All info from Breakaway Promotions.

Saturday March 29-30th – The Dalles, Oregon

Roubaix Style Racing

With the coming spring brings warmer temperatures and the start of the cycling season. In Europe it also marks
the start of the Spring Classics, that challenge not only a rider’s fitness, but their technical skills, with road surfaces varying in a wide spectrum of quality and composition. In 2013 a race in Oregon was born from this concept. In an area known for hundreds of miles of amazing gravel roads the concept of including some of these into the mix of a standard road race was created and implemented showcasing the awesome riding opportunities in Wasco County. We hope you enjoy what locals have known for years. Gravel riding is both challenging and fun. Just make sure you choose your tires and equipment carefully because as you can imagine it is not the strongest rider who will win the Gorge Roubaix it is the savviest.

Saturday March 29th

Day 1 of the two day Gorge Roubaix brings back last year’s epic course east of The Dalles. This exciting course received rave reviews from all those riders who did not double flat. The course rolls along through the high desert and rolling wheat country of Eastern Oregon. Roads are narrow and challenging with moderate elevation gains and descents. This year’s race will start at Calvary Baptist Church and head east to the community of Petersburg before heading out 15 Mile Road. Pavement is in good shape until you hit mile 19 where riders will turn onto Emerson Roberts Market Road and the fun begins.

The next 3.9 miles of roller coaster gravel roads are fast and hard pack making for exciting riding. Sweeping
corners will test your handling skills and force you to make good decisions on the line you ride through them. At
mile 23 you rejoin the pavement and depending on what category you are racing you will rally home or circle
back for another helping of gravel/dirt. The course has been modified this year to remove the descent down 8-
Mile Canyon which has allowed us the ability to add a second lap around the gravel/dirt sector for the Pro 1-2 Women as well as ease back on the elevation and mileage for those early season Masters 1-3 and CAT 3 Men.

View the course map and elevation profile at http://ridewithgps.com/routes/3796782

Directions: Take I-84 to The Dalles. Take exit 87 and head south on HWY 197 for a half mile before turn left onto Columbia View Heights (first left you can take after leaving I-84). Follow Columbia View Heights up the hill and the Church will be located at the crest of the hill. Follow signs for parking and staging.
Travel Time: From Portland travel time is around 1 hour and 20 minutes from Portland and 2 hours and 20 minutes from Bend.
Lodging: Riders planning to stay for both days of racing can get an exceptional deal at our official lodging partner Cousins Country Inn located in The Dalles. $85 per night plus anyone lodging there will receive two free pint glasses and commemorative poster. They also have the most amazing breakfast served at the Cousins Restaurant next to the hotel.

Sunday March 30th
Day 2 Last year was such a huge success we decided to add a second helping of dirt!!! This brand new course west of The Dalles changes things up with a stroll along the Scenic Gorge Highway out to the picturesque town of Mosier.
The race will stage at the old Wahtonka High School and roll west on HWY 30 for 14 miles before turning south and heading up Dry Creek road at mile 16. Dry Creek Road is a local’s favorite dirt climb with a moderate gradient and the always impeccable packed gravel/dirt surface makes it is a blast to ride. Climb is 3 miles in length and ascends 650 feet before turning onto State Road and screaming back down to HWY 30. Depending on your category you will either head east on HWY 30 for the finish or turn west for another lap on this great section of road.

View the course and elevation profiles at http://ridewithgps.com/routes/3796904

Directions: Take I-84 to The Dalles. Take exit 82, turn south to connect with HWY 30. From there head east on HWY 30 for ¼ mile then turn right onto Chenowith Loop Road proceeding ½ mile to 10th street. School is on your left. Look for signs for parking and staging.
Travel Time: From Portland travel time is around 1 hour and 20 minutes from Portland and 2 hours and 20 minutes from Bend.
Registration: OBRA membership is required for this event. You can purchase an annual OBRA license or a temporary one day license for $5. Riders can pre-register online at http://www.gorgeroubaix.com or via snail mail by downloading the registration form to save both time and money. Registration is $30 for preregistration and $35 for day of. $5 discount per race if you preregister for both. Juniors receive a $10 discount and no beer.
Questions: Contact Chad Sperry at chad@breakawaypromotions.com
Disclaimer: This course is as dangerous as you want to make it. If you ride within your skill limits and ability it will be a tremendously fun event. Push the envelope to far and take stupid risks and you will be picking gravel out of our hide and possibly mending broken bones. This is a reminder that there is no medical insurance provided by the race organizer or OBRA for this event you are responsible for all risks and injury.

Clock Tower Awards Party

The after party will once again be hosted by Clock Tower Ales in downtown The Dalles on Sunday March 30th starting at 3:30 PM. Awards will be given out for each race as well as the prestigious Gorge Roubaix Jersey and overall prizes for those who win the combined scoring for both races. Be sure and get there early as last year it was tough to find a seat it was so packed! Music, beer and great food will be on tap. Plus the first 200 riders to register will receive commemorative pint glass!
Omnium Scoring will be used for the overall Gorge Roubaix Jerseys and prizes. Scoring will be equal for both races and calculated as follows for each category.

1st Place – 25 Points
2nd Place – 20 Points
3rd Place – 18 Points
4th Place – 16 Points
5th Place – 14 Points
6th Place – 12 Points
7th Place – 11 Points
8th Place – 10 Points
9th Place – 9 Points
10th Place – 8 Points
11th Place – 7 Points
12th Place – 6 Points
13th Place – 5 Points
14th Place – 4 Points
15th Place – 3 Points

Categories: Other Racing

Tags: Oregon, road