Rumor Mill: Former Champ Hushvold To Miss Marin-Roubaix?

Sometimes the world is a truly cruel place. In what will certainly become a huge blow to PHRO, the Ken Hushvod Boosters, the township of San Rafael and Hushvold himself, rumors are circulating that former champion Ken Hushvod will not be at the start of the 2012 Marin Roubaix.

After signing a huge contract with Walgreens/HP earlier this year, Hushvod apparently lost significant control of his racing and personal schedule. Hushvod is apparently being compelled to ride in the Walgreens GP based in Deerfield, IL. Walgreens, a major sponsor and contributor to Hushvod's many charities has demanded his presence in the inaugural Deerfield race.

"I am devastated, truly devastated!" said a member of the Hushvod boosters found outside Cafe Roma in San Rafael. "I know Ken had big plans for this year's edition of the Marin World Cup. He has been so strong lately. I know he wanted the overall victory this year. Joos must change the date! The Marin Roubaix without Hushvod? The race will not exist for me!"

Apparently a few protesters outside the San Rafael Wells Fargo were asking for Joos Lodewick's head because of the date change of this ever popular race. However, it has been reported that even if the race was held on the normal Wednesday night, Hushvod would still be unable to attend. A high ranking official at Walgreens has stated that Hushvod will be "performing his contracted duties" for the entire week.

Hushvod and Walgreens/HP issued "no comment" at press time, and Joos Lodewick, PHRO president did not return several calls.

2012 SanRaflaanderrs Course Announced

PHRO Releases Route to Public

Foray into the North, Monte SanRafaael Produces Mixed Reactions

With his typical aplomb, PHRO President and Head Jackmonkey, Joos Lodewick, held court today at the 2012 Ronde vonSanRaflaanderran Route Presentation Gala,

unveiling a parcors that has turned the fake bike racing world on its collective ear. Never, in the multi-month history of the Ronde, has a route so thoroughly flouted tradition while simultaneously paying homage to its esteemed heritage. The revealing of the route was greeted with audible gasps of shock, awe, outrage, disinterest and delight, in equal measures. What is all the fuss about? Where to begin...

At the outset, the 2012 course starts as the first ever Ronde finished; with the seldom used Highlandberg, the climb where Jonas Lodewick launched his attack as well as his career in 2007. At this point, all looks well and normal but riders are in for a nasty surprise as the Highlandberg only serves as an amuse bouche before they are slapped in the face with the daunting slopes of the mighty Monte-SanRafaael. A lofty peak that whose summit is only reachable by an unpaved goat track of a road, the Monte-SanRafaael has never been included in SanRaflaanderrs and many traditionalists are claiming that, due to it's length, gradient and elevation, it is not appropriate for inclusion in the Ronde, where traditionally the shorter and steeper bergs have been the signature feature in the fake race.

The fun doesn't stop there as the fake-race will take a rare detour into Northern SanRaflaanderrs, a remote region normally reserved for strip malls, office parks and more importantly, The Marin-Roubaix. While the Ronde will not tackle the famed Railroad d'Arenberg, trips to the north are rare enough that those who were skeptical of the Monte-SanRafaael will only have more fuel for their luddite, traditionalist fire.

After a quick bump over the Fawnberg, the group will be treated to a quick foray into

the depths of Sleepy Hollow where riders will attempt to maintain traction on the gravely grades of the never before used Winkleberg. For many, this would be a full day's riding but at this point, the Ronde is only at the halfway mark. With more new ascents of the fearsome Ironberg (which many are calling this year's (Kingberg) and Scenicberg back to back, many will surely be feeling the effort as the fake-race returns to more well known locales.

The final course in this smorgasbord of suffering is the terrible trio of the Humbleberg, the venerable Redwoodberg and the grusomely steep Havenberg which were made famous by the daring and victorious escape of Markus Clijisters in the 2010 edition. All that is left is a final sprint up to the hilltop chapel and the finish line.

Stay tuned next week for rider interviews and reactions from the Presentation Gala and Press Conference.