• » Stacy Appelwick (Bouledogue Tout Noir) is a new national champion in only her second season of racing: She won today’s women’s 35-39 pursuit at the masters track national championships in Frisco, Texas.

• » 2 Bici Bicycle Shop has a photo of Laurent Fignon racing in Chicago.

• » Our city was represented well at last week’s Canadian-American Police Fire Games in Ohio, with medals going to Ronie Lopez (Beverly Bike/Vee-Pak), Jim Price (Iron Cycles), Tony Rienks (Beverly Bike/Vee-Pak) and Mike Seguin (XXX Racing-AthletiCo).

• » Enjoy some of the race reports, photos and videos from Sunday’s inaugural Cyclocross Relay Race in Jackson Park. With a capacity 50 teams in the co-ed race, I believe this may have been the most women to ever line up for a bike race in Illinois. The Chicago Cuttin’ Crew was already in mid-season form, winning two races and providing endless LOLz from the heckling couch.

• » Registration is open for the Chicago Cyclocross Cup. The 4A’s at Jackson Park are already more than half full, the women’s 4’s a quarter full, and I would not be surprised if many of the 4A’s and 4B’s races reach capacity weeks ahead of each race.

• » Team Pegasus is hosting a free cyclocross clinic for women in Humboldt Park on Monday. Next Saturday, Half Acre Cycling holds its own cyclocross clinic for women.

• » Verizon u25 gets some press in the Sun-Times.

• » The Huntington Bicycle Challenge is a two-day, 140-mile race in Indiana.

Soldier Field Cycling has scheduled its final night of racing for this Wednesday, Aug. 25. This is a make-up for the Aug. 4 cancellation, and registrations were transferred over. Online registration is open through Tuesday.

Just a reminder: This week’s Soldier Field Cycling race is Tuesday, not Wednesday. Pre-registration is open through tonight.

This is a make-up date for the rainout earlier this summer. No date has been announced to replace the Aug. 4 race, which was canceled for a presidential visit. 

This week’s Soldier Field Cycling race has been canceled for unspecified reasons. As with the early rain-out, registrations will transfer to a new date, to be determined. Refunds will be issued to riders who cannot make the alternative date.

The next Soldier Field race is currently scheduled for Tuesday, Aug. 17.

Update: ABD has sprung into action and will be hosting its Wednesday evening races in West Chicago this week. Also, don’t forget that Tuesday’s racing with the South Chicago Wheelmen will be in Joliet this week. Each evening is a great way to stay sharp in a fun, collegial atmosphere.

• » Chris Horner, prodigious eater of hamburgers and Radio Shack’s GC contender in the Tour de France, will speak at Vision Quest in Highland Park tonight. RSVP is required, and fewer than 50 of the 250 spots remain.

• » ABR’s state criterium championships will be in Wood Dale on Sunday, Aug. 8. (It was briefly moved to the 15th in an attempt to accommodate masters nationals but had to be moved back.)

• » ABD has a flier for the Winfield criterium weekend, including a fun, climber-friendly twilight course on Saturday and ABR’s national championships on Sunday.

• » The flier for the Ronald Reagan Criterium is out. (Don’t let the name fool you, my urban, pinko-liberal friends. This is a fun end-of-season race.)

• » The South Chicago Wheelmen take their show on the road -- literally -- next Tuesday, Aug. 2, when the Matteson races move to the Autobahn Country Club in Joliet. $20 for the evening of racing.

• » Top cyclocross star Jeremy Powers (Jelly Belly; Cannondale/Cyclocrossworld.com) is leading a clinic on Sunday, Aug. 15 with Illinois Tech and Randy Warren (XXX Racing-AthletiCo). There are both beginner and advanced sessions.

• » Trackies are reporting some incredible speeds from last night’s prestigious Bob Pfarr Classic in Kenosha, Wis., won by Chad Hartley (Kenda) with Dave Moyer (XXX Racing-AthletiCo) in 2nd.

• » Nick Gierman (Burnham Racing) won the P/1/2/3’s at this weekend’s Indiana state road race championships in Woodburn, Ind.

• » The Northbrook Velodrome is hosting a duathlon for children this Saturday, July 30.

• » Results are up for the this weekend’s Allvoi Cup, which survived the weather and drew some top talent.

• » Announcer and former U.S. Postal rider Kenny Labbé looks back at the history of our national criterium championships.

• » The New York Times discovers some of the great riding around Madison, Wis..

• » Y’ever fantasize about catching a bike thief red-handed?

• » Don’t forget tonight is the special Bastille Day race at Soldier Field. These are fun races to watch as well as to take part in.

• » Turnout was light at this weekend’s Great Egyptian Omnium, but feedback is positive over at the St. Louis Biking forum, and Scott Rosenfield (IS Corps) enjoyed himself.

• » The professional riders of Team Vera Bradley Foundation will be holding a women’s clinic on Friday, Aug. 13, in conjunction with Alberto’s and the Glencoe Grand Prix, where the squad will have six riders after fielding three at the Tour of Elk Grove the week before. Proceeds benefit the Vera Bradley Foundation for Breast Cancer.

• » The Glencoe Grand Prix has been profiling some of its riders, including legend Laura Van Gilder (Mellow Mushroom), whom I’m excited to see will be joining us in August.

• » Chicago has a new bike park.

• » The Chicago Department of Transportation is holding a meeting tomorrow to discuss the path at Navy Pier and the potential of a “flyover” bridge.

• » Our state time trial championships will be Sept. 4 in Harvard, Ill.

• » Video of Kaleb Koch (IS Corps) winning the 15-16 scratch race at juniors nats. He makes his move around 1:56.

• » Sex advice from bike messengers.

Next month’s Glencoe Grand Prix, site of this year’s national criterium championships, have added a second Cat 5 race with a race time of 7:15 a.m.  Register at BikeReg. I expect it will fill up just as quickly as the first one did. Note also the Cat 4 race is closing on capacity, too.

Glenview’s Kaleb Koch (IS Corps) earned his first national championship Thursday by winning the 15-16 match sprint in Trexlertown, Pa.

Koch was the top qualifier with an 11.6-second 200, then proceeded to win each of his sprints.

“I couldn’t have done it without all the support that I have received this year from everyone,” he said. ”Jon Fraley (WDT-Allvoi) and Tony Ruffalo really made all of this possible. If it wasn’t for their training help, I would not have had the speed out there that I had today.”

Meanwhile, Koch’s teammate Chazz Martin earned the silver in the 17-18 kilo.

Racing continues through the weekend.

Update: John Tomlinson (XXX Racing-AthletiCo) on Friday earned his second national championship, this time in the 17-18 points race. In 2009 he won the 17-18 scratch race.

Tomlinson said that after being off the front and picking up some points early and “after a ton of Mach-speed accelerations from some fast guys,” he and Daniel Farinha (SJBC) escaped with about 20 laps to go. They traded sprints and lapped the field with about five to go. “I had no idea if I had won,” Tomlinson said, “but I knew I was podium since only two of us lapped. Turned out I was three points up on my breakmate.”

Tomlinson still has the scratch to look forward to. If he does well, he could earn a spot on the national team that will compete at the world championships in Italy.

• » Great news from Dixon, Ill.: The Ronald Reagan Criterium will be back on Saturday, Aug. 28. This was a surprise gem last year with great organization and a really fun course.

• » Soldier Field Cycling has rescheduled its rained-out race for Wednesday Tuesday, Aug. 17. If you were registered for the June 23 race, your registration will transfer over. And recall that next week’s race will have a French flavor.

• » Our use of the roads was the subject of a recent Highland Park Traffic Commission meeting.

• » U.S. Paralympics named Greta Neimanas (XXX Racing-AthletiCo) to its world championship team, which in August will compete in Canada. Neimanas and several of her Paralympic teammates will be racing part Superweek, too.

• » Some Spidermonkey Cycling and Burnham Racing riders headed east for this weekend’s Fitchburg Longsjo Classic Stage Race.

• » Wisconsin’s Matt Busche (Radio Shack) is at the Tour of Austria and on Tuesday came in last in the break. A man after my own heart.

• » Another round of announcements from the Chicago Cyclocross Cup, including a call for sponsorship.

• » Half Acre Cycling is hosting a Sept. 11 cyclocross clinic for women.

• » It’s a little quiet this weekend, but there’s still racing: The Tour of De Villas nearby in Des Plaines and some good money available at Indiana’s Marion Classic, downsized this year after being an NRC race in 2009.

• » Soldier Field Cycling has not announced a make-up date for last week’s rainout, but there will be one, and the schedule will be shuffled to accommodate a 6 p.m. start for women.

• » To celebrate Bastille Day, the July 14 races at Soldier Field will have a French flavor, with crepes, music and special prizes for any French riders.

• » Speaking of France, there is not much time left to make your Tour de France picks at Rouleur Derby.

• » Superweek pre-registration closes Thursday, July 8, but a late fee gets added starting July 7. Note that there are more women’s 3/4’s races than usual this year, including what should be an interesting road race in Willow Springs on Tuesday, July 13.

• » I will never tire of tales from Tati.

• » Emanuele Bianchi (XXX Racing-AthletiCo) is curious about what you’re looking for in a gear bag.

Because of severe weather forecast, tonight’s Soldier Field Cycling Series races are canceled. Stay tuned for makeup information, if any.

• » Important note for Tuesday night Matteson riders: The South Chicago Wheelmen will celebrate the solstice’s extra daylight by racing at the Autobahn Country Club, 3795 South Patterson Road, this Tuesday, June 22. (Entry will be $20 rather than the usual $10.) Racing will be rain or shine.

• » Project 5 will host the Tour of Villas on Saturday, July 3. Race fees are $20 plus a food donation.

• » Superweek registration is open.

• » Only four Cat 5 spots remain in the The Cat 5 field at the Glencoe Grand Prix is full. Congratulations to Robert Bramlette (South Chicago Wheelmen) for being DFL.

• » Voytek Glinkowski (WDT-Allvoi) tells me that fields are filling up at the Allvoi Cup on the track. Because of light 55+ interest, that field has been eliminated and replaced with a 4/5 field, which will enable 5’s to participate in the mass-start races. There had been worry that the women’s field would be suspended, but after a surge or pre-registration it is officially off the chopping block. In fact, fewer than 10 spots remain.

• » Chip times are available from the Illinois state road race in O’Fallon.

• » Try to kill a cyclist, get curfew. Meanwhile, two cyclists this week were attacked near Lawrence and the lakefront path. Stay alert.

• » Steve Dennis came up with a very clever illustration to celebrate the Giro d’Italia.

• » ButtonHole Chamois Creme is the latest enterprise of Wayne Simon (Verdigris). I haven’t tried it yet, but I’m told that, yes, it has the tingle.

• » Love is in the air.

• » Something to think about next time you interact with an official.

The Glencoe Grand Prix, site of this year’s men’s national criterium championships, opens registration for the amateur races at 8 a.m. Monday.

This will be one the summer’s premier events in Chicago. There is only one Cat 5 race, so I expect it will sell out quickly, if not within a few hours. I wouldn’t wait to the last minute to register for the 4’s, either.

