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When you dub your race the Midwest Spring Classic, you better have a race that backs up the claim.

Illinois’ Rough Road 100 does just that by breaking down its gravel route into nine rough-road sectors, much like this coming weekend’s Paris-Roubaix does.

Now in its fifth year, that the race is set up like a spring classic is no mistake.

“I used to ride the roads growing up and always enjoyed the Euro Spring Classics, put the two together, in my mind at least, and here we are,” race director Craig Patnode said.”

The Rough Road 100 is based in the Illinois River town of Morris, which is about an hour southwest of Chicago.

The “100” stands for 100 kilometers, and there is a shorter 64 km route offered as well. According to Patnode, the route is about 65 percent pavement and 35 percent gravel, making it spring-classic-like.

“The gravel disappeared a lot since I was younger, but the setup in this area lends itself to our Spring Classic style,” Patnode said.

Earlier this spring, we covered the rather hilly Dirty South Roubaix in southern Dirty South Roubaix in southern Illinois Morris is in the part of Illinois flattened by glaciers, so the Rough Road 100 route is much flatter, as one might expect for Illinois.

The route does pass through the Illinois River valley two times, giving riders some elevation to deal with.

“For us about, 1,300 feet of climbing, it would be hard to find much more,” Patnode said. “I feel some climbs are deceptive. There are a couple of punchy ones that could give someone a break if they were willing and some longish ones that are exposed so you hope for no wind. But yes, I’d agree, mostly flat!”

The Rough Road 100 course is relatively flat, and yes, there is plenty of corn to be seen. 2019 Rough Road 100 Gravel Race. © Craig Patnode

The Rough Road 100 course is relatively flat, and yes, there is plenty of corn to be seen. 2019 Rough Road 100 Gravel Race. © Craig Patnode

As mentioned above, the race advertises nine gravel sectors that help give the race its Rough Road name. The last sector is a nearly 13-kilometer drag to the finish line that can get kind of gnarly during a wet spring.

Unfortunately, not on the route anymore is what was once the toughest of them all.

“After Year 2, one of the municipalities put fresh gravel over, unquestionably, the toughest sector,” Patnode said. “That being Mine Road, so that was a bit of a bummer. They all present certain challenges being spring because you don’t know what the melt off will uncover.”

Even though the toughest sector has been removed, there is still plenty of gravel on the RR100 course. 2019 Rough Road 100 Gravel Race. © Craig Patnode

Even though the toughest sector has been removed, there is still plenty of gravel on the RR100 course. 2019 Rough Road 100 Gravel Race. © Craig Patnode

The Race

The 2019 Rough Road 100 took place on Saturday. The race offers 100 km Open and 64 km Open categories as well as a USAC 100 km Open race.

Nearly all gravel events we have covered have done their best to stay away from the USAC designation, but Patnode said his team did not see a problem going that route.

“We wanted to expand what we were after, knowing that the Rough Road 100 is pretty unique in our space. A lot of people wouldn’t consider us a strict gravel event and we’re good with that, we just want people to ride or race and have fun doing it.”

Equal payouts went to the top three women and men finishers in both the USAC and Open categories.

In the Women’s USAC race, Madison’s Kaitlin Agnew took the win. 2017 Masters Cyclocross national champion2017 Masters Cyclocross national champion Sydney Guagliardo finished second, and Allison Schroeder (PSIMET Racing) finished third. Anna Ganju (Collective Coffee) and Lauren Wiscomb (Bonkers Cycling) rounded out the wide-angle podium.

For the men, Spencer Seggebruch (Pastaria – Big Shark Racing) headed north from St. Louis to get the win. Tim Strelecki (Franco Factory Racing p/b Brightleaf) finished second and Rory Jack (Velosmith Bicycle Studio) took third. Tim Doelman (fairlife) and Tom Keller (Bloomington Cycle and Fitness) rounded out the wide-angle podium.

Another result of note is Laurel Rathbun’s win in the Women’s Open 100 km race.

Results for the USAC category are below. Full results for all categories are can be seen here.

Photos by Robotfresh are available from the race.

