Cone-Azalia Classic Road Race

Help Wanted

2012-01-29T11:36:00.001-05:00

We are currently seeking volunteers to help in all aspects of the Cone Azalia Classic Road Race. If you have specific talents or are just interested in being part of this exciting event, we would like to hear from you. Contact us here at Coneazalia. Please include any relevant skills you have or if you have any special requests on assignments. We will attempt to accommodate people's requests as much as practical. Openings include course setup, registration assistance, race traffic control, and a number of other exciting opportunities.

Hammer is Back

2012-01-17T21:04:00.000-05:00

We are pleased to announce that Hammer Nutrition will once again be providing product support for the Cone Azalia Classic Road Race.

Hammer Nutrition has recognized the appeal of this unique event held each year along the picturesque roads of Milan, Michigan.

There's something special about suffering on the gravel roads this early in the season. Suffering that can only mean that another road racing season has begun and that the Michigan Challenge Series is on.

If you've never competed in Cone, you really need to add this one to your palmares. The bragging rites earned are legendary.

Plan on joining the Hammerfest on May 6, 2012. You owe it to yourself

2012 Race Date

2012-01-07T11:07:00.002-05:00

The Cone-Azalia Classic Road Race is scheduled for May 6, 2012. Mark your calendar! We'll have the course ready and in its usual 'pristine' condition. More details to come early this spring.

Also, the race is still part of the Michigan Challenge Race Series, even if it doesn't show up as such on the MBRA calendar yet!

Cat 1/2 race video

2011-05-08T18:39:00.001-04:00

The first lap of the Cat. 1/2 race as seen from the wheel car.

Race photos

2011-05-04T00:03:00.001-04:00

A few photo galleries from the race. If you have additional galleries you'd like to share, let us know in the comments.

Results are up!

2011-05-03T14:28:00.000-04:00

Results can be found here.

Thanks to everyone who came out and suffered through the potholes and mud to make this a successful race!

Ode to Cone

2011-04-30T16:44:00.000-04:00

Thanks to the indefatigable Joe Lekovish for this:

This race is SERIOUS. Billed as Michigan’s "Paris-Roubaix", the Cone lives up to the billing.

*beep* - Monroe County IS WESTERN FLANDERS!

Heed my advice, anything you have that is carbon fiber on your road bike, if you can, LEAVE IT AT HOME! Seriously! It may BREAK! Bike manufacturers love to sell you carbon fiber. It's tough and light, but it's made to break under tuff conditions and if it's anything, Cone is TUFF.

I remember the year the top team in Ohio rolled in with their beautiful carbon aero wheels. Those wheels were made for people who race in states like Arizona, Georgia or Florida, where the asphalt is smooth and popholes are an unknown entity. Ohio - no, Indiana - no, Illinois - i'd pass. Michigan - DEFINITELY NOT. The whole team was DNF’d by the first lap and they laid out their punctured and torn tubulars next to their van like it was a body-count! I almost cried seeing that.

The course is a 10.5 mile circuit with about 4 miles of unpaved roads. It’s pancake flat and if the wind is blowing, THERE WILL BE PAIN. Now these roads will range from sun-caked, hard packed dirt, ala the Bonneville Salt Flats, to loose gravel with razor sharp stones. Ask the promoter what the course will be like this year and his response will be “depends what the Monroe County Road Commission wants to do that week”.

I’ve raced eight consecutive Cones and I’ve only flatted ONCE. I have a wheelset I use especially for Cone. It's heavy and slow and Iove riding it on Hines Drive where potholes are a-plenty. WHEELS: Sun MA-14 rims, 32 hole, 3x, 14g spokes laced to Shimano 105 hubs.TIRES: Continental Sport 1000’s, 700x28. TUBES: Thick, cyclocross tubes meant for 700x35 tires, which will move inside your tires and avoid pinch-flatting.

Despite all the hardships Cone throws at a bike racer, or maybe because of all the hardships, Cone is a beautifully surreal race. The horizon stretches for miles across freshly plowed farm fields. The wind sweeing across the landscape takes on an orchestral quality that mixes nicely with the whir of your bike gears, the beating of your heart and the gasping of your accompanying participants.

I LOVE CONE

If you can, before the race mount a set up like the one described above on your bike then go out and hammer down every dirt road you can find. Intentionally run into curbs and do everything you can to force a pinch flat or to knock the wheels out of true. If you avoid flats, broken spokes and taco’d wheels….. you’re ready for Cone!

Online registration about to close! Volunteers needed!

2011-04-27T09:44:00.000-04:00

Just a reminder that online registration closes at 10:00PM tonight. Register now and save $5 over race day entry!

Also, we are in need of some volunteers to be Corner Marshals on race day. This is a very easy task and no experience is needed, if you or someone you know can help out with this it would be greatly appreciated and would go a long way toward helping to make this a safe and successful event. Send volunteer info to Dave Vannette.

Prizes from PearTreePens.com!

2011-04-26T22:25:00.001-04:00

Here is a preview of the prizes that we will be giving out at the race:

(Note: These prizes are in addition to any monetary prizes for placing)

Prometheus Watch Company JellyFish Automatic Watch
-We have two (2) of these watches to give as prizes. One will go to the person who completes the fastest lap of the day and the second watch will go to the winner of the Masters 35+ race

Omas Arte Italiana - Sparkles Ballpoint Pen - Violet
-For the women we have this beautiful pen for the winner of the Women's Category 1/2/3 race

Jac Zagoory Pen Holder - Warrior 2 Pose
-The winner of the Women's Category 4 field we will give this great pen holder

Less than 1 week to race day!

