Boone-Roubaix

“Pedal faster, I hear banjos!”

“I like banjo music!”, says Brian Sheedy. Perhaps it takes an affinity towards both banjo music and steep unpaved mountain roads for you to win the High Country’s biggest road race; the epic Boone-Roubaix—4,600 feet of climbing over 54 miles; 4 miles of which are unpaved.

Sheedy, racing for Hampton Trails Bike Shop, won this race and did it as the aggressor. He wanted to win this race to honor the memory of Carla Swart. On the first trip up the ‘Koppenberg of the High Country’, Sheedy attacked. Andy Baker (Bissell), reacted and joined him. Later in the lap, Travis Livermon (Mountain Khakis p/b Smart Stop) and Kerry Werner (Lees-McRae/BMC Mountain Bike Development Team) bridged the gap. The four man group enjoyed a steady lead over the chasers. On the last steep, unpaved climb of the day, Sheedy attacked the break. He looked back for an ally, but no one answered. They group resolved to sprint this one out together. Werner took control as the course followed the New River to the flat finish. Sheedy’s fitness, experience and motivation took him to the line with a small sprint gap over Livermon and Baker. Werner got forth. Neil Bezdek (Mountain Khakis p/b Smart Stop) took the best of the rest sprint for 5th.

The women’s race was dominated by Erica Zaveta of Lees McRae. The women raced the exact same tough roads as the men. They did the smaller lap twice and the larger ‘Koppenberg’ lap once, for a total of 43 miles; 2.5 miles unpaved. Zaveta pulled a fake attack on the first lap to test the competition and gauge reactions. She attacked for real on the second lap and raced 26 miles solo to the finish. As a member of BMC’s US-based Development Mountain Bike Team, Zaveta was very comfortable on the tricky descents. She rode hard to the finish, continually growing the gap.

Other winners, included — everyone who raced and suffered. This event provided an opportunity to race an epic ‘euro-classic-style’ road race, with long steep climbs and secteur pave un, right in the Carolinas. Race Director Andrew Stackhouse, of Pirate Race Productions, put on a great event that was fun to race, fun to watch and supported a great cause– Wine-to-Water. The only thing missing from this race was a massive crowd lining the ‘Koppenburg’. Next year, invite every cycling fan you know to this party — it’s BYOB [bring your own banjo]!

Click link for the full Boone-Roubaix race results.

Weldon Weaver

Bicycling advocate, contributing writer/photographer. Photos are available at the Weldon Weaver Photography website (link below).

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