 miles south of Naperville,and about 60 miles east of St. Louis. When I arrived I had lunch, and then proceeded to locate the
race start. It’s a small town, but not that small, so I had to ask someone for directions. I should have used Google to find the race start.

I found the start, and drove the course. I started to use the cue sheet I got from the race director, and soon realized the course was already marked, and very well I might add with arrows, and mile markers. About mile three Iwas getting rather nervous, as the back roads of the course are very hilly,steep, with tight turns, and full of gravel, bumps, etc. Plus, theroads are narrow. And this is freaking me out, because how is a group of 50 riders, going to navigate these roads, at race speeds. Riding it at normal speeds, no big deal. Though, the gravel is still something to be careful of

The are 17 turns on the course, and full of gravel, even though they sweep the turns, the gravel is still there. Around mile 13 or so, two dogs started to chase my car, I almost hit one of stupid (Lab) dogs, as it tried to bit my front wheel. Soon after, I’m out on the flatter part of the course, though the gravel is worse, and I’m getting more worried about the actual race, because of how dangerous this course appears to be. Again it would be a great ride, but at race speeds, pretty scary. At mile 20, or around there, you hit the last two big climbs, at the top of the last climb you turn left, and then fly down a paved road, only to hit the the brick pavement at 25+ mph. There’s about a mile of the brick, then you hit the last turn, which is paved, and you can see the finish. No yellow line on the finish.

After checking in, I drove the course one more time, and this time the dogs didn’t give chase.

Came back, watched some TV, had dinner in the hotel, and was in bed by 10pm. No booze, I mean beer, or anything else.


The course stats:

Course: 22 miles
Elevation Gain: 894 ft.
Average Grade: 2%
Max. Grade: 9%
Race Start Temp: About 48-51°, sunny, most of the time
Wind: 20 mph headwind for 80% of the course.
(It’s like that every year, I’m told.)

Here’s the course and course profile:
http://www.mapmyride.com/ride/united-states/il/hillsboro/1031905867





Saturday, race day:

I stayed at the Red Rooster Hotel, it’s a 100 year old hotel, and it looks it. Though, it’s right in the heart of the town, and about two miles from the race start. It’s also cheap at $45/night, and it’s a smoke free hotel. It could be really nice, but it has a good location, and the people are very nice. So, not too bad.

Saturday morning I went down for breakfast around 7am, met some racers from IN, and talked with them for awhile. They were Cat. 3/4. Soon, some more racers walked in, it was Jason, and two of ABD buds. Jason also stayed at the hotel. I think other racers stayed in the hotel, but the breakfast dinning room was empty, otherwise.

I checked out, and headed over to the race start to register. Registration opened at 8:30am. There weren’t many cars in the church parking lot, but it soon filled up. The race start takes place at this church, and the church has bathrooms, a registration area, etc. So, it was pretty nice. After I signed my life away, I went back to me car, to stay warm. Around 9am, I started getting the bike ready, and went back into the car to get warm. By now the lot is pretty much full, and there’s a bunch of racer chicks behind me, with one of those tents, without sides. The kind you see at outdoor events. Anyway, it was quite the party. They had music going, and dancing, and it’s not even 10am.

I saw some XXX racers, and asked if they knew Erik Didriksen. They said yes, but didn’t know where he was. I also met Luke from XXX, he’s the guy that runs the Chicago Bike Racing site. I finally found Erik, and he was racing the Cat. 5 race, as well. He said you’re welcome to join us, which was nice of him.

Well due to the weather reports the week before the race, the fields were not as big, as scheduled. Meaning, as an example. The Cat. 5 group was supposed to be 50, but at the start, we only had 37.

At 11am, the Cat. 1/2 took off. They had to ride 88 miles, or four 22 mile loops. Next, the Masters left, I think they rode 66 miles. Then, the Cat. 3/4 group left about 10 minutes later. Jason was in that group, and they had to ride 66 miles. No feed zone, I believe for them, only the Cat. 1/2 had a feed zone. Next, if I can remember correctly, the Cat. 1/2/3 women took off, not sure how many miles they had to do. Then the Cat. 4/5 group, and I believe they rode 44 miles. Then the Cat. 5, followed by the Juniors class, and Cat. 5 women. The last three groups only had to race one loop of 22 miles.

