The Bike at Dallas-Little Elm: 90 Rolling Kilometers Where the Wind Rules

The course in two lines

A single ~90 km (56.5-mile) loop on open roads heading into North Texas farm country. Wide roads, long straightaways, gentle grade changes: a course described as fast by those who've reviewed it on video. Elevation is the first thing to clear up: the revised 2027 course lists ~453 m, while other official sources report 370-417 m. Sources disagree: plan around a 370-450 m range, not a single number.

Translation: this is not a climbing-gear race. It's a surge race. False flats, rollers, accelerations out of corners. Your average wattage may look low at the end of the day, but normalized power climbs if you don't manage the surges.

The real opponent: the wind from the south

Mid-March weather history shows average winds around 17 km/h with gusts up to ~46 km/h from the south. This isn't theory: at the 2026 edition, several race reports describe a day with a wind advisory and gusts around 30 mph, and one dedicated recap calls the wind on the bike the dominant factor of the day.

What to do, in practice:

• Study the course orientation before you start. The bike course and transition map are available on ROUVY via the official course page. Identify the northbound sections (tailwind: push, pick up free speed) and the southbound sections (headwind: stay compact, don't burn watts defending your average).
• Into the headwind, hold your watts, not your speed. If your target is, say, the zone you hold on long tempo rides, hold it even when your computer reads 4-5 km/h slower. You'll get the average back in the tailwind sections.
• On straightaways with crosswinds, hands low and weight on the front end. With gusts over 40 km/h, a too-deep front wheel becomes a problem, especially if you're light. Consider a mid-depth front; a disc or deep rear wheel is less of an issue.

Pacing: how to break down the 90 km

With no long climbs, the risk is riding on feel and paying for the surges. Simple framework:

1. First 20 km: control. Cold legs after a 12-16 °C swim—let your body warm up. 2. Middle section: race pace, with discipline on the surges. Over the rollers, carry smooth pedaling over the crest instead of punching it: every spike above threshold comes back to bite you on the run. 3. Last 20 km: if you have a tailwind, this is where the course gives back speed. Don't raise your watts: raise your speed while holding the effort, and start prepping your legs for the 3 gravel loops.

As a reference, our rough estimates (not official data) put the bike split between 2:20 for a top age-grouper and 3:20 for a relaxed finisher.

Race-specific training

• Z3 surges: blocks like 4-6 x 8-10 minutes with 30-60 second surges inside, to simulate the rolling terrain.
• Clean shifting: on this terrain you shift constantly. Practice doing it without cadence gaps.
• Windy rides: if you live somewhere windy, use the worst days to train aero position and gust handling. If not, at least simulate long stretches in the aero position without coming out of it.
• ROUVY: use the virtual course to memorize where to push and where to shelter. Showing up at the start line knowing the exposed sections is worth more than any new wheel.

Decision to make now

Choose your wheels based on your weight and your confidence in crosswinds, not based on the catalog. And decide your number: the watt target (or perceived effort) you'll hold into the headwind when your speed drops. Writing it down beforehand is the only way you'll stick to it on race day.