The Hastings City Council unanimously approved holding the fifth Barry Roubaix Killer Gravel Road Race starting and ending in the city on March 25, 2017, as requested by Race Director and owner of Kisscross Events Rick Plite and Event Organizer Scott Tencate.
Tencate thanked the city for its full support of the race and “the great team” on city staff that works with them to bring it to the city. He said the race is growing and moving up “to the next level” in Hastings with bike infrastructure, a new mountain bike trail being built, the paved path to Middleville and signs of bike routes. “This is what it looks like when a community supports biking,” Tencate said.
The Roubaix draws around 3,000 cyclists, with the goal of 3,500 this year. Many come to the county and city for practice runs or pleasure rides the rest of the year. On race day, riders face 80 percent of rolling gravel roads, pavement, one mile of rough two track, rocks, sand, mud, and possibly snow and ice on the scenic roads of the county. The largest gravel road bicycle race in the world offers three race lengths to challenge riders of all abilities; the 22-mile “Chiller,” 36-mile “Thriller, and 62-mile “Killer.”
The thousands of people in the event have been called the most polite and friendliest of any large group that comes to the city.
In other business Monday, the city is playing catch up with its agreement for recreational services from the YMCA, City Manager Jeff Mansfield said in his report to the council. The contract between the two entities ran out in June 2014, with the "Y" continuing to provide services at $28,000 a year, or payments of $14,000 each six months. However, last year, the rate was inadvertently lowered to $26,089, and also in this year’s budget. Next year’s budget will have a payment of $30,000 to bring the payments for the last two years back into line. Mansfield said.
YMCA CEO Jon Sporer and Program Coordinator Gina McMahon introduced themselves to the council, saying both were new to Barry County YMCA, but Sporer has 20 years experience with the “Y” and McMahon has extensive contacts in the community. There were no questions for the pair, but a comment from Councilman Bill Redman: “You’re doing a great job.”
Photo: Some of the thousands of bike riders wait for their flight to start the Barry Roubaix in a prevous race.