It sounds like a lot of riders out on the course, and there were a lot, but we all left at different times, so you didn’t have any issues on the course – between the different races – unless you got dropped.

At around 11:28 the Cat. 5 group took off, my group. As soon as we started to roll, I felt like I had no energy. I should have ridden my trainer before hand, and I brought it with. I did ride some of the course earlier, but not enough to get the juices flowing. At mile two or so, after flying down the first hill, and with a tailwind we hit the first climb. And that’s where I blew the race. Actually, I blew it at the start. What I should have done at the start line, was to be right next to Erik, and the other XXX racers. Because when we hit the climb, I got stuck behind some slow asses, and I had no where to go. Sure I could have passed them on the left, and crossed the yellow line, but I would have been DQ’d. Once you hit the top, you make a right hand turn, and you hit the very narrow roads, with the gravel and sharp turns, and the technical descents. Now, I’m with about four guys, trying to work together to get back to the main group, or what’s left of it. At times I’m pulling at 28, and saying to myself, what I’m doing racing this early in the season. About mile seven that was it. There were some others around me, and but I was toast. Soon, I was all alone, and only the headwind to contend with, a 20 mph headwind for the remainder of the ride, I mean race.

So, what to do. I’m pretty sure there are still Cat. 5 racers behind me. I can still see some in the distance. So, I push on. At about mile 15, I guess, I pass a racer, who I thought was a person in my group, only to find, the person was a woman, who gave up or called it a day. Note: Another rule, is you are not allowed to draft anyone who’s not in your race, also a DQ. That goes for cars too. Speaking of cars, each race group has a front and rear pace car. If you fall back like I did, the rear pace car passes you, and speeds up to stay behind the main pack.

At about mile 17/18, I see another pace car coming up behind me, I’m hoping it’s not the 1/2 racers. It wasn’t. The Juniors were catching my ass, and not a good feeling. These kids look like there about five years old, and I could easily be their Dad. As Jason says, those kids are fast. Now, I see the 20 mile maker, and I have two more hills to climb. On the last hill I pass another woman racer who wasn’t having a good day, like me. I make the turn at the top, hammer down the last hill, hit the brick at about 26 mph, make another left hand turn, onto more brick. Then I pass another woman, and make the last turn of the day, onto smooth pavement for the finish. I see the finish line, and another racer in front of me. I couldn’t believe it was a guy from my group. Now, I’m feeling stronger, because I’m warmed up, duh! This other racer wasn’t going fast at all, but he was pretty far in front of me, nonetheless, I was able to catch him, and cross the line before him.

It wasn’t a great performance, but I met my goals. Which were, not to crash, and not to finish dead last.I came in 27th out of 37 racers. The main pack finished 1:10, what was left of it, I finished 1:14.

The overall race had a lot of people who were unable to finish. Even the Cat. 1/2 racers who won, said it’s too early for this kind of race. They were totally wiped. Actually, I heard a lot of racers say, that it was a really hard course. I didn’t see anyone go down, but I heard there was a bad crash in the Cat. 4/5 group.


Some things to point out:

First, anyone who’s interested in racing should just do it. Yes, there’s danger, but after doing the Tour de Tucson and now Hillsboro, racers take care of each other. Meaning, smart racers will warn others of their actions, and road conditions. This may not be the case, if you’re in front, and have chance to win.

Next, anyone can race. You don’t have to be associated with a team. And you can wear anything you want. I saw plenty of solo riders. Though, be prepared to pull, if you aren’t in the main pack.

As far as gear goes, I saw racer with mirrors, on their glasses, and all kinds of bikes. High-end from Ti to carbon and lower end.

And most importantly, I didn’t meet any ass holes. The racers I met, saw, associated with at Hillsboro, were extremely nice people.

Finally, Rich Pierce, who is the race director of Hillsboro-Roubaix does a great job. The course is extremely well marked. They have 60 people on the course directing traffic and keeping the racers safe, along with the police and ER vehicles. So, you feel very safe, in that respect.

All in all, it was a great learning experience. And it’s a good way to judge your performance. Looking forward to my next road race.