• » Great news from West Chicago: ABD’s Wednesday night series will continue through the summer, except for the nights that conflict with the Soldier Field Cycling Series. (ABD has always been scrupulous about avoiding conflicts with other races.)

• » The Illinois Cycling Association has added a feedback form to its race calendar. You must be a registered user to see it. Comments will not be posted, but they will be shared with the race promoter, officials and ICA leaders.

• » Online preregistration for the Tour of America’s Dairyland closes Saturday night.

• » The Wisconsin Cycling Association has canceled some of its remaining races.

• » I noticed this only this week: The Great Egyptian Omnium is a stage race that will take place downstate in July. Stage races are always great fun, and these courses look interesting.

• » Kristen Meshberg (Flatlandia) will be riding on a composite women’s team at next week’s prestigious Nature Valley Grand Prix. Her NVGP profile page includes a fun video of her and her junior mechanics.

• » Courtney O’Neill (XXX Racing-AthletiCo) will soon be riding across the country to help build affordable housing with Bike & Build. She is tantalizingly close to her fundraising goal.

• » I can be a delicate flower sometimes. Thanks, all, for the kind words this week. It’s nice to feel appreciated.

Superweek has updated its 2010 schedule and filled in the remaining gaps.

The first Saturday and Sunday will be criteriums near Chicago, in Geneva and Homewood on July 10 and 11, respectively.

Tuesday, July 13, previously scheduled as a criterium in either Palatine, Ill., or Hales Corner, Wis., will now be a road race in Willow Springs. No details are online yet, but Soldier Field Cycling Tweets that the 3.8-loop will be a triangle covering the hilly portion of last year’s state road race: from Archer down Willow Springs Road to 95th Street, then a fast, sweeping descent back onto Archer. “Epic” may be a lot to ask for, but it will no doubt make the legs burn after a dozen or more circuits.

The Aug. 14 Glencoe Grand Prix -- this year’s men’s national criterium championship -- today updated its Web site and released information on its new course.

It’s a technical, 10-turn, 1.3-mile circuit, completely different from previous editions. Roads look smooth though narrow in spots, judging from the provided video. It’s mostly flat, save for a 30-foot descent and kicker on the back side.

Unlike the former championship of Downers Grove, the finish from the final corner is flat, but just as short, a little less than 200 meters. With the start/finish in the same spot as previous Glencoe Grands Prix, albeit moving clockwise instead of counter, the final turn at the corner that used to be Turn 1, at Vernon and Park. An elite rider who’s ridden it tells me not to expect anyone to make a pass, so just like Downers, it may turn into a race to the final corner. (We all remember how that sometimes works out.)

The lineup and preliminary purses:

Juniors 10-14: 25 minutes + 1

Juniors 15-18: 25 + 1

Cat 5: 35 + 1

Women 3/4: 30 + 1, $750

45+ 1/2/3/4: 50 + 1, $1,000

Cat 4: 45 minutes + 1, $750

30+ 1/2/3/4: 50 + 1, $1,000

Cat 3: 50 + 2, $1,000

Cat 1/2: 60+2, $5,000 plus jersey

Women P/1/2: 55 + 2, $7,500 plus jersey

Men’s pro national championship: 100km, $15,000 plus jersey

Registration will open on BikeReg June 14. With only one Cat 5 field, I expect that will sell out immediately. Cat 4’s should not dally, either.

In other news, registration is open for the popular Wednesday night Soldier Field Cycling Series: June 23, July 14 and Aug. 4. Each evening includes two juniors fields, a women’s race, two for the 4/5’s and a 60-minute P/1/23 race.

• » ABD’s Wednesday series returns for at least one more night. Brownie primes are promised.

• » Registration is open for the Spring Prairie Road Race, Wisconsin’s state championships. Historically this has sold out in the lower categories, even with a separate field for out-of-staters, although that may change this year with our own state championships the day before.

• » The Superweek schedule now has a second TBD: The Sunday Palos Hills race no longer appears.

• » Inside Northwestern’s cycling program.

• » Only 18 more Cat 5 spots at the Sherman Park Criterium.

• » In 10 years of commuting and training on the lakefront I’ve never felt unsafe, so I’m willing to classify this week’s violence as anomalies. Nonetheless, stay alert and aware of your surroundings out there.

• » Harold Kelly once fixed a flat for me, and I’m glad I had the honor. The Cycle Smithy fixture passed away last week.  A memorial service is scheduled for July 10.

• » As Dave Fowkes focuses more on official development, accomplished coach Steve Thordardson (Smart Cycling) becomes the ICA’s upgrade coordinator.

• » In Spain, junior national time trial champion Jessi Prinner (ABD) placed 2nd in the road race and won the time trial at the Tour of Costa Brava.

• » In France, Greta Neimanas (XXX Racing-AthletiCo) won five races -- and 100 pounds of ham—at the Urt International Paracycling Challenge.

• » Scott Rosenfield (IS Corp) eloquently reminisces about his first season of collegiate cycling.

• » Discounted rooms are available for next weekend’s races in Champaign.

• » Verizon u25 put together two fun videos from the Vernon Hills Grand Prix. In the first, Mark Swartzendruber (Verizon Wireless) single-handedly drags two riders across a large gap, including eventual winner Waylon Janowiak (Verizon u25). Then watch the picture-in-picture view of the last two laps as Janowiak and Will Nowak (Verizon u25) beating up on the six-man break.

• » ABD has released information on its Memorial Day weekend masters races.

• » Entering the Memorial Day fray this year is the Tour of Elkhart Lake, an ABR-sanctioned omnium near Sheboygan, Wis. Previously a two-person event, the time trial stage has been changed to an individual time trial.

• » The Tour of California starts Sunday. As always, Rouleur Derby is your spot to make it interesting.

Veteran racer and recent ABD rider Josh Carter (Hotel San Jose) won the Division I criterium in Madison on Saturday, earning himself a national championship on behalf of Midwestern State.

A late break was not caught until the final lap. USA Cycling reported that Carter, a recent transplant to Texas and an accomplished sprinter, carried a large gap from the final corner to take the win.

Julio Jacobo (PYOC) finished 19th, riding for the University of Wisconsin.

Northwestern’s Will Nowak (Verizon u25), who appeared in Friday’s Sun-Times, was off the front for a good portion of Friday’s road race, but he did not finish. He may have been one of the many riders to succumb to a flat on the cold, wet Blue Mounds course.

Full results.

ABD this week starts a series of Wednesday night training criteriums in West Chicago, using a loop last used for October’s Fall Fling. To add to the fun and keep riders on their toes, some of the races may employ some track formats, such as points races and unknown-distance races. Like Matteson, this looks like a good opportunity to hone skills and ride at race intensity.

Also starting Wednesday is the Women’s Cycling Series, a series of clinics hosted by Alberto’s.

Finally, the popular Soldier Field Cycling series appears close to announcing the 2010 schedule, which I understand will return to the same location but with fewer dates this summer.

• » Vernon Hills Grand Prix registration is open. The 5’s field looks like it will fill.

• » Fliers are available for Wisconsin races through May 22. Many offer pre-registration, either through Bikereg or SportsBaseOnline. The road races don’t usually fill, but I recommend 4’s and 5’s pre-register for the crits.

• » Some tweaks in Champaign-Urbana: The May 22 Tour of Champaign criterium is moving from downtown Champaign to the iHotel course used for the Sunday race 2009. The race for Sunday, May 23, will be in Urbana and be named the Illinois Cup Urbana Grand Prix. The schedule will remain the same.

• » M&M Cyclery in Mundelein will start a women’s ride May 6. The no-drop ride will leave at 10 a.m. from the shop at 734 S. Butterfield Rd. Road and hybrid bikes only.

• » Northbrook Velodrome race directors Val Brostrom (Bouledogue Tout Noir) and Josh Ryan (Bouledogue Tout Noir) are hosting a Madison clinic May 9. Brostrom also reports that Monday and Tuesday clinics will start April 26 at 6:30 p.m.

• » Last year he rode for ISCorps and won climber’s races like La Rue-Denzer-La Rue and Blue Mounds. Now Matt Busche rides for RadioShack and Sunday will compete in his biggest race so far, Liege-Bastogne-Liege. The question is: Will he finish in the top 100?

• » Lemont’s Christian VandeVelde (Garmin-Transitions) is expected to race Sunday, too.

• » Registration is open for your last two chances to race within the city: May 15’s Monsters of the Midway and June 12’s Sherman Park Criterium.

• » A timely reminder from Wisconsin: Mind your privates, please.

• » Masters natz race schedule is out.

• » Joe Kallo (Team Tati) has designed Chainvetica, an iPhone app to calculate gear inches. Coming from a Tati rider, it is naturally orange and stylish.

• » Cyclocross as fashion.

• » Jim Saplis (Team Apache) is raising money to fight cancer.

• » Why does the Bike Snob hate Chicago?

Thanks to some cancellations, there are currently 8 spots available in the 4’s for Hillsboro-Roubaix. Registration will stay open until 9 p.m. tonight.

• » Superweek released its 2010 schedule while I was away. There are still quite a few holes, but overall it looks fairly familiar, including the big opener in Beverly on Friday, July 9, and the popular Evanston Grand Prix on Sunday, July 18. Blue Island is not there, but new venues include Palos Hills and Palatine. There’s no traditional road race yet, but the series returns to Milwaukee’s lakefront, albeit on the 2.2-mile “short course.”

• » Half Acre Cycling is bringing the Leland-Kermesse women’s 4’s purse into parity with the men’s.

• » ABD will be hosting a series of Wednesday night training criteriums. Details to come.

• » Registration is open for the Tour de Champaign-Urbana.

• » The Illinois Cycling Association is on the Twitter.

• » Saturday is a free nutrition and training seminar for junior cyclists led by Albero Segura (XXX Racing-AthletiCo). “Juniors and Cycling: Health and Wellness” starts at 12:30 p.m. at the 1101 W. Madison St. location of AthletiCo. RSVP to Segura at .

• » The Chicago Cuttin’ Crew and Team Pegasus are taking Hillsboro-Roubaix and making it interesting.

• » Nick Frey (Jamis/Sutter Home) pays a visit to a school in Glencoe.

• » If the next bike courier to deliver a package to your building is a 6-year-old with a pretend radio, this is why.

• » Lemont’s Christian Vande Velde (Garmin-Transitions) has a new crib.

• » Ritte Racing is very funny, and the bikes are beautiful to boot.

Hillsboro-Roubaix registration closes tonight at 9 p.m. The P/1/2 field recently filled, and the 3’s field has only 25 spots left. Organizers are asking to be notified of rider cancellations so that wait lists can be attended to beforehand. Refunds will be given.

Full preview to come.

Mail-in registration for the popular Snake Alley Criterium is open.

The fabled Snake Alley is like a cyclocross race, where a good race hinges on a good start, and a good start hinges on a good starting position, and a good starting position hinges on an early registration. So go find a stamp and get your registration in now.

Here’s coverage of the 2009 edition.

