Kruger's Kermesse Farm Crit - Sun Aug 28, 2011

Thanks everyone who came out to the 2011 edition of the Kruger's Kermesse to race or to cheer!

The weather turned out real nice, the course kicked ass, and the glory was 100% earned. Sprinkler Alley, the vegetable team relay race and the $1 Hopworks beers were all a major hit and I saw a lot of smiles. Don Kruger much liked watching the racers flying over his farm roads and he is already looking forward to our next rendez-vous at the farm: the Kruger's Crossing Cyclocross Classic (on Sunday Nov 20)... so mark your calendars!

Also make sure to check the following links:
Results of the regular races
Photos of all the podiums and the team relay race
Results of the team relay race
Cat A Race write-up and a gallery with some gorgeous action photos, posted by Pat Malach on Oregon Cycling Action

We like to thank:
- Our title sponsor Bike N Hike for helping us putting on the event and providing mechanical support;
- our other generous sponsors: Hopworks Urban Brewing, Nossa Familia Coffee, Chris King, Hammer Nutrition;
- the OBRA crew and our first-aid provider, for keeping track of the racers and tending to the fallen;
- our announcer Luciano, who outperformed himself once more and reaped the rewards of it during the raffle;
- the 20+ volunteers who did an amazing job setting up the course, getting people through registration, counting laps, marshaling around the course, and cleaning up down to the last cone.

Last but not least, a major shout to Don Kruger and all the friendly folks over at Kruger's Farm. We are very fortunate to have farmers like Don who make their property available for fun unique events like these and for all to enjoy the beauty of our farmlands. Please support them and their farm store, whenever you are out for a ride at Sauvie Island. Time for cyclocross now... see you around at the races! ~Kris Kris Schamp Portland Racing

~Kris

Kris Schamp
Portland Racing

Kruger's Kermesse Farm Crit Series

Kermesse ~ 1. annual, local celebration, common in the area of Belgium and northern France, accompanied by feasting, dancing and sports of all kinds.
2. (a.k.a. kermiskoers) Belgian style summer bike race, staged during local kermesse festivities. Good times, on and off the course!

On Sunday August 28, Portland Racing and Bike N' Hike present the Kruger's Kermesse Farm Crit, a fun and novel bike race held at Kruger's Farm, in the beautiful countryside of Sauvie Island (only 20' from downtown Portland!). This race will be the perfect segway into cyclocross season and make for a great training opportunity for novice and seasoned cross racers alike... and a fun one to boot!

This will NOT be your usual downtown crit. The race - open for racers of all ages and all abilities - will probably feel more like a fast and non-technical cyclocross race over hard-packed farm roads, featuring some potholes, some ruts, a sprinkle of gravel, a bit of sand, and depending on the weather, possibly some mud. However, everything will be 100% rideable (no barriers or dismounts). Just think about it as Portland's mini-version of Paris-Roubaix, sans cobblestones. To get a better idea of what we're talking about, check out the course preview video below, the course map, last year's race report and photos by Oregon Cycling Action, and various photos of previous editions.

Throughout the afternoon and evening, racers and spectators will be able to kick back on the concert lawn, located behind the farm store, right next to the finish line. We'll have a beer garden, a live band and gourmet food (roasted corn, woodstove pizza, grilled burgers & ribs, etc), catered by Kruger's Farm Market and their concession stands.

At 2pm (after the end of the Cat A and Singlespeed races), we will bring back the Kruger's Farm Team Relay Race, a fun and exciting 30' race on a super-compact farm crit course, featuring up to 25 teams of 4 to 10 racers and farm-appropriate exchange batons (think zucchinis, corn ears and other seasonal edibles grown at the farm!). Finally, we'll wrap up the day with awards (for all categories), freshly brewed Hopworks beer, and a free raffle for all racers in attendance.

Categories and Race Schedule (in starting order)
10:00am - Women B, Master Women B 35+, Beginner Men, Master Women 45+, Beginner Women, Junior Men 12-18, Junior Women 12-18 (40 min)
11:00am - Men B, Men C, Clydesdale (45 min)
11:45am - FREE Kiddie Race (Beginner 5 min, Expert 10 min)
Noon - Master Men B 35+, Master Men 50+, Master Men C 35+ (45 min)
1:00pm - Men A, Master Men A 35+, Women A, Master Women A 35+, Singlespeed (55 min)
2:15pm - Kruger's Farm Team Relay Race (30')
2:45pm - Awards, Raffle, Beer & Good Times!

Note: your racing age is your age on 12/31/2011.

Race Fees
Adults: $25 (includes $5 "Farm Support Fee" *) - Juniors: $10 - Second race: $5.00 - Team relay: $10
Kiddie Race: FREE (but parents still have to sign a waiver)
(*) Per request from Don Kruger, parking will be FREE this year, but we will tag a $5 "Farm Support Fee" to the adult race fee ($25).

Day-of-Race Registration
opens at 8:00am and closes 15 minutes before each race. Please schedule enough time for registration, especially if you still have to purchase an OBRA license.

To save time (and paper) on Sunday, please complete the online waiver and accident release form. This document need to be filled out for every racer, including kiddie racers.

More Info
Click here for the complete race flyer with more details about registration, bib numbers, directions, prizes, bike/tire choice, etc.