Book of Chad

Rebecca’s Private Idaho Queens Stage Race (QSR) is an iconic gravel cycling event situated in the breathtaking landscapes of Idaho. Founded by the renowned cyclist Rebecca Rusch, this race draws participants from around the world to tackle challenging terrain. The QSR is a 3-day stage race where the 3rd day is part of a larger single-day event. The QSR uses an omnium scoring format and consists of a mountain bike stage, a hill climb ITT and a 100-mile gravel race. All the stages must be completed on the same bike, although tire changes between stages are allowed.

Lindsay had wanted to do this race next year as it overlapped with our plans to race the Gravel Royal stage race. That race was cancelled due to forest fires which meant we had the vacation time but no plans. The week before the race we signed up and started packing all on the same night. We used our truck camper to get to Ketchum Idaho and after 2 days of driving, we found that the Sun Valley was full of great camping sites. After we set up camp we went out for a shake-down ride to stretch our legs and couldn’t help but notice it seemed harder to push the pedals over which led to a question. What altitude are we at? Looking it up we learned just then we had signed up for a race at altitude.

Stage 1: The Mountain Bike Stage

Before the start it was freezing, like there was ice. I was shivering and Rebecca Rusch was rubbing my arms and back to warm me up. As the start neared the sun was coming out and the forecast was to go from 2 degrees Celsius to 22 degrees Celsius in just a couple hours. At the start line, I peeled down to just the summer race kit and was ready for launch. I lined up in line behind my two BC compatriots John Vanderveen and Michael Van Den Ham.

We launched alright and it was full gas right away. I stayed glued to John’s wheel and trusted that he would carry me safely as far as my heart could go. 193 that’s as far as it could go, 25 minutes in the elastic stretched and broke. A small group formed with eventual women’s winner Sarah Max. As we hit the single climb it was everyone for themselves and Sarah started to disappear in front of me. I couldn’t see anyone behind and I was not sure how many made it in front so I pushed on alone with short glimpses of Sarah around every corner. The climb itself was steep and loose, I averaged a cadence of 57 rpm and spent several minutes in the low 40s. I made it to the top without having to get off my bike which was the goal up until that point. Now a fast chunky single track decent with berms and jumps. This is where my setup shines, did I mention I had a dropper post? I was flying in the drops and dropper down. I was pulling back time on Sarah and could see her on every straight just a little bit closer. As I caught up to her my attention was taken from the ground to her back wheel so I wouldn’t run into her and just then I hit a sharp rock and sealant sprayed out. I slowed down and readied my plug kit however the SILCA sealant did its job and I was back to it with a little more front wheel grip. After the single track, we were back on the gravel road that brought us outbound. We traded turns and started to work together until Thiago Costa caught us, and then we were three. We passed by the finish line for one more out-and-back section that the three of us worked well together on. However, with 1.2 km left to the finish my legs were cooked and I faded off the back of our group. I pedalled the best I could manage to the finish and ended up 8th.

Distance: 57km
Time: 2:24:39
Avg Speed: 23.51 kph
Avg Power: 187 W
Normalized Power: 215 W Elevation Gain: 866 m
Place: 8th

Stage 2: Individual Time Trial Hill Climb

The time trial day is probably my most dreaded event, throw in that it is entirely uphill and at altitude and it becomes fairly ominous. This time trial had a group ride neutral out and a ride back at your own time. We set off in our large group and pedalled along at a conversational pace out of town. We hit the gravel road and although we split up a bit we were still in large groups slowly gaining elevation up to the Dollarhide peak. When we got to the start area I was already tired and short of breath. We were at 2200m and about to climb over 2600. The top 10 female riders lined up first in reverse order followed by the top 10 males and then the other categories, after that it was everyone for themselves. I was the 3rd male to start and after the conversation with Michael Van den Ham and John Vanderveen the night before where we calculated our power numbers at the altitude, I knew they would be on my quick. My goals were sub 30 mins and 243 NP. I set off pretty fast waiting for my heart rate to reach threshold, and once I got to 188 bpm I stopped looking at power and focussed on keeping that number.

