Alsatian Road Race - Epic or Blatant???

Today we rode the Alsatian RR course to get a feel of it for Sunday.  Starting/Ending at the Yellow "dot" on US 90.

The first 7.5 miles is a Leg Out (in Yellow)  to the "Loop."  Not  a problem for the groups - 1+ miles down hill, then 5-6 miles straight North.  The wind is supposed to be howling out of the South so should be fast.

The first mile of the course is a natural for me - straight down hill.  The next 5 are false flat uphill, not too bad.

Next is the "Loop" (in yellow.)  15 miles which the various categories do multiple times.  Our 40 plus race does it 3 times, I believe the 1/2 category does it 4 times.

The first 1/2 is false flat which combined with a huge cross wind promises to be a gutterfest.  Those that stay on for the 2nd half should do OK as the steeper climbing will be into a head wind, but there will be a couple of miles of rollers near the end of the loop with crosswind.  Last couple of miles will be recovery for those who get that far.

The "Leg In" (in yellow) is interesting as it turns off the main road with 3.5 miles to go to the finish.

At the turn you dive into a low water crossing (which hasn't seen water for a couple of years, then do some rollers along the river, then turn into the 1 mile climb thru town to the finish at Hotel Alsace.

Today Lutz, Turk and I met at the Hotel Alsace and rolled down the start of the race out 471 meeting up with Dougie Fresh and his boss for a little spin and recon of this weekends Alsatian Country Omnium Road Race course.

If you "enjoyed" last weekends ToNB road race course, you're gonna love this weekends Alsatian course.  There is more climbing, and the cross winds will be worse this time.  Looking forward to the suffering for sure.  Stay tuned.

Once again, leave the deep dish carbon wheels at home and bring something comfortable, strong with great wind characteristics (ehem Dura Ace Tubeless....)

Terri and I did eat dinner at the Alsatian Restaurant, in the hotel.  Reasonable prices, excellent food off the "beaten path."  An interesting mixture of German and Cajun cuisine, with a bit of Spanish and Americana thrown in.  Highly recommended.