Boone-Roubaix Ready To Roll
by Mark Mitchell
Boone-Roubaix Ready To Roll
By Mark Mitchell
Change has been in the air for organizers of the upcoming Boone-Roubaix bike race, which will be held on April 3. Out is the High Country Fairgrounds as the race epicenter, and out is the Gran Fondo format. In the spirit of out with the old and in with the new, however, organizers are excited about the "in" changes.
"One of the changes is starting the race at River Girl Fishing Company in Todd," event organizer Andrew Stackhouse said. "They have really rolled out the red carpet for us, and we appreciate all their help."
The Boone-Roubaix, originally designed to be a Gran Fondo race, will now be run as a "normal" race. The race, which will be co-hosted by Pirate Race Productions and Appalachian State University, features four courses for cyclists to navigate. The first is a Petit parcours and features two climbs in its 18-mile trek. The Moderee parcours is a one-lap, 35-mile course, which has two brutal climbs on unpaved terrain. The Plus Moderee parcours is a 44-mile course, with 4.25 kilometers of it unpaved. Finally, the Grand Parcours is a 69-mile course with four brutal unpaved climbs.
Registration opens at 8 a.m. on April 3, with the first races beginning at 9 a.m. Racing divisions include Men Pro /1/2/3; Collegiate Men A; Collegiate Men B; Men Cat 3/4; Women P/1/2/3/4 & WA; Collegiate Men D; Collegiate Men C; Men 4/5 and Women Cat 4 & WB/C.
Stackhouse said the race has already received commitments from all around the Southeastern United States, with racers signed up from 12 states as of mid-March. Stackhouse also said one important aspect of the event has not changed, net proceeds from the event going to benefit Wine to Water's Haiti Emergency Fund.
With just more than week remaining before the event, the need for volunteers has not diminished.
"We have a great need for volunteers," Stackhouse said. "We need volunteers to be course marshals and perform other tasks. Being a volunteer is a great way to get involved with race, especially if you are a fan. You really get to see the action up close and personal."
To register for the event online, go to