Rouge Roubaix Update

March 17, 2010

Birds were singing and the sun rose into clear skies over the tops of the trees in St. Francisville for the start of this year’s Rouge Roubaix, on March 7th.

Lars Adam Johnson trained as well as he possibly could for this legendary race, known as the “Hell of the South.” He logged hours on the indoor trainer after his family had gone to bed on cold winter nights. On weekends, he worked hard to memorize the gristled, rutted, dirt avenues around the northern toe of Louisiana’s boot, into Mississippi. Yet, on race day, Johnson was taken down in a crash at mile ten.

Crashes often happen early in races, when packs of riders are filled with adrenaline and anticipation for the tough day that’s yet to come.

Johnson didn’t break any bones, but “I lost both of my water bottles, my nutrition, and perhaps, my nerve. I twisted my seat post up and didn’t have any tools,” Johnson said. Bleeding from road rash, his cycling jersey and shorts in tatters, Johnson decided to turn around and come back to his car.

“Discretion might be the better part of valor,” said Johnson. “I was feeling alright and was pretty well positioned for the first gravel section. I’m kind of disgusted, but these things happen.”

Will he be back for more next year? “Definitely,” Johnson says. He’s wanted to do the race ever since he first heard about it two years ago. It’s not a goal he’s going to let go of. This August, he plans to do a 100-mile mountain bike race, and then it’ll be back to training for the thirteenth Rouge Roubaix next spring.

This year’s race drew many of cycling’s elite from around the country, including members of Hotel San Jose/Mellow Johnnie’s Presents, the team that is sponsored by Lance Armstrong’s Austin bicycle shop. The winner of the men’s elite race was Matthew Davis from Team La’Sport, out of Shreveport. Top professional women’s squads showed up, as well. The winner of the women’s elite race was Louisiana native Shontell Gauthier, who now is an Austin-based professional racer for the team COLAVITA/BACI presented by COOKING LIGHT. Several Baton Rouge teams were well represented, including Raising Cane’s Racing and the Tiger Cycling Foundation.