Amish Country Roubaix

A lone rider tests the course for Amish Country Roubaix.

Extreme sports are on the rise and bicycling is no exception. Enter the Amish Country Roubaix, complete with gravel, dirt and worse. Fashioned after the Paris-Roubaix, a one day professional bicycle race in northern France, this local challenging event will be held Sunday, April 21, at noon from the Holmes County Fairgrounds in Millersburg. It's sponsored by Ride On Wooster Bicycle's Soupcan Mountain Bike racing team.

Like its professional counterpart, the Holmes County ride will feature rough terrain and challenging elevations with some unique culture thrown in. Instead of going home a winner with a cobblestone, victors of this local race will take home a horseshoe for their efforts, along with other prizes.

Like the original race, this event will feature a very challenging course in the heart of Amish Country, including pavement, gravel, dirt and more. Depending on weather conditions, participants may need to consider all terrain tires or a mountain or cyclecross bike instead of a road bike.

The 45-mile course will start with a neutral roll-out from the fairgrounds and a long sustained climb to get riders warmed up. After winding along township roads for the majority of the course, riders will finish up on the Holmes County Trail. 

For more information, go to http://amishcountryroubaix.com. To register, go to www.bikereg.com. Registration closes at 7 p.m. the Friday before the race.