Development race series at the Chicago Velocampus' Velodrome
Leland Kermesse presented by Flatlandia Race Preview
Submitted by Vanessa Buccella on Mon, 04/16/2012 - 10:04am
Leland-Kermesse is the perfect race for a team called Flatlandia to present. It's a race that proves that you don't need hills to have a hard road race. Dirt roads, strong winds and midwestern spring weather are more than enough for a sufferfest. This race will most definitely up your pain tolerance. If you have any faint inkling that you are the next Boonen or Cancellara here is your race to prove it. We've got last year's W 1/2/3 winner, Tamara Fraser, for the low-down on Leland.
(Photo by Chicago phototographer Gavin Gould. Mr Gould has wonderful photo documentation of the last two years of Leland. They can be found on his site, http://gavingould.com/kermesse.html.)
From Ms Fraser:
"The spring classics: Milan-San Remo, Ghent-Wevelgem, Ronde van Vlaanderen, Paris-Roubaix, Amstel Gold, Fleche Wallonne, Liege-Bastogne-Liege. Each a one day race at least 200 kilometers long with punishing brick roads, steep climbs, sketchy descents, crazy crosswinds and whatever other weather fickle spring decides to whip out. Watching Boonen, Thor, Cancellara and Gilbert slug it out on the climbs and cobbles have you ever wished for your own day of hell? To suffer epically for hours and cross the finish line covered in filth and glory? Yes. Yes you have.
I hear a lot of people say they're afraid to race Leland. They've heard it's hard and the weather's bad. Well, that's true, Leland-Kermesse is no industrial park crit. It's a long road race on a windy, prairie-flat course with three long sections of "variable condition" road – dirt roads with gravel. Some years the gravel is fresh, loose and deep, other years it's been packed down into the dirt by traffic. Some years it's dry and dusty, other years wet and muddy. Last year it snowed. It's Chicagoland's ultimate sufferfest. That's WHY you should race Leland. It's a one-of-a-kind experience – as close as you'll ever get to racing Paris-Roubaix. And it's awesome.
When you get to the race, make riding on the gravel roads part of your warm-up. Get used to it, commit to it, don't be tentative. You don't need your 'cross tires, they'll only hold you back on the pavement. Just get a feel for the variable conditions. There are a couple good lines through the unpaved roads, generally where car tires have pushed the gravel to the sides. Dress for the weather – the cold took out more riders last year than anything else.
During the race, wind will be a big factor. The more you can shelter from it, the better. Don't let little gaps open up, they're WAY harder to close in the wind. And be watchful – racers can use the crosswinds to take advantage of those little gaps and split the field. You don't want to be on the wrong side of that. Same for the gravel – don't just watch the wheel ahead of you, monitor for gaps. If you see one opening up ahead, go around and get yourself in front of the split – if you don't burn the matches to bridge immediately, you probably won't get another chance. There may be big attacks on the gravel or there may just be attrition, whichever, a selection will be made. Whatever group you end up in, try and organize a paceline, stay alert and take advantage of opportunities as they present themselves. Race hard and smart.
And cross the finish line covered in filth and glory."
There is still room in registration for everyone but the Cat 5s. Let's fill it up! Especially the women - let's show the guys what we're made of. (HINT It's not sugar and spice unless that spice is made from a Habenero.)
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