The Route 66 Summerfest in Rolla, Mo., will include the Ozark Hellbender Road Race on June 4, which is a 35-mile bicycle jaunt starting from the nearby community of Newburg through the Mark Twain National Forest and near the Little and Big Piney rivers, reports the Rolla Daily News.
“I think without a doubt it’s the prettiest, and probably the most challenging, road race of its kind in the state,” said race coordinator Morgan Bearden.
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“We’re hoping next year the race gets designated as the state championship road race,” Bearden said. “We think we have a real good chance. It’s important to put on a good show this year.”
The Ozark Hellbender is sanctioned by the United States Cycling Federation (USCF) and attracts riders from all over Missouri.
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Fifty-eight riders have already registered for Hellbender and Bearden is expecting 150-200 riders to compete the day of the event. Organizing a race this large takes many volunteers to ensure things run smoothly and competitors are safe.
The Rolla Road Riders Motorcycle Club is sending volunteers to act as the lead escort for each wave of cyclists as they take off from Newburg. Personnel from Fort Leonard Wood will assist the race by stationing themselves at each major intersection on the course to control traffic for the riders.
Here's a map of the course. Here are photographs from the course. I've driven on a lot of those roads in the area, and I can assure cyclists who've never been there that it will be … um … challenging.
I’ve been biking near Rolla — not necessarily on the roads that will be used in the race — and I wholeheartedly agree that many of the hills in the Rolla area are challenging. Almost as challenging are many of the road surfaces, which can be rather jarring to the arms and the posterior.
Rog, just cram down a few Krispy Kremes, and you’ll do fine on those 5 percent grades. 😉