I didn’t catch a single guy in front of me and got passed by all the other top 10. I was able to work my way through the women’s top 10 a little and even had a funny part where I caught Amity Rockwell in a corner only to have her go away from me again, finally to catch her at the finish line and cross side by side.

On the way back down the climb I cheered on those coming afterwards and even stopped to help a guy change a flat, who must have hit the only sharp rock on the whole climb. Once at the start of the timed section I collected my gear waited for Lindsay and then we headed out together back to town to officially finish the stage.

Distance: 80km total 7.4km timed
Time: 29:44
Avg Speed: 14.7 kph
Avg Power: 236 W
Normalized Power: 241 W Elevation Gain: 425 m
Place: 18th

Stage 3: 100 Mile Gravel Race

The 3rd Stage is also the main event for RPI the field size quadruples as fresh riders join. It starts neutral and tame as we leave the city and starts for real at the bottom of the biggest climb. I wanted to go with the lead group for as long as possible and hopefully form the second group over the top. Although that was the result I was completely shelled early my heart rate was 196bpm and my legs were burning with lactate.

The second group formed and we were ripping on the descent. As it flattened out we were working well as a group and the speed was high. At 1:25 into the race, I went through a large bumpy section and my chain came off, I tried to will it back into place but it was just getting tangled up through the washboard. I pulled over dismounted and untaggled it. I hopped back on the bike and joined the third group the only problem was I was suffering every acceleration and every time the grade went up I was falling off the wheel until the elastic eventually snapped. I was alone as I turned into the longest, straightest, and flattest piece of road. Just my luck it was a headwind. Not just any headwind but the strongest I have ever ridden into. I was alone for quite some time until a group of 5 caught up to me and we rotated. The course turned and the wind became a crosswind, in order to stay in shelter you had to ride on the washboard. The group of 6 became of group of 4 and then a group as 3 as I fell off again. At this point in the race we were almost half way and the turn around point fixed the wind problem and became a false flat down. I pushed on alone pushing over a big gear and keeping the speed up. Skipping aid stations and riding strong alowed me to overtake riders as my rythum returned. When every thing was looking up A rock flung into my derailure and bent my hanger, I was able to use my easiest gear and almost the whole bottom half of the cassette. The climbing gears would skip and jump and it made it hard to get a cadence in the climb that suited me. At the technical section as we climbed up a loose rocky double track I lost 5 places. When I reached the top and decended the chunky section I made up those 5 and 2 more. The final climb was the first decent outbound and it hurt 4 of the riders that I traded positions with in the tech section rode past as well as one Amity Rockwell. 5:30 minutes exactly into the race she went by and laughed as she recognized me. She encouraged me to latch on, and I did try but there was nothing left in the legs. At the top of the climb however I was ripping determined to make back a few places. I took some risk on the dirt road corners and with the dropper post allowing me to get aero on the straights I reached over 70kph. Two of the last guys I went by were able to latch onto me and the three of us rolled turns on the pavement towards the finish. Then in the distance I saw Amity, As we got closer I yelled to her to give her a heads up and allow her to catch on. The now group of 4 rolled turns and we passed a couple more riders before the finish. As we got 500m to the finished there were some glances made and Amity and I opened up the sprint. I managed to out pace her and we were followed by the other two guys through the line. The race was the worse I have ever felt during a race, I truly did not have the strength in my legs that I am used to. I was able to keep the pedals turning and finish in a respectable 31st.

Distance: 166km
Time: 6:03:59
Avg Speed: 26.5 kph
Avg Power: 162 W
Normalized Power: 186 W Elevation Gain: 1806 m
Place: 18th stage race 31st overall

Overall the stage race was a lot of fun and a great experience. My final ranking was 13th and I’ll take that for my first stage race. With a little more planning and preparation I believe there could have been a fair amount of performance gains. As it was we chose to do this race the week before and it beat all expectations of a good time. The Sun Valley is a beautiful place to ride gravel and explore. I would do this event again in the future if I get the opportunity.