Kruger's Kermesse 2013 | Sunday, May 19

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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!

Thanks everyone who came out to the 2013 Spring 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. Final results are posted on OBRA. Also make sure to check out the great photos (including a bunch of podium shots) posted by Jose S, Effie S, Nita G and Jeff S.

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, Portland Desing Works and Bob's Red Mill;
- The OBRA crew, our announcer Luciano, and our first-aid provider Bonnie, for keeping track of the racers and tending to the fallen;
- The 15+ 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!

On Sunday May 19, Portland Racing and Bike N' Hike present the return of the Kruger's Kermesse Farm Crit, a fun and novel off-road bike race held at Kruger's Farm in the beautiful countryside of Sauvie Island (just 20' from downtown Portland).

Note: this is NOT your usual road 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 map & course preview video (the 2013 course will be very similar to the 2011 edition) and the 2011 race report by Oregon Cycling Action.

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 local, organic beer on tap 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 stage our ever-popular Farm Team Relay Race, a fun and exciting 30' race on a super-compact farm crit course, featuring up to 20 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) and a free raffle for all racers in attendance.

Categories:
Men Open : Men A, Men B, Men C, Clydesdale, Singlespeed, Beginner Men
Master Men: Men A 35+, Men B 35+, Men C 35+, Men 50+
Women Open : Women A, Women B/C (combined), Beginner Women
Master Women: Women A 35+, Women B 35+, Women 45+
Juniors: Junior Men 12-18, Junior Women 12-18

Schedule:
10:00am - Women B/C, 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 - Ultra Farm Team Relay Race (30 min)
2:45pm - Awards, Raffle & Good Times!

Race Fees:
Online (until 5/5): Juniors $10 - Adults $20
Online (after 5/5): Juniors $12 - Adults $22
Online (after 5/15): Juniors $15 - Adults $25
At the race: Juniors $15 - Adults $25
Second Race: $5 / Team Relay: $10/team
This is an OBRA sanctioned event. OBRA licenses (annual or 1-day) can be purchased when you pre-register online or at the race.
Parking at the farm is FREE!

Awards & Prizes & Goodies:
- Custom medals for top 3 finishers in each category.
- $300 purse for Cat A Men and Cat A Women.
- Free raffle for all racers