April 6/10 10:12 am - Barry's Roubaix Countdown Is On - B.C.

Posted by Editoress on 04/6/10
 

The countdown is on for Barry's Roubaix "Hell North of the Fraser" road cycling race presented by Local Ride Bike Shop. The action starts this Sunday, April 11th at 8:30 a.m. in Pitt Meadows - the same day as the legendary Paris Roubaix in northern France. Barry's Roubaix is the first regionally sanctioned race of the 2010 competitive season in B.C., which means valuable points are up for grabs, along with great prizes and a cash purse for Cat 1/2 men's and women's categories.

"This Sunday is going to rock," said Barry Lyster, organizer of the race and namesake of the event. "The long dike section on the course will make things gnarly for the riders and add excitement for spectators."

Lyster revived and modified the Pitt Meadows race, formerly called the Harris Roubaix, after the event lost an organizer last year and the 2009 competition was cancelled.

"Harris Roubaix was such a popular race and it was a shame not to see it run last year. I couldn't let that happen again," said Lyster. "The Pitt Meadows/Maple Ridge area is a great cycling destination, so it was a no-brainer to bring it back."

The organizer is also enthusiastic about the youth race, which will see the up-and-coming stars of cycling sprint around two shorter laps of the course. The youth race begins at 10:30 a.m.

Inspired by the classic Paris Roubaix “Hell of the North,” which sees riders endure foul weather and rough cobblestone sectors, Barry's Roubaix will include even more gravel sections than in the past, and an additional series of corners on the back side of the loop. Lyster will cut his racers some slack, however: "Paris Roubaix is over 250 kilometres of pain, but the top men will only be riding 120 kilometres on Sunday. That will take them around three hours."

Barry's Roubaix will take place on a 10 kilometre course in Pitt Meadows, 2 kilometres of which is gravel dike along the Fraser River. The Cat 1/2 men will race 12 laps of the course, while the top women will contest 10 laps. The first categories take off at 8:30 a.m. and the Cat 1/2 men and women start at 11:00 a.m.

In addition to glory, riders will be racing for great prizes from race sponsors Local Ride Bike Shop, Kicking Horse Coffee, and Taraxca Jewelry. Cat 1/2 men and women will be eligible for a total cash purse of up to $1,500 (dependant on registrations).

Entry is $40 for all categories, except the youth race, which is $15. The event is open to pre-registered riders only at www.karelo.com. Please visit the Local Ride website (www.localride.ca/barrys-roubaix) for further details.

Barry's Roubaix is the first of two road cycling races hosted by Local Ride Bike Shop this spring. Three weeks later, May 1-2, Race the Ridge will hit Maple Ridge with a one-two-three punch. Race the Ridge is a challenging, fun, and spectator friendly three-stage race, which includes a leg-searing road race, lung-busting individual time trial, and high-speed criterium.

Details: Barry's Roubaix "Hell North of the Fraser" road race
Date: April 11, 2010
Time: 8:00 am to 1:00 pm
Location: Pitt Meadows, BC
Expected entries: 200+
Type of Race: Road Bike Race
Local Support: Local Ride Bike Shop, City of Pitt Meadows, Pitt Meadows Airport , Metro Vancouver Parks