• » The O’Fallon Grand Prix is billing itself as our state road race. Illinois Cycling Association president Steve Hansen says the ICA will announce its full slate of state championships soon. I’ve not done O’Fallon, but its 2009 course featured 1,000 feet of elevation and nearly that many turns in each of its 22-mile laps. This will make for a busy weekend: The next day Wisconsin holds its own state championships with the popular Spring Prairie Road Race. (Tower Racing, which did excellent work organizing our state road races for the past two years, tells me it will not be putting on a race this year.)

• » The 2009 ICA Awards banquet is scheduled for Saturday, March 13, at Indian Lakes Resort in Bloomingdale. USA Cycling CEO Steve Johnson and former national road champion Tom Schuler of Tour of America’s Dairyland are scheduled to appear.

• » The South Chicago Wheelmen’s Tuesday Criterium Series in Matteson is a local institution, and for more than 15 years a cornerstone of that institution has been official Mark Dorinson. (Mike Kelly (South Chicago Wheelmen) notes that Dorinson is “the one that drove the beat up grey Omni, the one that often forgot his whistle and started a race by saying ‘Tweet.’") Dorinson is retiring from his Matteson duties, and he will be missed.

• » The Giro d’Grafton joins the USA Crit series this year. That should attract extra firepower to the Tour of America’s Dairyland, and I hope that means both men and women.

• » This month’s Gapers Block Crit Series sold out both men’s heats. Ten spots in each race, however, are reserved for day-of registrations. First come, first served.

• » Val Brostrom (Bouledogue Tout Noir) is programming races at the Northbrook Velodrome this season and tells me she’s looking at Aug. 21-22 for a weekend of state championships, rather than spreading events over several weeks.

• » Cyclocross in the winter Olympics?

• » This year’s masters national championships in Louisville, Ky., may be your last chance to take part in a nearby championship for a few years: Bend, Ore., gobbled them up, too.

• » A Chicago Web developer has designed a fantasy cycling game.

Registration for the Leland Kermesse, a road race with ambitions to join Hillsboro-Roubaix as an Illinois spring classic, opened today and it looks like the 46-mile 5’s race will fill up soon.

Update: The 5’s filled by late afternoon. Congrats to Eric Christ (Bicycle Heaven) for nabbing DFL.

The 4’s are capped at 100. With 34 45 registered so far, that field may reach capacity, too.

USA Cycling announced today that its national criterium championship, previously a fixture in Downers Grove, will move to Glencoe in 2010.

Downers Grove has hosted the national championships on a popular figure-eight course since 1991, but the race’s demise has been speculated ever since the village council pulled $37,000 in funding in December.

Special Events Management will continue to manage the race, set for Saturday, Aug. 14.

This is a major coup for promoter Jon Knouse and his Glencoe Grand Prix, which in only three years has built a reputation for a well-run and well-funded operation.

“Once I saw Downers Grove decided not to renew,” Knouse said, “I called (ICA president and SEM event manageer) Steve Hansen and said: ‘We can help you. At least for this year, I know we can offer a great alternative and on short notice.’ SEM agreed, and we approached USA Cycling and they agreed.”

I’m looking to confirm details, but I’m told that the course will be altered -- no more Amen Corner, but a hill will be incorporated -- and racing will be limited to one day, meaning less amateur racing and no more twilight pro-am.

“This was really a lightning-in-the-bottle scenario,” Knouse said, “and we are totally grateful to SEM management and USA Cycling for having faith in us. We plan to deliver in spades.”

USA Cycling had previously announced the relocation of women’s and men’s elite national championships, which this year will take place in Bend, Ore., but Knouse says the Glencoe schedule will include a 1/2 race and a “big women’s pro race.”

Also of note: ABD this week announced that the Winfiled criterium weekend -- a fun, climber-friendly twilight crit on Saturday, ABR national championships on Sunday -- is returning to August on Aug. 21-22. That makes two consecutive weekends of big racing, and it means Winfield no longer conflicts with the popular Spring Prairie Road Race in Wisconsin.

• » Registration is open and brisk for Half Acre Cycling’s Gapers Block Criterium Series, this year with two men’s heats and a women’s Cat 3 race. In conjunction with the series, Half Acre has organized a women’s beginner road clinic.

• » While you are thinking about Half Acre Cycling and the great things it does for the community, send good vibes to Audrey Thibeau, who recently underwent surgery for a brain tumor.

• » The women’s Cat 4 field has sold out at Hillsboro-Roubaix, but a wait list is available. Just 35 spots remain in the Cat 3 field.

• » Local racer and former Olympian John Coyle (Wolverine) is on NBC’s production crew in Vancouver. He’s sharing some stories at his blog, including this striking tale of the torch. (Read to the bottom.)

• » Why it costs over $10,000 to put on an industrial park crit.

• » An interesting range of tests is available at the UIC Human Performance Lab.

• » USA Cycling has made available a free “My First Bike Race” online seminar.

• » Some new info for the April 17 Leland Kermesse. Longer laps, more gravel. Online registration opens March 1.

• » Good news for women: The Tour of America’s Dairyland has added a 3/4 field for you.

• » Hmm. USA Cycling now lists location for the national criterium championships as “TBD.”

• » The Illinois Cycling Association meets Satruday in Lisle.

• » Vision Quest is holding an indoor time trial in Highland Park on March 6, joining ABD’s indoor trials in the Mid America Time Trial Series.

• » Anyone who has raced an ABR race in Indiana has probably experienced the effusive hospitality of promoters Dan and Joanne Daly. It was heartbreaking, then, to learn that Joanne was killed in August in a freak traffic accident. Dan will honor his wife when his season starts April 17 with the Ceraland Joanne W. Daly Memorial Circuit Race.

• » The South Chicago Wheelmen have announced a March 28 criterium at the Autobahn Country Club in Joliet. Registration is open.  This race and Burnham Racing’s Spring Super Criterium will constitute COUGAR: Chicagoland Omnium Using Great Area Raceways, with to-be-determined cash prizes to be awarded to riders who place well both days. (Appropriately enough, both COUGAR races have women and juniors racing at the same time.)

• » Just in time for the spring races, Half Acre Cycling has organized a women’s racing clinic, with instruction from ace cyclists Kristen Meshberg and Leah Sanda of Flatlandia.

• » Wisconsin increases its masters ages to 35 and 45.

• » There’s a good lineup planned for Saturday’s Bike Winter Swap Meet and Urban Bicycle Expo.

Have your credit cards handy: Hillsboro-Roubaix and Spring Super Criterium registration opens in less than 30 minutes.

With local race support in jeopardy elsewhere, it’s more important than ever to be good guests wherever we race. When you register for Hillsboro-Roubaix, consider a small donation to the Montgomery County Cancer Association, which will be providing much-needed marshaling on the sprawling course. Also to note this year: Hillsboro’s Orpheum Theatre will be showing the classic documenary “A Sunday in Hell” Friday night. Popcorn and soda are included in the $7 ticket. Sounds like a more enjoyable way to pass the evening than hanging out at the Litchfield Ruby Tuesday.

Update: It’s 8:08 a.m. and the Cat 5’s have filled. Congrats to masters cyclocross state champion Eric Sondag (Pony Shop) for being the last to slide in.

Update: It’s 8:48 a.m. and the 4’s are 80 percent full.

Update: It’s 10:15 a.m. and that’s that for the 4’s. Daniel Pollard (Spider Monkey Cycling) was DFL.

The 3’s field is almost half full. I expect it to approach capacity by race day.

Wait lists are available, and older punishment gluttons can throw in their lot with the open-category masters slugfests.

Keep in mind also that the Leland Kermesse takes place the following Saturday. This should provide a similar quasi-classic experience and is closer to the city. Plus, it’s USAC this year. (I do not know whether online registration will be an option.)

• » Wisconsin Cycling Association’s 2010 schedule is out, and it looks rather familiar, which is great: No sense messing with a great thing. For road race lovers, the Spring Prairie state championships will again be the first Sunday of June, and in May we return to two hilly courses about an hour north of Madison: Circuit of Sauk on May 1 and La Rue-Denzer-La Rue on May 15. (I considered L-D-L an instant classic when it made its debut in 2009.) I’m also happy to see that the Whitnall Park Spring Classic, a very fun and hilly criterium near Milwaukee, is back after a one-year hiatus.

• » Burnham Racing released its flier for March 27’s Spring Super Criterium, the kick-off of the 2010 Illinois Cup campaign. The boys also announced new shop and bike sponsors, not to mention some nice roster pick-ups.

• » Our first chance to race outdoors will once again be in Kenosha, Wis. ABR’s Kenosha Velosport Spring Criterium Series starts Sunday, March 14, weather permitting, and continues the following two Sundays. (Raise your hand if you still miss Parkside.)

• » Yet another new team to look for in 2010: W2 Racing of Arlington Heights is made up of beginning masters racers and triathletes.

• » The South Chicago Wheelmen are having an open house for juniors Tuesday, Jan. 26, in Homewood.

• » Doing well at Hillsboro-Roubaix can once again secure a spot at the Nature Valley Grand Prix. Last year Chris Winn (RMCEF) drove 31 hours from Colorado for a shot at qualifying -- and succeeded.

• » Why I wear a helmet. (Also, why I don’t care for cats.)

Tour of America’s Dairyland today released its 2010 schedule.

As had been rumored, the series does not return to the Blue Mounds course that last year tested the limits of the word “epic.” There will be only two road races, with the Greenbush course featuring a significant climb at the end of each lap. The rest of the series will be criteriums, including the popular Downer Avenue course in Milwaukee and starting with a Thursday elite-only criterium in Shorewood, Wis.

No word yet on fields or prizes.

• » You asked for it, you got it: Cat 4’s will race 58 miles at Hillsboro-Roubaix. Registration opens Feb. 1. And I’d better not see any of you jokers pulling out after one lap.

• » Exciting news from our friends at Flatlandia: The Leland Kermesse will return in 2010, and Ted Burger promises that it will be “longer and harder than last year.” It’s scheduled for Saturday, April 17, and this time it will be under USAC sanction. The road race made a memorable debut in 2009, and I expect it will be a worthy companion or alternative to Hillsboro-Roubaix.

• » Registration is open for ABD’s Indoor Time Trial Series.

• » Chicago riders had a good weekend in Bend, Ore. Holly Klug (Courage) and Scott McLaughlin (SRAM) won their masters warm-up races, and Kevin Klug (Courage) took 2nd in his. In the main events, McLaughlin got the top local finish. He was as far ahead as 2nd in Saturday’s 40+ national championship before finishing 5th behind some respectable competition.

• » I have a hunch which Midwestern promoter this might be.  Illinois Cycling Association president Steve Hansen (North Branch) responds.

• » Lemont’s Christian Vande Velde (Garmin-Transitions) will appear at the Michigan Avenue Garmin Store at 5 p.m. on Tuesday, Dec. 29.

• » NY Velocity gives the best interviews in the business. I especially enjoyed Monday’s interview with David Millar (Garmin-Transitions), for three reasons: 1. The passage about rediscovering the joy of bicycle riding. 2. The passage about breaking away into Barcelona. 3. He swears like a proper Scotsman.

• » “This sport has broken my heart and crushed my dreams for possibly the last time.” And speaking of broken hearts and crushed dreams: Something for the time trialist.

