The Cherry Blossom Classic features four stages in and around The Dalles.
The Cherry Blossom Cycling Classic, which offers four stages over three days April 23-25 in The Dalles, has added a new course and a slightly re-arranged race schedule. The 2010 version will feature road races the first two days and culminate with a time trial/criterium doubleheader on Sunday.
Cherry Blossom will start as it did in 2009, with the Columbia Hills Road Race on the barren rolling hills southeast of The Dalles. Bissell Pro Cycling Team’s Paul Mach rode away from the men’s pro/1/2 field last year on this opening stage and gained enough time to secure the overall victory.
With the time trial and criterium moved to Sunday, the 2010 edition will serve up its second road race on Saturday, but the Columbia Gorge Road Race course of 2009 and its repeated ascents of the aptly named Seven-Mile Hill is gone. In its place, the Orchard Run Circuit Race will take riders through the cherry orchards in the hills above town.
“After hearing comments like ‘burning legs,’ ‘forsaken hill’ and ‘demoralizing,’ we knew we had to make some changes,” race director Chad Sperry said of last year’s difficult climb. “After all, this isn’t June, and it’s not the Mt. Hood Cycling Classic.”
Sperry said the new course features a roller coaster ride through cherry orchards that should be in full bloom. Views of Mt. Adams, Mt. Hood and the Columbia River will greet riders as they power up a series of short big-ring climbs and over rolling terrain. The Sunday morning time trial and afternoon/evening criterium will wrap things up.
For more information on the stages, click “more” to go to the next page …
STAGE 1
Columbia Hills Road Race
Friday, April 23
This course debuted in 2006 as stage 2 of the Mt. Hood Cycling Classic and appeared again in 2007. This classic course also kicked off the Cherry Blossom Classic’s inaugural stage in 2009. Neither favoring true sprinters nor climbers, the Columbia Hills Road Race course is for those who ride on brute strength. The largest climb 5% for 1.5 miles. Wind is typically the biggest challenge; it can blow hard across the treeless landscape and whip through the canyons.
STAGE 2
Orchard Run Circuit Race
Saturday, April 24
The Orchard Run Circuit Race is new for 2010 and replaces 2009’s Columbia Gorge Road Race. Careening over roads above The Dalles, the course takes riders through the heart of the cherry orchards when they are in full bloom. Cat 4 men and the women’s races will run laps on the short circuit. The pro/1/2 men, cat 3 men, and masters men will start with two quick laps of the short circuit before shooting off onto the large circuit loop were they will be hit with several short power climbs on the course and the short fast dirt road climb up Pleasant Ridge. Wind tends to not be a huge factor due to the topography and location, but the constantly curving and snaking road could lend itself to an easy breakaway opportunity. The race finishes on a short, steep pitch. A breathtaking course with amazing views of Mt. Adams, Mt. Hood, and the Columbia River Gorge winding through a sea of white blooming orchards.
STAGE 3
8-Mile Time Trial
Sunday, April 25
This winding “Crash Canyon” course debuted in the 2006 Mt. Hood Cycling Classic as the final stretch to the finish line of a road race. As a time trial course it offers a beautiful and quiet venue where riders ascend a gradual 2% grade along 8-Mile Creek to the turnaround. It’s all downhill to the finish from there. Fast times are expected on this smooth course.
STAGE 4
Cherry City Criterium
Sunday, April 25
The final stage offers a fast, flat rectangular criterium course. No significant elevation gain or loss with wide roads used for the course will make this an all-out drag race. Great asphalt and tons of space to move make this is a true criterium course in every sense.
Go to www.cherryblossomclassic.com for registration and race information.