Women's USAC Results: 2019 Rough Road 100

PlaceNameHometownTeamTime
1KAITLYN AGNEWMADISON2:48:51
2SYDNEY GUAGLIARDOBARRINGTON3:05:14
3ALLISON SCHROEDERCHICAGOPSIMET Racing3:05:28
4ANNA GANJUNEW BERLINColectivo Coffee3:10:07
5LAUREN WISCOMBCHICAGOBonkers Cycling3:10:31
6LEAH SANDAWESTERN SPRINGSPSIMET Racing3:17:15
7LINDSAY KNIGHTCHICAGOTenSpeedHero3:19:02
8KATHERINE GRAHAMGRANVILLEEliel Factory Team3:27:32
9MONA KUNANAPERVILLEAthletes By Design3:28:08
10CAROLINE RODRIGUEZ-NELSONOAK PARKIntent3:39:47
11MARY ANN SEDORWARRENVILLEIntent3:50:34
12LORRAINE MCCARTHYVERNON HILLSForce Power Racing4:19:34

Men's USAC Results: 2019 Rough Road 100

PlaceNameHometownTeamTime
1SPENCER SEGGEBRUCHSAINT LOUISPastaria - Big Shark Racing2:39:09
2TIM STRELECKIGENEVAFranco Factory Racing p/b Brighteaf2:39:17
3RORY JACKCHICAGOVelosmith Bicycle Studio2:39:23
4TIM DOELMANGLENCOEfairlife2:39:26
5TOM KELLERBLOOMINGTONBloomington Cycle and Fitness2:39:27
6EVAN BLANKENSHIPSAINT LOUISPastaria - Big Shark Racing2:39:30
7GERALD ADASAVAGEBROOKLYN2:39:31
8ROSS TUNEBERGROCKFORDXXX Racing2:39:32
9SEAN METZPLAINFIELDXXX Racing2:39:32
10NATHAN SHAWBLOOMINGTONBloomington Cycle and Fitness2:39:32
11JIMMY PANTHERMILWAUKEEMoMo Riders Club2:39:32
12DOMINIC LOPEZCHICAGOWOLFPACK Bike Racing2:39:33
13ANDERSON BORTOLETTOMC FARLANDLAPT Cycling Team2:39:34
14GREG SPRINGBORN2:39:36
15DANIEL BREUERCHICAGOXXX Racing2:39:41
16THOMAS KEHRERCHICAGOBonkers Cycling2:39:44
17CARL VALENTINCHICAGOHalf Acre Cycling2:39:50
18SCOTT OGILVIESAINT LOUISRise Above Cycling2:39:57
19SERGEY KLIBANOVDOWNERS GROVEWOLFPACK Bike Racing2:39:09
20NEAL MCNAMARACHICAGOBurnham Racing2:40:20
21JACOB GLAHNMADISONTrek Midwest Team2:40:36
22TIM PIGULACHICAGOXXX Racing2:41:12
23JOHN WHIPPLECHICAGO2:41:12
24MARC MOELLERELGINTeam Bicycle Heaven2:41:14
25HAYDEN WARNERNEOGASLF Motion2:41:22
26CHRISTOPHER YOUNGCHICAGOChampion System2:41:26
27MICHAEL LANYONCHICAGOBurnham Racing2:41:42
28MIKE WOLFORDBLOOMINGTONBloomington Cycle and Fitness2:42:47
29BRANDON CONINECHICAGOUPB Cycling2:43:02
30WALID ABU-GHAZALEHCHICAGOPony Shop2:44:06
31CRAIG COOPERCLAYTONCraig Cooper2:46:18
32PETER CHERCHIANSUN PRAIRIENeff Cycle Service2:46:40
33CHRIS DANIELSBLOOMINGTONBloomington Cycle and Fitness2:46:40
34DANNY WARNERTROUT VALLEYF3 Cycling p/b 7Mile Cycles2:48:13
35BRYAN DOBESGLEN ELLYNWOLFPACK Bike Racing2:48:29
36DEVIN CLARKSAINT LOUISPastaria - Big Shark Racing2:48:47
37PATRICK COWLINCHICAGOThe Chainlink2:48:48
38ZACHARY WEIDENAARLANSINGPSIMET Racing2:48:48
39BRIAN KULAKPLAINFIELDWOLFPACK Bike Racing2:48:50
40BOBBY MORALESCHICAGOBonkers Cycling2:48:52
41TOM STUTESMANCHICAGOXXX Racing2:48:57