• » Today is probably the last day to order a CBR calendar and expect delivery by Christmas. There are three to choose from: road, cyclocross and an updated version of cyclocross.

• » Want something really special for your favorite cyclocross rider? A special Chicago Cyclocross Cup coffee table book will be available for pre-order soon. Stay tuned. It’s available now!

Is it too early to start thinking about Hillsboro-Roubaix?

No, of course not.

Former race director Rich Pierce (ICCC) reports at StLBiking that in the interest of safety, the 2010 edition of our spring classic may be longer, taking a 29-mile route that eliminates a challenging climb but provides safer turns. Fields overtaking one another was an issue in 2009, and this may help with that, too.

Compare with the traditional 22-mile route.

Pierce writes that he expects P/1/2’s to do three laps, the 3’s two. The challenge of a 29-mile course is what to do for the 4’s: 29 miles is too short, 58 miles too long. Half-laps could be an elegant solution, but a potential logistical nightmare.

The same thread cites Saturday, April 10, as the 2010 date. 

Excellent news from up north: The Wisconsin Milk Marketing Board has renewed its title sponsorship of the Tour of America’s Dairyland, the 11-day series that made its debut this year as an expansion of the Midwest Cycling Series. No information on schedule or venues, but the series is tentatively slated for another 11-day run, June 17-27.

• » It makes me think seriously about grad school: The 2010 collegiate national championships will be in Madison, Wis., and a source tells me the road race will employ the popular Blue Mounds course. Masters championships won’t be far, either, returning to Louisville, although later in the season: Aug. 1-7.

• » Update: Thanks to Mike Ebert (ABD) for noting a significant point that I missed: The 2010 elite national criterium championships will be held in conjunction with the elite road race championships, which are slated for Bend, Ore. That is a major blow to Downers Grove. With the Chicago Criterium in question, it may mean we never see the nation’s best women race, which is a huge loss.

• » “Race Across the Sky,” a documentary about this year’s Leadville 100 mountain bike race, returns for a second showing Thursday. (Since AMC River East botched the initial showing, the dirtbags of The Bonebell are heading to Evanston.)

• » More than 60 women attended Half Acre Cycling’s women’s night last week. Coincidentally, Sunday’s cross race had the largest women’s turnout of the year.

• » North Branch Cycling is having a fall social in Deer Park on Friday. The team invites interested riders from anywhere but particularly the northwest suburbs. Contact Rob Roop for directions.

• » Turin is again holding a winter food drive. Food can be dropped off at the shop in Evanston or at the state cross championships on Dec. 6.

• » Lower race fees. Bigger purses and a sweet raffle. A chance to party with the Cuttin’ Crew. Should be good times at Indian Lakes this Saturday.

• » Brilliant. In Minnesota cyclocross, the winner of the 4’s race gets a bag of sand. (Because our friends up north are soft and afraid to race in the cold and snow of December, Minnesota’s state championships are this weekend. A source tells me it will be epic.)

• » Ben Jenkins took some superior photos of the muddy cross racing in St. Charles.

• » “Hill repeats suck so much ass.” If “Downfall” parodies are wrong, I don’t want to be not wrong. (May be inappropriate for delicate readers.)

• » NY Velocity collects some interesting comments on race radios.

• » Kristen Meshberg (Team BH USA) once again teaches Pedaling with a Purpose training sessions this winter in Westmont.

• » 2010 road and cross calendars remain. Flag me down at Saturday’s cross race. Just $15 when purchased in person.

USA Cycling today released the 2010 National Racing Calendar, including spots for the Chicago Criterium and the Tour of Elk Grove, July 25 and July 30-Aug. 1, respectively.

For those of us who assumed the Chicago Criterium would go the way of our Olympic bid, this is promising news.

Neither event, however, is included on the women’s NRC.

Also nearby will be the Marion Classic in Marion, Ind., and the Meijer Grand Cycling Classic in Grand Rapids, Mich., both of which move from August to early July.

For one week only, South Chicago Wheelmen’s Tuesday night races this week will take place in Joliet at the Autobahn Country Club, a 1.5-mile, 9-turn course similar to the race track used at the Spring Super Criterium. As usual racing will start at 6 p.m., but entry fees will be $23 to cover rent and insurance.

It’s official: We have a state road race championship.

Last year’s host Tower Racing steps up again, this time securing a course in beautiful Willow Springs, not far from the city. It’s a popular training route, and surely I am not the only one who has fantasized of racing there. It’s not Ventoux, but it’s about as good as it gets within 30 minutes of State and Madison.

Registration is open.

The Sept. 12 race comes late in the season, but the upside is that the delay came because of a paving project on 104th Avenue, meaning pristine tarmac. I rode the course this weekend. It’s exquisite. Some imperfections remain, but Tower tells me they will be patched in the next two weeks.

The triangular course resembles an M.C. Escher drawing, seemingly rising via false flat on all three sides. Traffic will be closed in both directions on 104th avenue between Archer and 95th Street, closed in one direction the rest of the way. The start/finish will be at the crest of 104th, north of 95th. Parking and registration will be at the Willowbrook Ballroom on Archer.

The most severe pitches come on 104th, turning right off of Archer. From the base there are three stair-step climbs, totaling just under a mile. For most of us it should be a big-ring, 2- to 3-minute effort.

The first part of the climb is the steepest but shortest. The final, pivotal stair step is .3 mile. At the top will be the start/finish, which should lead to some dramatic sprints, and I expect there will be fireworks every trip up this stretch.

Update: Tower Racing has published a technical guide. It’s worth a look. One interesting passage is a budget summary. Including a donation to World Bicycle Relief, Tower estimates per-rider expenses to be $43.88 -- which makes the $35 entry fee look like a bargain indeed. (Note the $10 fee for day-of registration. Note it and pre-reg instead.)

As many race promoters have found, sponsorship is tight this year, so there will be no primes. However, Tony Cacchillo (Tower Racing) tells me that once again a Ferrari or Lamborghini will pace some fields.

To accommodate demand from the lower categories, Soldier Field Cycling is adding a second 4/5’s race for its remaining Wednesdays, effective July 29.

The 30-minute races will go off at 6:50 and 7:25 p.m.

This should be a good thing: More riders will get a chance to race, and with smaller fields the races will be safer.

Soldier Field Cycling is combining its women’s races starting tomorrow. P/1/2/3’s and 4’s will race together at 6 p.m. but will be scored separately.

Also, Chicago 2016 will have a booth this week, including two-time Olympian John Vande Velde.

Because of competing events and other factors, masters track state championships, originally scheduled for tomorrow, have been postponed to Saturday, Aug. 8.

Because of low pre-registration, the Tour de Champaign is canceling its juniors races this weekend. However, it is adding a Sunday Cat 5 race to the schedule. Here is the updated flier. Cat 5’s can register on-site with no late fees.

Here’s a late-breaking crit that escaped my radar: Village CycleSport and Redline Racing host the Wood Dale Criterium, ABR’s state criterium championships, on Sunday, July 5, at the same industrial park as ABD’s Memorial Day weekend masters crits. (I’m not sure which loop will be employed.)

It comes on the heels of sad news for Village CyclesSport: Elk Grove store manager Jason Eberhardt died Saturday in an accident while repairing a car. He was 28.

• » The Tour of Elk Grove schedule is out. There is one less 5’s field this year -- nonetheless, a remarkable three of them -- and a women’s 3/4 race has been added, with a respectable $1,000 purse. Once again the pros will contest a time trial, road race and criterium to divvy up $152,500 in prizes, and this year the race returns to the National Racing Calendar.

• » Registration is open for the Glencoe Grand Prix. Other upcoming races: Sherman Park Criterium. Cobb Park Criterium. Fox River Grove Cycling Challenge. Proctor Cycling Classic (state criterium championships).

• » Video to get you excited for next weekend’s Sherman Park Criterium.

• » Yojimbo’s Track Cats, a well-regarded program to get city kits onto the velodrome, is having a fundraiser Sunday at Goose Island. $10 gets you a beverage, snacks and screening of “The Warriors.” Costumes encouraged.

• » How come I have to pay $40 for Bike the Drive?

• » Many of our racing colleagues will be participating in two upcoming charity events: The American Diabetes Association has its Tour de Cure in Geneva on June 7, and on June 13-14 the Tour de Farms will raise money to fight multiple sclerosis.

• » With a name like Bird, of course you ride a Heron. (Time Out has more.)

• » Cervelo is coming to Turin on June 14 to demo some of its bikes

• » The excellent Grant Park bike valet service needs a sponsor.

• » Chicago’s awesomest workplace, starring Michael Zellman (Verizon Wireless). I submit my resume where now?

The Tour of America’s Dairyland announced today that it is adding a third road race, on Thursday, June 18. The Blue Mounds Race to the Future will take place on a 22-mile loop that has been proposed for the 2016 Olympics. This has some serious climbing, including what appears to be a three-mile slog that climbs about 750 feet at the end of each lap, with an average 8 percent pitch in the last mile.

Today’s announcement also included news that the Trek-Livestrong U23 team will be participating in the series.

Chicago Criterium registration will open tomorrow. The inaugural race was a hit last year, and I expect both 5’s fields (50 riders each) and the masters 4/5’s (capped at 75) to fill quickly.

Update: I notice that the registration allows you to enter both Cat 5 heats. I discourage people from doing this. The intent of the second heat is to allow more people to race. Don’t hog the spots.

There also is confusion about the masters categories. I’m fairly certain it’s 35+, not 30+, but am working on getting confirmation. They are indeed 35+, not 30+.

It was not long ago that you could count the number of races within Chicago city limits on one hand and still have fingers left to shift.

This year is much different. We still have the old favorites of Monsters on the Midway, Sherman Park and the Beverly Hills Classic, but we now also have the Chicago Criterium to look forward to, and Half Acre kicked off the season with five practice criteriums in March.

And starting June 17, we’ll have six biweekly Wednesday night criteriums held in the shadow of Soldier Field, bringing our total number of road races to 15.

The Soldier Field Cycling Web site made quite a splash when it leaked last week and again when it officially launched Tuesday, but many of us still had questions. To get some answers, I found Joe Gaspar of Spanglish Ideas.

How did the event come to be?
We have a great relationship with the folks that run Soldier Field. We’ve worked closely with them on several projects over the years. The idea for the series was floated at a meeting with them last year and it was met with great enthusiasm by the Soldier Field management.

Soldier Field is best known as the home of the Chicago Bears, but the rest of the year they’re looking for interesting ways to utilize their facilities. They liked the idea of a family-friendly event and the opportunity to bring competitive cycling to a new audience. We can’t say enough about the support that we have received from them.

How involved was the city?
Soldier Field is owned by the Chicago Park District, without them, there is no series. We are also in conversations with different agencies within the city and several advocacy groups.

The biggest question people are asking: Who ARE you guys?
We are an event and marketing company called Spanglish Ideas. A lot of our work has involved soccer-related properties, specifically on the production and marketing side. Cycling is something we’ve always wanted to tackle, and finally the timing was right.

