August 9, 2025 – Manhattan, IL – 50K Open Division
Results: 50K Open – Male: TBA
Watch data: 32.21 miles – 2:05:21 – 15.4 mph/ave.
I returned to this local race again for the second time because I had a pretty good time at it last year. I opted for the 50K Open category because that is about my limit of what I can take on a mostly gravel race route.
The race starts with a slow roll-out, where we are supposed to just easily pace until we get through this little chicane spot on the course, but of course, most people started gunning it right away. I wanted to try to keep up with the main group, but they quickly gapped me. I looked back and saw about a dozen riders in my same predicament, so I figured I would just have to slowly work my way up to catch riders who went out too hard.
I opted to use a hydration vest instead of water bottles this year, and it certainly made drinking easier for me, without having to fuss with getting the bottle in and out of the cage. The only downside was that it made my back hot on this warm day.
The race had a 2km detour due to a bridge being out, so my time is a little longer than last year due to the increased distance. I didn’t mind the detour, as it was mostly paved, and I could push a little harder on it than the gravel sections.
Last year I saw two people wipe out, but didn’t see any crashes this year. The usual culprit is going too hard into the turns, and I rode them slowly, thinking that maybe I should practice that more.
I was alone in riding for most of the first 8 miles when I decided to peek behind me to see if anyone was back there, and I was surprised to see that someone was right on my wheel. He was wearing a white t-shirt and riding a mountain bike. He passed me shortly after a bit and said: “Hey, let’s work together for a while.” I was all in on that, but I was thinking that he was greatly overestimating my ability to keep pace with him. I grabbed his wheel and quickly felt the benefit of the draft. We quickly caught a couple of other riders ahead of us and were a group of about five riders for a while. I eventually lost track of him.
The course didn’t offer any surprises, but there’s one section of gravel that is just insanely difficult to ride on. I found some space along the very edge, but I was almost tightroping it, with what seemed like 8 inches of gravel to my right and a big drop-off into a ditch to the left. That mile or so section on Barr Road is miserable.
With about 10km to go, the road climbed, but the gravel was better. I started pushing a little harder, and when I got to the paved road portion, I started getting out of the saddle more to build speed to the end. I turned to look behind me again and found the same white-shirted rider that had been on my wheel before. I kept pushing, and I was able to hold him off at the finish. He rode back to the parking lot with me and told me that he had fallen/crashed. I assumed that he was in front of me. Impressive ride by him, nonetheless.
Back at the truck, I was soaked with sweat. I went and grabbed a couple of waters and downed them quickly. I had sweated a ton and needed to rehydrate. I didn’t stick around for awards because I knew I wouldn’t be in the running in this event. Very strong competition at the race today.
Another fun race for the year, and my second time racing a bike race on gravel. I may have to find some other events to do, because I am enjoying it.
an amazing run 