A Sloggy Gravel Stretch
By: Sarah Flores
Rough Road 100 is a 100‑kilometer gravel event billed as a Spring Classic. The course combines roughly 40 miles of pavement with 20 miles of gravel. This year, 34 women registered, and the competition was fierce!
Before
I decided to ride my Specialized Allez equipped with SRAM Force AXS and 32 mm Continental GP5000s. I had originally wanted to run 35 mm gravel tires, but they didn’t fit my frame. In the end, I chose 32 mm slicks to stay fast on the road sections.
I arrived in Morris, IL, in the afternoon to meet my teammate Katelyn and pre‑ride the final miles of the course. I’d heard from past participants how crucial this preview is—and I didn’t want to miss a thing. Although it was sprinkling and skipping the recon sounded appealing, I’m glad I went.
After our ride, Katelyn and I returned to the hotel and joined the rest of the team to discuss strategy. The plan: I would be our protected rider, and I was determined to win. Afterward, we relaxed for a bit, then turned in early to rest for tomorrow.
Game Plan
I aimed to consume 80–100 g of carbs per hour. I used “CarbsFuel,” taking one gel 30 minutes before the start and another on the line, and filled my bottles with a total of 220 g. I was nervous that morning and struggled to eat real food; gels went down more easily (though I don’t recommend skipping breakfast!).
Race Day
The race began with a neutral rollout. The first five miles were relaxed, as the gravel didn’t start until mile seven. What we hadn’t anticipated was being overtaken by the 100 k open‑men field about a mile before the first gravel. Chaos ensued instantly: the pace skyrocketed, and we latched onto the faster group.
When we hit the gravel, rainwater filled the potholes, and bottles flew everywhere. I was fortunate to keep both bottles and emerge unscathed. By then, the women’s field had already fragmented. In the second gravel section, another rider and I broke away from the rest of the women and spent the next ten miles riding with a group of men.
Around mile 20, a sloggy gravel stretch caused me to “explode” and fall off the back. The subsequent six miles were a struggle: heavy crosswinds, solo efforts, and leap‑frogging small groups. I felt “glonky” (that sluggish, heavy‑legged feeling), but then a fast‑moving men’s group caught and welcomed me. Their pace brought me back to the lead woman and even bridged us to the open‑men lead group.
The remainder of the course featured punchy climbs and a few more short gravel sections. The final ten miles ran along a narrow towpath. As we passed under the Five Mile Bridge (five miles to go), I remembered from our recon that a rubber‑mat bridge lay ahead. I rode around it; my competitor didn’t—and she slipped out of contention (she’s fine). I crossed the line first, taking the win without any last‑minute theatrics.
After
Everything was crusty—mud caked on the frame and flecks of gravel everywhere. But the excitement of winning and executing our team plan made it worthwhile. Apex claimed the women’s team victory for the lowest cumulative time. I’m incredibly proud of my teammates, and I want to thank our director, Dylan, and race director, Craig, for an unforgettable weekend.
See you next year, Rough Road!