What is your racing background?
First and foremost, we are fans of the sport of cycling, at both the competitive and recreational levels. Some of us have raced, others have only commuted, but we all understand the joy of the bicycle. We also understand that there is a need to grow the sport at the competitive level and that to do so, we need to start by making it more accessible. It has to be easier for kids to get on a bike and go fast and we hope that we can give them a venue to show there stuff. It’s also important that we provide an opportunity for those that are already involved in the sport to practice and develop their skills in a fun, safe and convenient manner.

How long is the course?
The course is a 1 kilometer loop in the South Lot of Soldier Field. It’s the lot where all the Chicago Bears tailgating action takes place.

Word leaked out last week, but now its Web site is out for good: Soldier Field Cycling will be a Wednesday evening series of sanctioned races in a Soldier Field parking lot.  Think Matteson, but closer and with separate fields for women and juniors.

And that’s about all I know. Am chasing more info and will post again when I have it.

Superweek organizers announced Friday that Milwaukee’s lakefront courses will return this summer.

These courses were last used in 2005 but have been unavailable for construction. A 4.2 mile circuit will be contested on Wednesday, July 22, and the lower categories will race a shorter version on Thursday, July 16.

I remember these being very fun, spectator-friendly courses, including steep kickers and gorgeous views of Milwaukee’s lakefront.

The Tour de Champaign, which we learned about in January, has released its flier for the July 11-12 criteriums. Registration is available at Truesport: Saturday, Sunday.

Wisconsin’s Tour of America’s Dairyland has opened registration for this year’s inaugural series.

We’re getting seven criteriums, two road races and a rest day on the Monday. Registering for the entire series saves you about $30.

The road races look interesting: Fond du Lac’s 10.3-mile route has lots of short kickers, and near Greenbush there will be a hilly 9.8-mile course through the Kettle Moraine State Forest.

Other highlights include a circuit in Waterloo, the popular Giro de Grafton twilight criterium and Milwaukee’s Downer Avenue course that is always a hit at Superweek.

Masters races start at 35+. Unfortunately there are no races for juniors or women 4’s.

Because of weather, Sunday’s Greg Bednorski Memorial Criterium in Madison, Wis., has been canceled. The Great Dane Velo Club says it will now put on crits on Saturday and Sunday, April 18-19.

The John Fraser Memorial Time Trial has been postponed, too, tentatively rescheduled for May 2.

Once again, the same dreaded prescription as last week: Enjoy your trainer time.

Chicago’s loss is Europe’s gain this spring. The U.S. Cycling Development Program has selected two-time national champion Devon Haskell (Team BH USA) to take part in a European tour. Her first race was Sunday’s Dolmans Classic in Holland, where she finished 37th with the main chase group. Along the way she topped many climbs steep enough to have names ending with -berg.

Haskell will be spending her weeks training in a small town near Toulouse in Southern France. On weekends she’ll race with other American women in France and Holland, continuing this weekend with the Tour of Burgundy and culminating in the Grand Prix d’Amancey on May 10.

Follow her progress at the Team BH USA blog.

Construction at the paint factory will delay the start of the 2009 Matteson season, which had been scheduled to kick off Tuesday, April 7. Steve Feehery (South Chicago Wheelmen) says it should be just a week or two longer. Keep an eye on the SCW site for current information.

Registration for the 2009 Snake Alley Criterium is open. This is one of the most exciting and fun events in the country. Imagine the thrills, intensity and novelty of Hillsboro-Roubaix compressed into 1 mile and 30 minutes. Plus, more cowbell.

As far as I know, registration is mail-in only.

Here’s coverage of 2008’s edition. More than any other race, success at Snake Alley hinges on start position, which here is determined in a civilized manner via registration order rather than the traditional guile and pushiness. This is the race before the race, and if your entry form isn’t in the mail by the end of today, you put your start in peril.

Because of a weather forecast that includes prodigious amounts of suck, organizers have canceled Sunday’s final entry in the Kenosha Velosport Criterium Series. Enjoy your time on the trainer.

Half Acre Cycling is celebrating a successful week of racing in Calumet Park -- truly, by all accounts it’s been blockbuster -- by offering free racing for women on Friday. Licensing requirements still apply, but chances like this don’t come very often. Hope to see you there.

• » The O’Fallon Grand Prix faced some local opposition, but the road race has been approved for May 30, and registration is open. (The 5’s are already a quarter full.)

• » Ted Burger (Flatlandia) took some video of road in Belgium used for one of the most grueling and prestigious classics the stretch of gravel to be used in April’s Leland Kermesse.

• » Natasha Richardson‘s passing reminds that the brain is a fragile, fragile thing. It doesn’t take much trauma to loose it from its moorings. Please, friends: Remember your helmets, whether you’re making a run for milk or hammering up Sheridan Road. You’ll be forgiven for not looking Euro.

• » Following up on last week’s bird’s eye view of the Tour of Elk Grove, Bike Radar has collected cycling images culled from Google Street View.

• » The following links were written while I was on vacation two weeks ago, but it appears I neglected to make them live. Apologies for the delay!

• » The Illinois Cycling Association is asking teams to formally apply for membership. There has been discussion of fees or other requirements, but for 2009 membership is free.

• » Scarletfire Racing, which formerly raced under the banner of Delta Faucet and Lucas Oil, is now doing business as Verizon Wireless.

• » Yes, there will be a 2009 Chicago Time Trial Series.

• » TheCycleStudio is having another indoor CycleOps race March 28.

• » The Great Dane Velo Club of Madison has named its spring races after Greg Bednorski, a Cat 1 member who was killed in a cycling accident in September.

• » June’s Midwest Cycling Series has a new sponsor, the Wisconsin Milk Marketing Board, and with it a new name: Tour of America’s Dairyland.

• » The Illinois Cycling Association has more information about its team membership drive.

• » Speaking of the ICA, Steve Hansen (North Branch) made a fun discovery when zooming in on Elk Grove Village in Google Maps. Anyone have an idea which field it is?

• » Women, you have until Saturday to register for the Half Acre Kevin’s Crit Series and get $35 back in Tati Cycles credit.

• » Burnham Racing has secured discounted rooms close to its Spring Super Criterium. This could be handy for anyone going to the 7:30 a.m. beginners clinic, highly recommended for new racers.

• » Now that we’re racing again, don’t forget to offer or seek carpooling via the Ride Board. Let’s get through this recession together!

• » “Tears of joy is permitted only if from Italian descent.”

Flatlandia has added a much-needed road race to our calendar in the form of the Leland Kermesse, to be held under ABR sanction April 25 in Leland, a mere 70 miles from the city.

By labeling its event a “kermesse,” Flatlandia aspires to a Belgian-style of racing. The mostly flat 10-mile course will have one stretch of packed gravel and, if the weather cooperates, wicked crosswinds.

There will be prize money, although figures have yet to be determined.

Note that American Bike Racing now has a Cat 5 to parallel USA Cycling’s categorization. This replaces what was formerly known as citizens. According to the 2009 ABR rule book, 16 mass-start races are required to upgrade to 4, although ABR will honor the categories awarded by other sanctioning bodies, including USAC. (For related reading, see this valuable category discussion from Mike Ebert (ABD).)

Breakaway Event Productions on Wednesday released more of its 2009 Superweek schedule. Once again seven races take place in the Chicago. Only two three road races are on the schedule, including the crit-like Whitnall Park. However, one TBA remains and Andy Garrison tells me he’s still working on a return to the popular Milwaukee lakefront course.

Friday, July 10: Beverly Hills Cycling Classic (Chicago)
Saturday, July 11: Blue Island Pro/Am
Sunday, July 12: Elgin Cycling Classic
Monday, July 13: Richton Park Criterium
Tuesday, July 14: Arlington Heights Criterium
Wednesday, July 15: Bensenville Criterium
Thursday, July 16: Shorewood (Wis.) Criterium
Friday, July 17: Tour of Holy Hill (Hartford, Wis.)
Saturday, July 18: Schlitz Park Cycling Classic (Milwaukee)
Sunday, July 19: Evanston Grand Prix
Monday, July 20: Whitnall Park Road Race
Tuesday, July 21: Cedarburg (Wis.) Cycling Classic
Wednesday, July 22: TBA (Milwaukee)
Thursday, July 23: Racine (Wis.) Criterium
Friday, July 24: Folks and Spokes Criterium (Kenosha, Wis.)
Saturday, July 25 Downer Avenue Criterium (Milwaukee)
Sunday, July 26 Whitefish Bay (Wis.) Classic

Kenosha Velosport has released the flier for its Kenosha criterium series, which starts Sunday. (The forecast is looking chilly, but definitely raceable.)

Burnham Racing is considering adding a Cat 4/5 or 5 race to its Spring Super Criterium to meet demand. The catch: It would be at 8 a.m. If you weren’t able to register in time, would you be willing to race at 8? Update: A second 4/5 field has indeed been added, and the schedule of other races has been adjusted.

Half Acre has lengthened its men’s races to 45 minutes. Note that pre-registration is almost 75% full, although day-off entries will be accepted in the event of no-shows. (Reminder to women: Don’t forget the screaming offer from Tati Cycles for registering for the entire week.)

Update: Monsters of the Midway has joined the Bikereg club, and registration for the May 16 criterium on the campus of University of Chicago is now open.

(Posting and other updates will be light this week, by the way, while I enjoy my team’s training camp in California.)

• » Kenosha Velosport has secured a location for its spring criterium series: the Lakeview Corporate Park in Pleasant Prairie, Wis. Racing takes place March 15, 22 and 29. Keep an eye here and on the ABR calendar for a flier. (OMG, 10 days until racing!)

• » Women have one less excuse not to race Half Acre’s crit series at the end of the month: Hyde Park’s Tati Cycles is offering a $35 gift certificate to any woman who registers for the entire series. Everyone is a guaranteed winner!

• » Men hoping to do the series should monitor the pre-registration numbers. The 4/5 field, capped at 50, is already a third full. (Confidential to HAC: Assuming there will be a fair amount of no-shows, will there be a waiting list for single-day entrants?)

• » Bikereg has recovered from its meltdown and says it’s taken measures to prevent it from happening again. If you had registered for Hillsboro-Roubaix or the Spring Super Criterium, make sure you’re still on the confirmed-rider lists, and also check your profile for accurate information.

• » When the Tuesday night practice criteriums resume in Matteson on April 7, they will qualify for upgrades from Cat 5 to 4. Racers must ride all three of a night’s events to receive credit for one race, but they are allowed to be dropped and lapped.

• » A Milwaukee cyclist is using cameras to capture unsafe motorists. (Via Lawyer Jim.)

• » Photographer Chris Dilts has published a beautiful set of portraits from last summer’s North America Cycle Courier Championships, held in Chicago.

In an effort to fast-track some upgrades into the 4’s, Half Acre Cycling has stepped up and organized a five-day series of sanctioned racing in Calumet Park: Kevin’s Crit Series (named for Kevin Clark (Half Acre Cycling), who’s especially hot to trot out of the 5’s). It’s a great idea and should be a fantastic opportunity to shake out the winter cobwebs.

Categories for the March 23-27 races are women’s 4, juniors and men’s 4/5. The series is ridiculously affordable, $35-$50 for the entire week, or $15-$20 per day. Register for the entire week at Bikereg. Where else can one race five times for less than $50 in fees?