2011-04-25T21:50:00.001-04:00

Online registration closes Wednesday, April 27th, so don't forget to get registered! The weather forecast is partly sunny and 65 degrees - perfect racing weather!

Thanks to our presenting sponsor PearTreePens.com, we will have one watch to give away for the fastest lap of the day (all fields are eligible). Another watch will go to one of the men's fields; and for the women we have a very nice pen and a nice pen holder that we will be giving as awards. Check out the PearTreePens.com website to see all of their great products!

Early Registration Ends Tomorrow!

2011-04-19T10:36:00.000-04:00

New prizes!!!

2011-04-13T21:43:00.002-04:00

We are happy to announce that PearTreePens.com will be providing a number of really exciting prizes for Cone-Azalia, including a few watches valued at $400. One of these will be given as a prize for the fastest lap of the day!! Look for more announcements of cool prizes, including some for the women's fields, in the coming days.

Registration is available online!

2011-04-02T18:15:00.000-04:00

Follow this link to register for the Cone Azalia Classic road race: Registration

Register early and save $10!

Cone-Azalia Welcomes Hammer Nutrition

2011-03-13T15:33:00.001-04:00

The good folks from Hammer Nutrition have signed on to provide event sponsorship for this year's Cone-Azalia Classic Road Race. Look for product and information in your registration packet as well as HEED to be provided for your race electrolyte needs.

For over two decades, Hammer Nutrition has helped tens of thousands of endurance athletes start strong, stay strong, and finish strong. Combining their fuels with their knowledge and support is your ticket to successfully fueling your body for optimum performance.

Hammer Nutrition is an enthusiastic sponsor of the Cone-Azalia Classic Road Race and invites you to visit them at www.hammernutrition.com.

2011 Planning is Underway

2011-03-07T11:39:00.000-05:00

We're currently working to confirm details for the 2011 Cone-Azalia Classic. Check back here soon for additional details.

Race Results

2010-05-10T08:03:00.000-04:00

The results from Cone-Azalia are available here.

Thanks so Much!

2010-05-10T08:01:00.001-04:00

Many thanks go to everyone who came to the race on Sunday: volunteers, racers, parents, friends, family, officials, spectators, and others! With it being Mother's Day, we particularly appreciate that everyone spent a part of their day at the Cone-Azalia Classic Road Race.

Without the efforts of many volunteers, a race like this would not be possible. A huge thank you goes out to the following people for their help in making the event go smoothly, be safe, and keep the unique challenge of the Cone-Azalia roads on the MBRA schedule for another year.

RACE ORGANIZERS AND COORDINATORS
Ben Penner
Lucas Wall

COURSE AND REGISTRATION SET UP
Bob Shank
Rich Stark
Lucas Wall
Ben Penner
Sean Geary
Javier Samayoa
Joseph Miessner

REGISTRATION
Rachel Vannette
Jennifer Vannette
Will Cawthorn
David Palan
Sarah Penner
Molly Shelton
Austin Shelton
Lisa Zaccone
Laura Johnson
Alice Jo Rainville

RACE VEHICLES
David Palan
Ben Penner
Zack Maino
Sam Zaccone
Jeff Vannette
Gahl Berkooz
Rick Rainville
Aaron Vermeulen

OFFICIALS
John Sammut
Richard Williams

CORNER MARSHALLS
Daniella Iordache
Susanna Mettler
Laurel Stark
Joann Cavaletto
Todd Askew

TAKE DOWN CREW
Rich Stark
Laurel Park
Ben Penner
Javier Samayoa
Daniella Iordache

FOOD AND SNACKS
Ben Penner
Alice Jo Rainville
Javier Samayoa

OTHER ASSISTANCE AND SUPPORT
James Partridge and The Pear Tree Pen Company
Robert Linden and the staff from Tailwind

Julieann Grant

Major Thompson and multiple officers from the Monroe County Sheriff's Office

Milan High School
Milan Township

Course Preview Video

2010-05-07T22:01:00.002-04:00

Watch this four minute tour of the course to see the roads that will be covered during the race. The video was taken last year so it doesn't show the fresh grated roads. That means less potholes and more gravel. The footage is shaky, but so is the race course.

Pre-registration closes Thursday at 2:00 p.m.

2010-05-05T20:28:00.001-04:00

Online registration for Cone-Azalia closes in less than 24 hours. Sign up ahead of time to make check in easy and quick on Sunday—just sign the pre-printed release we'll have ready for you, grab your number and timing chip, and you'll be on your way!

Race registration will be available, too, but make sure you stop by the registration area early to you have time to register before getting ready for the race.

Registration and check-in opens at 8:00 and closes at 9:30 a.m.

PLEASE NOTE: New Race Date

2010-04-15T09:10:00.000-04:00

The Cone-Azalia Classic Road Race will take place on May 9, 2010, one week later than originally advertised. Due to a conflict of events on and along the course, plus an open date one week later on the race schedule meant this was the best option for hosting the event. Change your calendars and tell your friends!

Get to know Cone-Azalia

2010-01-29T20:16:00.003-05:00

Curious about “The Paris-Roubaix of the Midwest”? Check out last year’s website for videos and details about the event over the last few years.