Rasputitsa Coverage Around the Internet

In the wake of last Saturday's inaugural running of the Rasputitsa bike race in the Northeast Kingdom of Vermont, some online articles & videos about the race have appeared.

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The Newport Dispatch

The Chronicle (Vermont's Northeast Kingdom Past and Present)

Recovery Poutine (from www.Iamtedking.com) - Ted King, a professional cyclist fresh off a little spring ride called Paris-Roubaix joined the legions of riders at the Rasputitsa.

Like It's Your Last (CouchingTiger Blog) - The author finished 6th overall.

Video

Some good video posted here - Cyberia, the Lanterne Rouge, the start, Tim Johnson

2014 Rasputitsa Newport, VT - a collage of photographs by Patrick McCaffrey

Dirty 40 and Rasputitsa Gravel Road Race in Coventry, VT - 11 minute posting of the racers ascending a long dirt climb in Coventry. Posted by Donald P. Hunt.

Brian Nolan's - Rasputitsa Gravel Road Race:

Rasputitsa

From the good people in the Northeast Kingdom of Vermont who brought us the Dirty 40, we can now look forward to the 1st ever Rasputitsa. Huh? Sounds vaguely salacious.

Turns out that Rasputitsa, in Russian, means "mud season when roads become difficult to traverse." Or so the web page says. Turns out that's essentially correct. Gnarly, dude! Indeed. Covering some of "Vermont's coldest and barren landscapes" this inaugural race covers 47 miles, 31 of which are described as being on "gravel." Or more likely on mud and ice and potholes and frost heaves.

So now I have a training goal ala Ventoux Calls. I have essentially three months to develop some race conditioning. My weight is good right now but I'll need to build strength and endurance. That may prove challenging given the time of year, but InI must try.

"Remember, the Lanterne Rouge Goes to the Gulag"