Driving time will be 30-45 minutes from downtown, depending on traffic. Some of you may even be able to ride there!

By taking advantage of the entire series, a Cat 5 could earn half his requirements to upgrade, and 4’s should be able to pick up some upgrade points, too, depending on finish and field size. (Consult these tables to review the USAC requirements.)

It will be no-frills racing. Think Matteson, without the glamour of a paint factory. Focus on the fundamentals and having fun. And you can count on Half Acre Cycling to bring the fun. Its cross race was the only one to serve proper waffles, after all.

Half Acre is a small team and fully staffing five days of racing is going to be a challenge. Lower- and higher-category racers alike should consider giving back to the sport by lending a hand.

The series is followed by the Spring Super Crit in South Beloit. I recommend doing both. (Indeed, if a 30-minute race has you too knackered to race the next day, perhaps you ought not be in such a rush to upgrade.) There will also an ABR crit in Kenosha, Wis., that Saturday Sunday. Seven consecutive days of racing -- hooray for spring!

• » Trackies, keep an eye on WDT-Allvoi’s Web site for updates on the inaugural: Four Three Saturdays of track events with $7,000 in prize money. Men and women will compete in 3km and 1km time trials and a mass-start event to earn points toward the overall, with $700 going to the top man and $500 to the top woman.  The first event will be June 20 May 30. Update: Here is an updated flier with new dates and prizes, and check out the championship skinsuits given to the winners.

• » Yojimbo’s Track Cats, recent recipient of USA Cycling’s Center of Excellence award, is looking for Chicago juniors to take part in the 2009 season. Scholarship deadline is the end of March.

• » Kristen Meshberg (Team BH USA) finished 33rd in Sunday’s rainy and treacherous Tour of California criterium. Teammate Devon Haskell was looking good but flatted with five to go.

• » The New York Times takes a look at gender disparities in pro cycling.

• » Congratulations to The Chainlink for recently hitting its 1,000th member.

Hillsboro-Roubaix was as blockbuster as expected Saturday, although the debut of Bikereg was not without glitches. The Cat 5’s appeared to reach capacity within minutes, but slots were later freed after duplicate entries were weeded out. It reached capacity again -- for real this time -- at 10:20 a.m. (Congratulations to Joel Friedman (Bicycle Heaven) for being the last to slip in.)

As of this writing, the Cat 4’s appear headed to capacity, too, with fewer than 20 of the 100 spots available. Note that wait lists are now available in the event your field is sold out.

Meanwhile, the prestigious Nature Valley Grand Prix has selected Hillsboro-Roubaix as one of six Nature Valley Pro Ride races. This means that the top two men and women amateurs will gain coveted entry and other resources to the five-day stage race in Minnesota. (Here are the 2008 rules and benefits.) This is a major accomplishment for Hillsboro-Roubaix, and a tremendous opportunity for some of the top riders.

And this may be the best news of all: Among the confirmed riders in the Cat 4’s is longtime race director Rich Pierece (ICCC), who after years of nurturing this race has passed the reins and will finally get a chance to race it himself. Congratulations, Rich, and good luck.

Some of the hottest tickets of the year go on sale at 8 a.m. Saturday when pre-registration opens for Hillsboro-Roubaix, our popular spring classic and one of the best road races the Midwest has to offer.

With only 50 slots available to them, Cat 5’s will need to be on the ball. Skip the group ride and stay home to register. Cat 4’s shouldn’t dawdle, either. My current prediction is that the 5’s will reach capacity by noon, the 4’s by Sunday evening.

Pre-registration also kicks off for the March 28 Spring Super Criterium in South Beloit. In its second year, this is an excellent early-season tune-up on a course that’s very forgiving to beginners. The schedule is such that nearly everyone will have at least two opportunities to race. I strongly encourage taking full advantage.

It behooves us to get in the pre-registration habit. As we discussed earlier, most races in the Illinois Cup will be using BikeReg. The pre-reg costs are now absorbed by higher entry fees, and by doing so you avoid the $5 late fee for registering same-day. Super Crit race director Jason Knauff (Burnham Racing) reminds riders to confirm that their information at BikeReg is current, as this data will be used throughout the season. Knauff also says he’s looking for volunteers in exchange for discounted entry fees. E-mail him for more information.

Breakaway Event Productions today announced that Superweek will return to Milwaukee’s Schlitz Park on Saturday, July 18.

Lower categories will race the same course as the P/1/2’s, a first for Schlitz Park.

The course, which has been off the schedule for two years because of construction, features a steep climb and fast, technical descent. Brad Huff (Jelly Belly) was the last winner, lapping the field in 2006 when it was on the National Racing Calendar.

Mark Swartzendruber (Scarletfire Racing) says the previously mentioned Sunday criterium in Champaign on July 12 is on. It will follow this route, close to the I Hotel, which Swartzendruber says will be offering a race discount.

• » If Chicago gets the Olympics, cycling may take place in Wisconsin. “The proposed Wisconsin road course would have an uphill finish and more elevation gain in each of its loops than any Olympic course other than Beijing. Each 22-mile loop has about 1.3 miles of climbs at lung-and-leg bursting 10 to 14 percent grades.”

• » Adjust your alarm clocks: Hillsboro-Roubaix registration is now a day sooner: Saturday, Feb. 14.

• » The Wisconsin Cycling Association 2009 schedule is out. It’s similar to previous years, although I’m sorry to see that the Whitnall Park Criterium, a personal favorite, is now a question mark, and the Spring Prairie Road Race conflicts with the Fox River Grove Cycling Classic, another climber’s delight, as well as the Winfield Criterium, ABR’s national championships. Speaking of the local races, the Illinois Cycling Association has published a Google calendar that includes most of the Illinois USCF schedule.

• » Chicago Cycling Forums is off to a good start. Check it out.

• » Check those wrappers: Clif Bar issues voluntary recall for some products.

• » The cyclocross season isn’t quite over yet. Team Mack invites you to New Salem State Park for the Tour de Groundhog on Sunday, Feb. 15.

Scarletfire Racing and Wild Card Cycling are bringing at least one criterium to Champaign in July.

The city has approved a flat, four-corner course for Saturday, July 11. It’s a downtown route last used in 1999 but will now be run clockwise. The event will coincide with a street festival featuring beer gardens and live music.

The teams are working to secure a criterium on that Sunday as well. It would be located near Assembly Hall and feature some elevation change, plus more live music. “Riding around the course, it feels like it’s uphill almost all the way,” says Mark Swartzendruber (Scarletfire Racing). “It’s a beautiful development and definitely not an industrial park crit.  Real curbs and stuff on the streets.”

This competes with the first weekend of Superweek, but Swartzendruber says he expects to draw riders from Indiana, Missouri, Kentucky and Downstate.  Swartzendruber also says he hopes to deliver bigger purses across the board. Depending on sponsorship, P/1/2 purses would be between $2,500 and $5,000 and Cat 3’s between $900 and $1,200. (Superweek’s 2008 purses were $2,800 and $900 respectively.)

• » Organizers have released a preliminary Hillsboro-Roubaix flier. The major change is switching from combined 3/4 and 4/5 fields to straight-up 3, 4 and 5 fields. This should make the 4’s race more competitive, and it adds a total of 45 slots to the overall capacity. Entry fees are $5 higher, but the race remains a bargain. Registration will go through Bikereg.com. (Count on me to be checking it every morning. With only 50 spots available to them, Cat 5’s will want to be especially attentive.)

• » Yojimbo’s Track Cats, a program to introduce city juniors to the track, was one of 13 programs nationwide to receive a USA Cycling Center of Excellence grant.

• » Don’t let it be said that this sport won’t demand every last drop of blood, sweat and tears. To that first point, Turin is hosting a blood drive this Tuesday.

• » Speaking of Turin, general manager Chris Dimmick has been trotting the world helping Garmin-Slipstream and Team Milram fit into their Evanston-based Lake shoes.

• » Zach Thomas (Half Acre Cycling) profiles Lou Kuhn (Pony Shop) at Gapers Block.

• » Simon May (Team Pegasus) gives an update on Chicago’s Olympic velodrome dreams.

• » Also found at Hipster Nascar: Upscale apparel maker Rapha is looking for epic rides to add to its Rapha Continental collection. Flyover country is notably absent from its past travels. What, does navigating the potholes of Sheridan Road not count as epic?

The Midwest Cycling Series, an 11-day, 10-race evolution of the formerly two-day Wisconsin Cycling Series, this morning announced four of the Wisconsin venues for its June 10-28 event: Fond du Lac, Sheboygan, Manitowoc and the fabled Downer Avenue course in Milwaukee. All four have been locations for Superweek races, and many consider Downer Avenue to be Superweek’s crown jewel.

The MCS also announced that Jack Hirt (Velo Trocadero) will be executive director.

The implications are unclear.  Does this preclude the sites from being Superweek races, too? And will the Midwest Cycling Series expand to Illinois?

What’s not unclear is whether this is a shot across Superweek’s bow. Not only is it a shot across the bow, but it’s a grappling hook over the rail and a smart rap on the captain’s quarters. Indeed, take a look at the five bullet points the MCS promises riders: 1. Full range of fields; 2. Large purses; 3. Affordable entries; 4. On-time races; 5. Full support of the Wisconsin Cycling Association and USAC. Whether MCS can follow through on these promises remains to be seen, but these points seem crafted to address complaints riders have had with Superweek.

Twice in the past hour people have e-mailed me to tell me they’d heard that Superweek was no more. This is the first I’ve heard that rumor and my inclination is to discount it. Superweek certainly faced some difficulties in 2008, but in August, Breakaway Event Productions had already announced 2009 dates that included one extra day of racing.

I’ve solicited more information from both series. I’ll update this post as there is more information to report.

UPDATE: Breakaway Event Productions’ Andy Garrison writes to confirm that Superweek is still on for 2009, and that Downer Avenue is still scheduled for Saturday, July 25. He points out that the other Wisconsin sites named today haven’t been part of Superweek for several years. He says Superweek has focused on sites closer to Milwaukee and Chicago that he says draw more riders and spectators.

“We will continue to provide the highest quality racing as in the past,” Garrison says. “We will continue to improve things and make them better. We wish the Midwest races the best, and feel that if they do well it will enhance cycling for all of us.”

• » Fire! Fire! Fire! I sure hope nobody dressed as a scarecrow to Sunday’s cross race in Wisconsin. This costume may be my favorite. (At least, I assume it’s a costume.)

• » Time to start thinking about indoor training. Turin in Evanston is offering two winter workout series: free plyometrics and intervals on Monday nights, plus pilates and resistance stretching on Wednesdays. Elsewhere, ABD and Prairie Path Cycles offer two sets of winter boot camps. And Kristen Meshberg (Flatlandia) offers Pedaling with a Purpose: Sundays and Thursdays in Westmont and Saturdays and Wednesdays at Tsubos in Chicago.

• » Speaking of indoor riding, Vision Quest has released the flier for its indoor time trial series. It’s the inverse of most time trials: Instead of measuring who goes a given distance the fastest, it determines who goes the farthest in 30 minutes.