42MARK NOWACKPLAINFIELDFranco Factory Racing2:49:01
43MARK KITRALLAKE ZURICHF3 Cycling pb 7 Mile Cycles2:49:17
44JACK THORNBURGCHICAGOBonkers Cycling2:49:26
45ZACHARY SLAVENSORLAND PARKTeam Veloz2:49:33
46MARK SAVERYOMAHAFactor Bikes2:50:23
47JUAN ESTEBAN TAPIERO BERNALMILWAUKEEBelgianwerkx2:50:54
48BRAD MENNAWILMETTEFairlife2:51:26
49PJ CAVATO2:51:28
50ROB JACOBSENCHICAGOIntent2:53:45
51JARED VERBEKECHICAGOXXX Racing2:54:09
52BRAD DASHBATAVIAABD CYCLING2:54:13
53STEPHEN FARRCHICAGOMajor Taylor Chicago2:54:17
54SCOTT BOWDENSUGAR GROVETeam Bicycle Heaven2:54:17
55BRIANT KELLYLIBERTYVILLEIntent2:54:22
56SANJAY GANJUNEW BERLINTrek Midwest Team2:54:22
57LARRY GELWIXWILMETTEVelosmith Bicycle Studio2:54:22
58MICHAEL VAILWESTMONT2:54:33
59MITCH STAUFFERNAPERVILLETower Racing2:56:16
60KELLY SHURILLAMILWAUKEE2:56:25
61JEFF HOLLANDCHICAGOThe Bonebell2:56:28
62WOJCIECH CZERKIESPALATINEPLUS Cycling Team2:57:29
63BEN SIVERCHICAGOBonkers Cycling2:57:29
64TONY RIENKSCHICAGOBeverly Bike Racing Team2:57:32
65NATHAN TROIAWHEATONTeam Bicycle Heaven2:57:33
66JEFFREY HANSENCHICAGOPYOC2:58:43
67THOMAS WALLACENORMALBloomington Cycle and Fitness2:58:49
68THOMAS KRAMERBUFFALO GROVEF3 Cycling pb 7 Mile Cycles2:58:54
69BILL PERRYNORMALBloomington Cycle and Fitness2:58:55
70MARCUS BICKFORDMILWAUKEEVelocause Centraal Cycling2:59:01
71FRANK LOFRANOARLINGTON HEIGHTSRIntent3:00:04
72THOMAS TITTELBACHBOLINGBROOK3:00:26
73EDUARDO MOLINACHICAGOVision Quest3:00:39
74ED GROSSCHICAGOSRAM Factory3:00:57
75LINCOLN ELLISCHICAGORapha Cycling Club3:00:58
76KEVIN KRAKOVSKYCHICAGOXXX Racing3:00:59
77STUART NELSENOAK PARKUPB Cycling3:04:10
78PETER PAVEKCHICAGO3:05:14
79SEAN SEAMON3:06:43
80PAOLO URIZARCHICAGO3:10:05
81JOE LUNIAKKILDEERVision Quest3:10:52
82RENE \ CERVANTESCHICAGOKlick3:12:35
83BEN CONNORNAPERVILLE3:15:06
84JERRY MEISTERELBURNABD CYCLING3:15:56
85ANDREW RIZZOLISLEFairlife3:16:32
86JOE SCHUBERTEVANSTONSuper Ape3:17:20
87MICHAEL KIRBYCHICAGOXXX Racing3:17:58
88ERIC STUCKCHICAGOPSIMET Racing3:19:14
89MICHAEL KURTZLISLEMilitary Endurance Sports3:23:14
90JACOB HUIZENGACHICAGOCHICAGO CUTTIN CREW3:24:08
91JOHN WALBAUMCHICAGOSouth Chicago Wheelmen3:24:22
92JOHN ORLEANSCHICAGOHalf Acre Cycling3:28:55
93CHAD BRIGGSWEST DUNDEEChristian Cycling Club3:30:55
94ELLIOT THOMPSONNEW ALBANY3:31:53
95MATT HOLTWILMETTEUnion3:34:42
96MICHAEL PATTONCHICAGOBonkers Cycling3:34:42
97AVERY YOUNGCHICAGOTeam Veloz3:43:56
98GARY KULADOWNERS GROVEAthletes By Design3:47:25
99KEVIN ONEILLCHICAGOXXX Racing3:50:23
100MARK WILSONHIGHWOODThe Chainlink4:00:29
101ANTHONY HOAKMILWAUKEE5:09:09
102DAVID REYESCHICAGO
103PAUL SWINANDEVANSTONBicicletta