at the Halloween Cross
Crusade event last season.
(File photo)
Kris Schamp has done it again. The man that has injected life into the Portland race scene with his popular short track mountain bike race series and events at Kruger’s Farm on Sauvie Island, has just announced his latest creation: The Kruger’s Kermesse Farm Crit.
Borrowing from his Belgian roots, Schamp wants to bring the “kermesse” — a traditional Belgian-style summer bike race that accompanies a celebration and feast — to the Rose City.
Slated for September 15, the “cyclocross-style criterium” will take place on the farm roads of Kruger’s Farm on Sauvie Island (just a few miles north of Portland).
Schamp says, this will not be the usual downtown crit (a type of race where road cyclists complete laps around a short course).
Here’s more from Schamp,
(Photo: Kris Schamp)
“The race 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… everything will be 100% rideable (no barriers or dismounts).
Just think about it as Portland’s mini-version of Paris-Roubaix, sans cobblestones.”
And in addition to the racing, Kruger’s Farm is a perfect place for spectators. Schamp plans live music, a beer garden, gourmet food (catering by Kruger’s Farm Market and Salvador Molly’s), and a shwag raffle.
For more details, check out the official event website.