• » Someone with an apparent surfeit of free time put together a video from inside the Chicago Criterium. Note how the auteur selflessly let himself fall from first to last in the first half-lap in order to give everyone a chance to be on camera.

• » How many times do I have to tell you people? Finish the race, then celebrate. Thank you.

• » According to the Ride Board, the Cuttin’ Cruiser has room for a trip to cyclocross nationals in Kansas City. I’m tempted to go along just for the ride, perhaps even to be the Tom Wolfe to its Furthur.

I was comforted to see such a large turnout at Saturday’s Illinois Cycling Association meeting. These are never the most exciting way to spend the afternoon, but it’s important for all interested parties to stay informed and involved. Our ICA board does a lot of work behind the scenes, and showing up is the least we can do to show our appreciation.

Some highlights:

• » The 2009 schedule is coming together. Here are some likely dates you can circle on your calendars: March 29: Spring Super Crit. April 4: HIllsboro-Roubaix. May 3: Vernon Hills Grand Prix. May 22-25: Iowa/Quad Cities Memorial Day weekend races. May 30: O’Fallon Grand Prix Road Race. June 20: Cobb Park Criterium. June 21: Fox River Grove Cycling Challenge. June 28: Proctor State Criterium Championship. July 26: Chicago Criterium. July 31-Aug. 2: Tour of Elk Grove. Aug. 9: Glencoe Grand Prix. Aug. 15-16: Downers Grove. Aug. 23: State road race championship.

• » 2008 state championship jerseys were distributed, and they look sharper than ever, thanks in large part to Julian “Project Runway” Baumgartner (Vitaminwater-Trek), who stepped in to help with the design. Seriously, if I had known they’d look this good I would have tried harder at Oak Brook. The vendor is now Pactimo, and the ICA is looking into a sponsorship arrangement to reduce future costs.

• » Dave Fowkes invited teams to send members to the introductory officials clinic on Nov. 29. With the time trial series and two NRC races on top of an already-packed schedule, he needs a big labor pool to ensure each event is fully staffed. (Officials are paid, by the way. Not much, and not enough to justify the whining and pouting we reward them with, but paid nonetheless.)

• » Jason Knauff (Vitaminwater-Trek) is helping develop a cheap, reliable and accurate finish-line camera system. It’s being tested at some of the cyclocross races. Meanwhile, Fowkes is developing a better computer system to better manage and report results.

Following a 2008 National Racing Calendar that included no Chicago-area races, USA Cycling has published a 2009 calendar that for the men adds the Chicago Criterium and restores the Tour of Elk Grove. This is fabulous news, as these premier events deserve the best riders available.

Missing again are the USPRO national criterium championships of Downers Grove, a major disappointment. The 2008 edition, also off the NRC calendar, saw teams splitting themselves between Downers Grove and the Tour of Utah, which resulted in a smaller field and some say overly negative racing. (It also resulted in an American winning the race outright for the first time in several years.)

On the bright side, the calendar adds the Marion Classic Riveralk Criterium a few hours away in Marion, Ind.

Two notes on dates: The Chicago Criterium is listed as Sunday, July 26, which will again coincide with the final weekend of Superweek. Also, four days are listed for the Tour of Elk Grove -- July 31-Aug. 3 -- although the press release calls it a “three-day” event.

For more context on the NRC, read Mark Zalewski‘s excellent CyclingNews analysis from August.

Tuesday will be this season’s final night of the Tuesday criteriums in Matteson.

UPDATE: Because of all the rain this weekend, there will not be racing in Matteson Tuesday. However, the South Chicago Wheelmen will be leading a group ride.

ABD has released the flier for the Fall Fling. Note that the criteriums have moved from Lombard to Wood Dale. They’ll take place in the same business park as the Memorial Day weekend masters races, on the “north” course the first Sunday and the “south” course the next week.

The track season concludes Thursday at the Northbrook Velodrome, and this will be a fun one to watch. There will be free barbeque and other special festivities, including a trackstand contest. Barry Taerbaum (Alberto’s) sponsored the evening and will provide extra primes as he honors men and women in uniform.

As one discipline ends, another takes its place. There’s still one beginner’s spot left at Saturday’s cyclocross clinic, plus a few openings for more experienced riders. Then the Chicago Cyclocross Cup kicks off on Sept. 21 with Jackson Park Cyclocross. Note that women can earn travel expenses to the national championships thanks to the Smart Cycling Road to Cyclocross Nationals Women’s Project.

In conjuntion with Saturday’s clinic, Illinois Tech Cycling and Cycle Smithy are holding Swap and Hop, a bike swap on the Illinois Tech campus.

Your sets are not malfunctioning: That is cycling on your TV this weekend.

NBC’s Universal Sports, channel 5-3 on the digital spectrum, has been showing the Tour of Germany and the Univest Grand Prix, including the Univest Criterium at the moment.

Later this week Universal will be showing the Tour of Missouri and the Paralympic Games in Beijing, where Chicagoan Greta Neimanas (XXX Racing-AthletiCo) will be going for gold on the track.

And at 4:30 this afternoon, Comcast SportsNet will be showing the Tour of Elk Grove.

ABR’s famous four-person time trial world championships are this weekend. The flier is now available. E-mail your start lists and race classes to Bob Lundgren. Start times will be e-mailed Friday.

The race is way out in Utica. Sounds like a good candidate for the Ride Board to me.

Tour of Oak Brook results are online. Imperfect, but online.

A few final notes:

• » Proctor Cycling made the race worth its trip, coming in 1-2 in the 4’s behind Dan Damotte and Aaron McCombs.

• » Except for Lucas Oil sweeping the masters 1/2/3’s (the second year in a row for 40+ champ Dave Stone), only the South Chicago Wheelmen scored multiple state championships on the day, thanks to juniors Trevor Rolette in the 10-14 and Brandon Feehery in the 15-18.

• » XXX Racing-AthletiCo didn’t win any races, but it may have earned a jersey nonetheless. It put four into the top 10 of the 30+ 4/5’s, including 2nd, 3rd and 4th. I’m not certain, but I believe winner Andrew Killion hails from Australia, which may make Nate Gayeski (XXX Racing-AthletiCo) your 30+ 4/5 state champion, a repeat for the team.

• » Tim Henry (Project 5) was also defending a title, as former teammate Cory Hickman won the 3’s road race in 2007.

• » Francisco Torralba (Team Tati) has a new blog. Among other things, it’s stocked with links to cyclocross video tutorials.

• » Did someone say cyclocross? The Chicago Cyclocross Cup kicks off in a few weeks, starting with a clinic for both beginning and experienced riders in Chicago. Next five four to register get The first 10 who registered got a free cyclocross DVD.

• » I’ve been a big fan of the Fall Fling ever since I competed as a citizen. ABD has announced the dates, mixing it up this year by putting the road race on the first weekend and the time trial the following. This is a great chance to experience stage racing, and it can be a good way to try out whatever category you hope to race in in 2009. And for late bloomers coming into form only now, it’s an opportunity to taste enough success to motivate your off-season training. (Full disclosure: ABD is an advertiser here, but I’d tout the series’ awesomeness regardless.)

• » The Glencoe Grand Prix put together a nifty slideshow to celebrate the 2008 edition.

• » John Wilke has been taking great shots on the road all season.  Last night he shot some video of closing night at the Kenosha velodrome, if you’re into that track stuff.

• » This speedometer vest looks like an awesome idea.

• » New Belgium Brewing is returning to Chicago to raise more funds for West Town Bikes. This time it’s the Urban Assault Ride. On the one hand it’s a good benefactor and a good cause. On the other, it seems to be some sort of alleycat crossed with a corporate team-building exercise, and the implicit contradictions make my head hurt. How dare they co-opt the subculture that so many of us have rightfully stolen!

• » Confidential to fellow CyclingNews readers: Yes, it could be perfect. Already applied. Don’t tell the Colonel.

The Illinois Cycling Association is sponsoring a safety clinic before Saturday’s Tour of Oak Brook, our state road race championship. Dan Jerger (Vision Quest) will lead the session. Among other things it will cover how to deal with the centerline rule and overlapping fields, both of which are likely to come into play on this course.

The clinic starts at 7:30 a.m. I highly recommend all men, women and juniors new to road races attend. You’ll still have plenty of time to make it your race and be warm, and the clinic will count toward upgrade requirements.

In other Oak Brook news, the P/1/2 shouldn’t have to worry about overtaking the pace car: They’ll be following a Lamborghini Gallardo Spyder, on loan from Lamborghini of Chicago and capable of going 0-60 in 4.2 seconds.

More than 50 riders have already registered for the 5’s, so there will be two fields. Note that the masters 4/5 field has only 15 slots left as of this writing. Register now to reserve your slot and avoid the $5 late charge.

The Glencoe Grand Prix has added some sprint competitions to spice up Sunday’s races.

Women’s P/1/2/3’s, 45+, 30+ 1/2/3’s, 4’s, 3’s and P/1/2’s will each have five sprints during their races, with points going seven deep (7, 6 ... 1). Winners get a $200 gift certificate to EJ’s Place, the Skokie restaurant owned by longtime cycling supporter EJ Lenzi (PYOC).

Glencoe is keen on attracting more athletes to the women’s P/1/2/3 race, so that sprint winner will receive a $800 pair of 14K white gold diamond earrings, donated by Shelle Jewelers.

Finally, organizer Jon Knouse tells me that Glencoe Grand Prix kits are for sale: $65 for tops, $75 for bottoms. E-mail him if interested. And Dan Labovitch (Half Acre Cycling) reminds us that his sponsor will be providing free brew for registered racers. The faster you race, the sooner you get to enjoy. How’s that for motivation?

Chicago native Rebecca Much (Webcor) picked up her latest national championship Wednesday by winning the U-23 time trial in Irvine, Calif. This caps a comeback year for Much, who previously earned the U-23 time trial and criterium titles in 2005 while riding for T-Mobile and won a silver medal at the junior world championships in 2004 while riding for XXX Racing-AthletiCo.

Jessi Prinner (ABD) came in 3rd in the girls 15-16 time trial, and John Meyer (ABD/Geargrinder) was your other top finisher from the Chicago area, coming in 12th in the U-23 field.

Take a moment to check out the full results. I find it comforting to recognize the names of so many juniors who have wiped the floor with me over the past year. If I’m to be beaten by 15-year-olds, at least they’re some of the best 15-year-old’s in the country. This includes Adam Leibovitz (Mesa Cycles), who won the Cat 3 race at Downers Grove last year and is your new 17-18 time trial champion.

More national championships will be named over the next few days with criterium and road racing.

In June the Wisconsin Cycling Series promoted two well-received races in Grafton and Sheboygan. Now it is expanding and renaming itself the Midwest Cycling Series, opening the door to races outside of Wisconsin. The new organization includes former 7-Eleven rider and Olympian Tom Schuler of Team Sports, which manages the Team Advil-Chapstick and Team Type 1 pro cycling teams and organizes the 24 Hours of Nine Mile Mountain Bike Race. Might this become a competitor to Superweek?

