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| Bat City Cycling is the team that is promoting and running the Walburg Classic road race this year again |
I have been getting many questions about if I should race or not race Walburg this year. Many of these racers are men and women who have not raced Walburg before and do not know how great of a race it is just yet. Here is some information on Walburg that will hopefully push you in the direction to go ahead and register for a great weekend of racing.
When I think of the official start of the Texas cycling
season Walburg often comes to mind. The Walburg Classic is a race that has been
on my cycling calendar from the beginning of my cycling career. Often matched with Pace Bend, the
Walburg, Pace Bend race weekend is a race weekend that is hard to miss out on. Often known
for having high winds, little protection, and less then desirable temperatures.
Walburg is often considered Texas' cycling’s hardman’s race. Our own Flanders.
This year I would expect no less from the flat Austin race.
Each and every time I have come to the Walburg Classic I have been able to come
away with valuable experience and knowledge that I always put forward to the
following weeks of racing that follow the weekend. This year Walburg will be
slightly different with 80 miles spread among 3 laps for the Pro/1 race division
instead of the 72-mile race it has been for as long as I remember. This year
each lap will be 26.7 miles instead of 24 miles. Another difference is many
sponsors are stepping up such as Craft Sportswear; meaning Walburg 2014 is
gaining footing in its representation to big cycling companies.
For those that have never raced Walburg, I use the word
“flat” to describe much of the race. Actually there is a pretty long and steep
finishing hill to end each lap as well as a few gradual rollers that can be
found throughout the lap. Even with these rollers and the finishing hill I
would leave the 11-28 at home. This is still a predominantly flat race where
most of the damage to the field will happen in the several miles of cross winds
that will be found in each and every lap.
As a Houston racer I welcome the cross winds and use them to
my advantage as much as possible. It is surprising how many racers forget how
to ride in proper echelons in the wind. Even in the Pro/1 race there will be
countless racers who will find themselves back in the gutter or missing out on
a split just solely based on positioning.
My first start was back in 2008 as I raced with my dad in
the cat 4 men’s road race. My best finish was last year where I got 3rd
in the Pro/1 race after I snuck into the early break with a handful of hard
hitters. I have never stood on the top of the podium of this race and I plan to
give it a shot to stand there this year.
Why do I keep coming back to Walburg? I keep coming back because
this race plays out differently every single year. I’ve seen this race implode
on the first time through a cross-wind section in the first half hour of the
race. I have also seen this race won with a late race attack in the final 10k.
This race is unpredictable, and with the longer laps this year from previous
years it will only add to the chaos that is associated with it. If any
racer is on the fence about racing Walburg, I say do it! You are only going to
learn how to race in unpredictable conditions if you try. Walburg holds a
special place in the hearts of many Texas racers and should be treated as one
of the premier Texas racing venues in the state. Keep in mind that Walburg will
have no on site race registration this
year and all must be done online. Online registration closes at 3 am on 2-21-2014
Flyer
Registration
Promoting team's Facebook page
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