Spring in Iowa, cold, hot, windy, calm, sunny, rainy, and of course snow. No weather is off the table. Welcome to the Pella Roubaix. Modeled after the European spring classics housed over Northern Europe, this event is sure to challenge you physically as much as mentally. Although it does not boast the cobbles of the French countryside, it will take you through the rolling hillside of multiple counties in south central Iowa. This is a multi-surface venture of both gravel and county paved roads alternating back and forth throughout the ride. The mix of gravel and paved roads sets this event apart from your typical weekend gravel grinder. The mix of roads and gravel and of course Iowa’s weather provides a day on the bike you won’t forget!
FAQ’s!
– Where do I find the route?
The route will be emailed to registered riders the week of the event along with more details surrounding the event and venue.
– How far is it?
It hovers around 100km(65-70 miles) and 50k(30-35 miles) for the Fondo.
– How much elevation?
3000-4000 ft of climb for the 100k and 1200-2000 ft for the Fondo.
– Is it all gravel?
No. It is a mix of gravel and paved county roads. The Fondo will have a little more gravel than pavement.
– Which category should I sign up for?
If you are dipping your toe in gravel riding, the Fondo may be a good idea. If you’re up for the challenge of 100k, the Open would be your category of choice. If you’re 40 years old or older, you can opt into one of the Masters categories instead of the Open.
– What kind of bike should I ride?
We recommend a gravel, cyclocross, or road bike that can accommodate a larger tire(larger than 28mm wide).
– What tires should I run?
Great question. Ask 10 people and you may get 10 different answers. We recommend a tire that provides you the most comfort within your skillset of navigating Iowa gravel roads. There may be some strategy with your tire choice with our pavement sections. Choosing a tire that will roll well on and off road would be a great choice.
– Will there be support on route?
There will be a support vehicle to pick you up in the event of a mechanical failure. There will be a convenience store on route as well.
– Are there awards?
Yes! Top 3 in each category will receive awards and you’ll receive a raffle ticket at registration for our raffle following the event.
– Is there food and beverage available at the awards?
Yes! We’ll have adult beverages as well as non-alcoholic options available. We’ll have pizza as well.
– Will I get a refund if the weather is awful?
If conditions are unsafe to ride, we will look at postponing the start of the event or look at a different date. If the weather is Iowa weather, the Roubaix will be a go! Sorry, no refunds.
– Where do I pick up my registration?
Iowa Bike Co.! Our registration will be in the bike shop. In case you forget anything at home, they have almost everything you may need.
– Is it fun?
We’ll let you be the judge.
Registration is live! Get signed up today for a fun day on and off the bike on April 20th, 2024 in Pella, Iowa! We’ve added some categories this year for you to get your hands on some hardware! Including a Men’s and Women’s Open, Masters 40/50/60 and the Gran Fondo.
2023
Mark your calendars! Saturday, April 20th, 2024! Pella Roubaix Volume 3!
Registration(Sign up!)
https://www.bikereg.com/pella-roubaix-spring-classic
Facebook(Updates)
https://www.facebook.com/events/658722875854478
Interview with the Race Director(2022)
Part Deux
As winter starts to dwindle away and spring slowly peaks out with a few warm sunny days from time to time we start our preparations for the Pella Roubaix. As the Euro spring classics and monuments are starting up the anticipation for our event only grows. New this year we are adding a 50k option as well. This is aimed at the gravel curious enthusiast. Have you recently dipped your toe in the gravel world? Did you snag a shiny new steed and want to break it in properly? Maybe you’re just dusting off your rig for the first time and have forgotten that tune up you should have done over the winter. Or maybe you are just looking for a nice cruise around the countryside. The Fondo option is for you.
We’re hoping for a little less wind this year, but again, Spring in Iowa is always unpredictable. The event will run similar but with a few changes to help with safety and efficiency. Looking to add a few things to enhance our rider’s experience and provide you with a fun day on and off the bike.
We’ll update more as we approach!
Prelude
This is sure to be a fun event. A mixed surface ride modeled after the Spring Classics of Europe. Although it won’t have the sustained climbs or the cobbles of the Euro Classics, it is sure to be a fun day out on the bike. That being said, fun is a relative term. The weather in April in Iowa can be very unpredictable as well as the schedule of fresh gravel distribution. Those factors can make the day be fun filled fast day on the bike or a pure sufferfest. But if it were easy, everyone would do it right? This event could be a perfect storm of an amazing experience on and off the bike. With some great businesses on board and a community that is welcoming it has the ingredients to be a great day not just for the riders but also for friends and families.
A little history on how this came to be…
A long standing team trip to Arkansas got my first taste of mixed surface madness. During those trips we’d set out on full day excursions that took us throughout the Arkansas High Country within the Ozark Mountains.
As the industry has taken to gravel as their recent focus, a lot of events have started popping up surrounding that focus. There have been some long standing established gravel events that have been going on in Central Iowa as well as all over the nation for some number of years now and as of recent more and more have popped up on the calendar.
I came across a specific event in California a few years ago that really caught my eye called the Belgium Waffle Ride. What so intriguing about this event was how different it was compared to other events. It took you on multiple surfaces throughout San Diego County in California. Just the thought of your equipment choice was enough to drive a person insane. What tires do I run? What gear do I need to pack? What training would be involved? But the most important question, what kind of bike do I ride??? This ride was quite intriguing and really sparked my creative interests to bring something like this to Iowa.
Many hours checking out maps, roads, different areas, and more importantly towns/cities that would be a good fit. I came up with some ideas and some routes, but nothing that made me feel really great about it. The one thing that always lingered…Iowa weather. The weather in Iowa in general is very unpredictable, especially in the transition seasons(Fall&Spring). So, how does one plan a route with single track incorporated in Spring? I think the correct answer is, one does not.
Not ready to abandon the idea of a mulit-surface venture I pushed the routing/planning to the back burner. Fast forward to some conversations over beverages(as many great and terrible ideas stem from) the idea of modeling more of a Euro spring classic model started to emerge. Our team had hosted mulit-surface road races in the past so bringing this to light didn’t seem unreasonable. Conversations with some of the guys from Pella and a few leads on sponsors and the ball was rolling.
I was good with abandoning the idea of adding single track and wasn’t a huge fan of adding Level B roads into the mix as that seemed to be what a lot of other races were incorporating. A lot of rides I do throughout the year are mixed surfaces on my road bike with 28’s. Crazy? Perhaps, but I like the idea of cruising on county roads and challenging myself dipping onto gravel. It also doesn’t limit my route planning and proves for a good ride, so why not turn that experience into a race format?
Why Pella? Why not? The town thrives on tourism and has a friendly location. The city municipals, surrounding counties, and citizens keep the area very nice. If you don’t know, they have a large Tulip Festival each year just a couple weeks away from our proposed date, so they know how to host a large influx of people. They have a small college and a few large corporations. It’s a great town with great infrastructure. What’s great also, is while you’re racing your bike, your fam can explore the downtown shops and eateries.
Looking forward to a great event and hopefully one that can catch traction for years to follow!
Zealous Racing 