Speaking of Superweek, Breakaway Event Productions today announced its 2009 dates: July 9 through July 26. Yes, that’s a Thursday. Andy Garrison tells me the extra day will be an evening P/1/2 event.

Tower Racing has made a splash this season with some strong performances on the bike, and now it’s stepping up in a big way off of it, having agreed to promote our state championship road race Aug. 23 on a 3.2-mile course in Oak Brook.

The flier is now online, and registration is open.

Contrary to my orginal post, the start/finish will be on 31st street, described as a “blistering two-lane, 3/4-mile rolling hill finish.” Chip timing will again be used at this event. Note that 5’s races are capped at 50, but a second field will be added if necessary.

In last night’s Racine Criterium, cyclocross star Jonathan Page (Battley Harley-Davidson/Planet Bike) went up a lap with four others, then outwitted the sizeable Kelly Benefit Strategies leadout train to take the victory.

Sterling Magnell (Rock Racing) continued to find himself marked like a jelly donut at a Weight Watchers meeting and couldn’t slip away from the field. In the sprint, Jonathan Cantwell (Jittery Joe’s) was able to pad his lead by a few more points and now leads by 5.

I don’t have any 3’s results from Racine, but it continues to be a tight race for the overall between Tomasz Boba (WDT-Allvoi), Alex Voitik (Turin), Matt Hebard (GS Boulder) and Robert Quinn (Unattached). Crashes again marred Thursday’s race. Here’s video of one that Tim Keeley (ABD) reports was caused by a crosswalk that was “slick as snot,” and this photo from John Wilke suggests Quinn was the victim of one as well. No word on whether he made it to the finish.

Word from Ben’s Cycles in Milwaukee is that Saturday’s crowd prime at the Great Downer Avenue Bike Race will be a minimum of $4,000. With Tour of Elk Grove primes topping out at $2,500, I believe that makes this the largest prime in the entire Midwest.

And speaking of Tour of Elk Grove, Voytek Glinkowski (WDT-Allvoi) tells me only 10 spots remain in the amateur time trial. He also shared a photo of the trophies his team his providing for the top 10 amateurs, and they are handsome indeed.

How’s the racing going up in Wisconsin? Hard to tell. Amateur results haven’t been posted yet. But Rock Racing picked up another win, this time behind Aussie Olympic pursuiter Peter Dawson (above). Overall leader Sterling Magnell (Rock Racing) crashed in both races: He got back up at Shorewood to get 9th, but at Ripon he ended up with a concussion and stitches after this tire blew out in a turn. He still retains the yellow jersey, however, and teammate Rahsaan Bahati still has a lock on red.

Kelly Benefit-Strategies found Ripon’s rain to their liking, just as the squad did when it dominated a rain-soaked Downers Grove last year. Jake Keough was part of a three-man break that lapped the field, at which point his team, including local favorite Reid Mumford, shepherded him home for the victory.

Of note is the presence of three-time cyclocross national champion Jonathan Page (Battley Harley-Davidson). He came in 6th at Shorewood, 3rd in the field sprint.

Humboldt Park race reports
Clint Carter (Ski Utah; 3): “I went on an early break with 3 others, only to have one of the riders overlap a wheel right in front of me and crash.”

James Pradun (Endeavour; 3): “To make matters worse, it was uphill and someone attacked it every single time. 45 hill repeats, woo!”

Tom Thiesen (Endeavour; 3): “I was all like ‘This is hard. I quit.’ Then I saw that I broke a spoke and my brake was rubbing hard.”

Humboldt Park photos
Clint Carter

Shorewood race reports
ABD/Geargrinder (P/1/2): “Once the break was established, the day was pretty much over for everyone else.”

Aram Dellalian (Bearclaw; P/1/2): “The course was an odd one, but didn’t worry me too much. When the legs are good, minor things like course type, pavement, hills, etc. are just interchangeable variables that don’t mean much in crit racing.”

Kudzu (P/1/2): “Thomas was sitting in a really good spot with one lap to go but said some really sketchy stuff happened on the last lap.”

Sterling Magnell (Rock Racing; P/1/2): “I went down in a 10 man pileup with 10 laps to go. It roughed me up pretty good and I had to ride a spare bike from SRAM to 9th place.”

Katy Steudel (Team Pegasus; spectator): “An older gentleman came over and says, ‘Meet my friend, Greg Lemond. He’s a seven-time world champion.’ I kinda laugh and say, ‘Well, I’m two-time state champion. Would you like my autograph?’”

Shorewood photos
Clint Carter
BigDane
John Wilke

Ripon race reports
Clint Carter (Ski Utah; 3): “Three of the four turns were slightly off-camber for added fun. It took me about half the race to finally start taking them right.”

CyclingNews: “A late-race shower significantly affected the racing, as it allowed the break to actually catch the field and made the turns like ice.”

CyclingNews: “‘I went to the ER and they stitched me up,’ Magnell said, ‘seven above my eye and my lip is swollen. People take one look at me and they just turn away. It’s like I have leprosy or something!’”

Aram Dellalian (Bearclaw; P/1/2): “Some riders just stopped and pulled out. I felt fine, surprisingly, as wet weather ain’t my thing at all.”

Hub Racing (W-P/1/2/3): “Not every team ahead of Hub in the general classification had the same ability and a few of Hub’s rivals found themselves out of the race. Such is the nature of a tour.”

Kudzu (P/1/2): “As soon as it started raining, riders started dropping like flies. Not ‘getting dropped’ but sliding out and falling almost every lap.”

Sterling Magnell (Rock Racing; P/1/2): “My rear tire blew in the middle of the fastest corner and sent me strait off the road at 40 mph. I woke up on the sidewalk scared as shit because I couldn’t think, literally. But I’ve hit my head before so I just tried to relax.”

Tom Thiesen (Endeavour; 3): “The import thing is I tried and failed abjectly. And it’s delightful.”

Ripon photos
Clint Carter

Your Superweek schedule has the 4/5’s race going 15 miles in 15 minutes.

I’m sorry, friends, but even on your best day, with the strongest tailwind and the steepest descent and the tuckiest tuck, that’s not bloody likely.

Superweek staff tell me that since the schedule was printed with this error, racing will not start any earlier than 9:30 a.m. The first few races of the day, therefore, will be abbreviated to accommodate.

Turin’s Chris Mailing, however, tells me that he expects the course to be ready at 9 and he hopes to stick to the original schedule.

My advice? Show up ready to race at 9, but don’t be surprised if you’re standing around for a long time.

Mailing says the city has bent over backwards to improve on last year’s success. Officials and businesses are as excited as we are, and the course has already been re-patched to remove any grooves. In addition, Mailing says the barrier system at Turn 5 is being reconfigured to provide more safety at the treacherous “BK Stacker.”

Mailing is also recruiting volunteers to help marshal the course and perform other duties. This is a pretty good deal: Volunteers get a free T-shirt and a coupon for credit at Whole Foods.

Two other notes:

• » I forgot to include this in my Holy Hill preview, but don’t forget to bring your swimsuit Monday. The course starts on a lake, and after a long, hard day in the sun, you will welcome the chance for a satisfying dunk.
  
• » Unrelated to Superweek, Tim Henry (Project 5) tells me that mountain bike pioneer Tom Ritchey will be appearing at Sammy’s Bikes in St. Charles on Monday to give a talk and go for a group ride. It starts at 5 p.m. at 602 1st St.

A disturbing crash at the end of today’s 4’s race in Bensenville sent a rider to the hospital, but early word is that he will be OK.

According to e-mail now making the rounds, based on information from the rider’s son: ”James Scott (Apache) was transported to Loyola after the accident today. He was conscious the entire time and joking with the MDs prior to surgery that he was VERY excited he took 3rd! He is out of surgery and doing well and they expect a full recovery.”

This is a massive relief to all who were present, myself included.

The finish line of the Bensenville course sits in the middle of a long chicane of new pavement. After the finish line, the course bends to the right. Scott had just sprinted for 3rd up the left side of the course but, either because of the follow-through of his throw or because he was distracted by the other finishers, did not turn in time, slamming hard into the metal barriers and catching one at a freakishly unfortunate angle.

Several emergency medical technicians were on the scene within seconds, including the medical service team hired by Superweek, and he was well cared for. I salute their professionalism and coolness during the crisis. They saved a life today.

An ambulance arrived 20 minutes later, and racing resumed.

I’ll update this post if and when there is more to report.

Wednesday update: I spoke to Jim’s son Jeremy this evening and the prognosis is good. Jim continues to be in good spirits, and doctors expect to release him from the hospital this week.

Because of construction around the ol’ paint factory, Matteson will not take place this week. Organizers expect it to return on the 22nd.

Regarding the speculation and hand-wringing in my previous post, please note this important clarification from Superweek’s Andy Garrison: “We have worked with The Village of Bensenville for over a year on this project. The path that is shown on the map is now 24’ to 25’ wide in all areas. The Village has repaved the area with fresh new pavement. Mayor John Giles and the Village have made a huge commitment to bike racing and moved the race to the park to coincide with an event that culminates on the 16th at 8 p.m. with a free concert featuring The Gary Puckett Band. There will be the usual food and beverages and $4,000 in guaranteed primes.”

Garrison also informs us that the 4/5’s race at Evanston is filling up.

Update: Gary Chioda (Tower Racing) sends us these camera photos of the course. The image on the right is where the path spits back onto the road, and Chioda reports that a crew was there today patching cracks.

I received some Chicago Criterium updates from my source deep within the bowels of City Hall:

• » Fewer than 40 slots remain in the 125-man 4’s field. Register now or risk missing out on the race of the year.

• » Professional rosters are yet to be released, but you can expect to see fan-favorite Chris Horner (Astana). Horner has raced the past two years of the Tour of Elk Grove, and it’s never a mere celebrity appearance. He rides an animated race and races to win.

• » $40,000 in prize money not enough? Winners jerseys will also be up for grabs in all races. I’ll post an image as soon as I have one.

The Superweek technical guide is out, including course information for the Tuesday and Wednesday Bensenville races.

It’s an interesting course, and by “interesting” I mean, “At least there’s lots of parking.” About half the course appears to run down some sort of recreational path. Perhaps someone more familiar with Bensenville can inform us. Can we ride more than two abreast there, let alone sprint for the finish line? (I could be wrong, but the map in the technical guide suggests the start/finish sits about halfway down this path.)

Update: I missed this when it was first published last week, but CyclingNews has an item about some of the troubles Superweek is having. Scroll down to the seventh item. (Thanks, Matt.)

CRITICAL, ALL-CAPS UPDATE: Superweek’s Andy Garrison e-mails me with a clarification that will put most of us at ease: “We have worked with The Village of Bensenville for over a year on this project. The path that is shown on the map is now 24’ to 25’ wide in all areas. The Village has repaved the area with fresh new pavement. Mayor John Giles and the Village have made a huge commitment to bike racing and moved the race to the park to coincide with an event that culminates on the 16th at 8 p.m. with a free concert featuring The Gary Puckett Band. There will be the usual food and beverages and $4,000 in guaranteed primes.”

Hooray for Bensenville!

Here is a Bensenville Press story detailing some of the events: “Bike race, other events switch to weekday slots.”