While I've long talked about riding dirt roads and getting out into the back roads of east rural nowhere (all in an attempt to find your inner child and just plain enjoy riding your bike) there's something special about racing on dirt. There's a modicum of uncertainty as the tires slip, the increased resistance ratchets up the pain meter and your face cakes with dust (or mud, depending) and sweat. It's a thrill like nothing else, unless you're heading over for the Tour of Flanders or Paris Roubaix. Since most of us aren't pros, and we don't generally have the time to fly to Europe just for a sportive….
Enter Tour of the Battenkill. The toughest one day race in America. America's Queen of the Classics. America's answer to the Hell of the North.
It's 63 miles of pain, 5,000 feet of grinding elevation, and about 25% dirt, gravel or broken up, nasty roads. Combine that with an early April race day, and you could have anything from a beautiful sunny day to a greasy, nasty, gritty fight for survival.
Oh what a race it is!
It's no secret that this week was the release of the 2013 route, which you can see below:
This is a very similar route to the one that I raced in 2011 (and had an utterly AWFUL day at, mind you; You can see that race report HERE and HERE.) Perry Hill road and Juniper Swamp road are still there. Joe Bean road returns this year. Mountain road is back, Carney/Cassidy road (and the deep dirt there upon) is back. And of course, everything finishes with that horrible climb up Stage Road. There are a few subtle changes though:
- The route skips Salem and county rt. 30 and instead heads out Cemetery road and Black Creek road before tackling Joe Bean road.
- A re-route down Vly Summit to State Rt 40 (open and in the wind.)
- An extended portion of Meeting House Road
Having raced (almost) the same route before, I'm definitely considering heading back for another crack at things. This time though, I'll know what to expect and I'll have my training plan dialed in to tackle the needs of a route like this.
Speaking of training plans, I'll have my Battenkill training plans available VERY soon under my Training Plans page. Just scroll down to the Battenkill plan and go to town. I'll be adapting that plan to the recently revealed 2013 route, so you'll be well prepared to conquer the dirt and elevation of the Battenkill valley.
Of course, you can always retain my coaching services one-on-one if you want an even more customized plan…
-Coach Rob
