Barry-Roubaix.
The 18-mile Chiller is the shortest distance at Barry-Roubaix and, per kilometre, the hilliest of the four. Its 29 kilometres through Barry County carry around 370 metres of climbing, spread across a dozen short, steep gravel ramps. Nothing about it is a warm-up ride.
Barry-Roubaix 2027: Course, Elevation & Route Profile
The loop starts at the corner of Church Street and Center Street in Hastings and rolls a good two kilometres out of town on tarmac. Then the gravel begins, and with it the three ramps everyone here calls the Three Sisters: between kilometre 3.3 and 4.5, two climbs of half a minute to a minute and a half, the second averaging almost six per cent with pitches over eleven. Line up without a warm-up and this is where you pay for it.
The course does not flatten afterwards, it only becomes more irregular: 32 per cent of it points uphill, 33 per cent down, and only 31 per cent is level. The distance's single aid station comes at kilometre 15, shortly after which the route rejoins the 36-mile course, and at kilometre 22 the 62-mile riders merge in from the right. The finish is set up by Cook Road, a twisting, rolling gravel section, before the last mile on Green Street drags back to the line as a false flat.
The surface is what gives this event its character: Barry County gravel is mostly sandy dirt with small stones, unpaved for 85 per cent of the route, and its condition depends entirely on the weather. Mid-April in Michigan can mean dry dust, deep mud or frozen ground. The course is permanently signed with blue directional arrows and can be ridden year-round.
| Start | Length | Ø | Max. | Gain | Cat. |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| km 3.3 | 0.5 km | 4.1 % | 8.8 % | +18 m | — |
| km 4 | 0.5 km | 5.9 % | 11.6 % | +31 m | — |
| km 9 | 0.5 km | 3.3 % | 10.1 % | +15 m | — |
| km 13.5 | 0.6 km | 4.7 % | 9 % | +26 m | — |
| km 14.9 | 0.4 km | 4.6 % | 7.2 % | +19 m | — |
| km 23.5 | 0.4 km | 4.7 % | 8.3 % | +18 m | — |
| km 25.1 | 0.4 km | 3.2 % | 4.2 % | +12 m | — |
Climb categories follow the road-cycling convention and rate the terrain itself (length and gradient) regardless of sport: Cat. 4 marks the easiest rated climbs, Cat. 1 the hardest, and HC (hors catégorie, “beyond categorization”) is reserved for the most brutal ascents. Short climbs below the Cat. 4 threshold stay unrated.
How to pace Barry-Roubaix.
Sit in early
The Three Sisters at kilometre 3.3 are this distance's pacing trap, precisely because they come so early. After two flat tarmac kilometres in the shelter of your own start wave the legs are not open yet, and the second ramp bites at over eleven per cent. Ride the opening minutes deliberately controlled and accept that you will lose places here that come back on Cook Road.
Ration your effort
After that the allocation is simple but uncomfortable: there is not one longer flat section in which to recover. Ride the ramps seated, because loose sand costs traction the moment you stand, and use the descents actively to hold speed rather than to rest. At an hour to an hour and a half of riding, a pace just under threshold for the whole distance is realistic.
Race the finale
The finish decides more than the numbers suggest. The last mile on Green Street rises slightly and feels considerably harder than it is after all that rolling gravel. Hold a reserve back for it rather than spending it on the ramps at kilometre 23 and 25.
Training plan for Barry-Roubaix: 12-week build
Build endurance
Depending on fitness the effort lasts roughly 55 minutes to an hour and a half. The character is emphatically surgy: over two thirds of the course is going up or down, the climbs last 30 seconds to two minutes, and there is never enough flat in between to let the heart rate genuinely drop. This is an anaerobically coloured endurance race, not a time trial.
Train the climbs
The training emphasis belongs on short, repeated maximal efforts: blocks of eight to twelve surges of 45 to 90 seconds well above threshold, with short, incomplete recoveries. Add one weekly ride of two to three hours with 500 to 700 metres of climbing so that repeatability still holds after an hour in the saddle.
Ride race-specific
Because the race opens the season, preparing for it means winter training. Plan sessions in the cold and wet on purpose, and test clothing, gloves and overshoes under race conditions: mid-April in Michigan can deliver anything from mild spring weather to rain just above freezing.
Arrive fresh
On equipment this is the most forgiving distance in the event. Gravel, mountain and even fat bikes all work; what matters is that you can handle the bike you choose on a sandy surface. Practise cornering and accelerating in loose sand, because that is exactly where traction goes on the short ramps.
Courses
Download the Barry-Roubaix course as a GPX file for your watch or bike computer.
Let YOUB adapt your plan for Barry-Roubaix dynamically
Ben connects your goal, the course, current load, recovery, and calendar. Your plan stays pointed at race day even when real life is not perfectly plannable.
Everything about Barry-Roubaix.
How long is Barry-Roubaix?
Barry-Roubaix is 28.97 km long. That distance shapes how much aerobic endurance, pace durability, and race-specific work belong in the training plan.
How much elevation gain does Barry-Roubaix have?
Barry-Roubaix has around 374 m of elevation gain over 28.97 km. That affects pacing, muscular load, and preparation for late-race sections.
What is the route profile of Barry-Roubaix?
Barry-Roubaix is classified as Rolling, averaging 13.2 vertical metres per kilometre. 31% of the route is flat, 32% climbs moderately (2 to 6%) and 2% is steeper than 6%.
What climbs does Barry-Roubaix have?
The hardest climb of Barry-Roubaix starts at kilometre 4, runs for 0.5 km at an average of 5.9% and gains 31 metres. 7 climbs are mapped in total.
Is Barry-Roubaix a loop course?
Yes, Barry-Roubaix is laid out as a loop: start and finish are in the same place.
Is there a GPX file for the Barry-Roubaix course?
Yes. The Barry-Roubaix course is on this page as a free GPX download — ready to import into Garmin, Wahoo, Komoot, Strava or any other app that reads GPX.
How should I prepare for Barry-Roubaix?
Preparation for Barry-Roubaix should account for 28.97 km, 374 m of elevation gain, current training load, and available training time. An adaptive plan helps place key sessions without ignoring recovery and real life.
What pacing strategy works for Barry-Roubaix?
The pacing strategy for Barry-Roubaix should reflect 28.97 km, 374 m of elevation gain, and your current fitness. Start controlled and keep margin for sections where the profile or fatigue makes target pace harder.
When does Barry-Roubaix take place?
Barry-Roubaix takes place on April 17, 2027.
Where does Barry-Roubaix take place?
Barry-Roubaix takes place in Hastings, United States.
Which distances does Barry-Roubaix offer?
Barry-Roubaix offers 4 distances — 18 Mile "The Chiller": 28.97 km; 36 Mile "The Thriller": 57.94 km; 62 Mile "The Killer": 99.78 km; 100 Mile "Psycho Killer": 160.93 km.
How do I register for Barry-Roubaix?
Registration runs through the organiser: barry-roubaix.com. YOUB shows you the course, elevation profile and training plan for your preparation.
