Has everyone plotted out their sick days yet? Superweek race fees go up $5 per race after Monday, so it may behoove you to register now. Consult this page for complete schedule information (here for P/1/2 men).
In addition to housing for riders, Superweek is looking for Chicago-area volunteers to help set up and take down courses, as well as to help transmit results to media and Web sites. Volunteers can get fees comped for the days they help. E-mail Andy Garrison for more information.
» Barrington Hills police: Despite advances in horsepower and protective metal cages, drivers “intimidated” by skinny men in tight shorts.
» Let us now salute Glen Chadwick (Team Type 1): ”I necked half the can like in a commercial and launched the remains over the heads of some spectators.” Watch the video. (Thanks, Newt.)
» In the wake of several catastrophic doorings, some cyclists are starting an awareness campaign to remind drivers (and passengers!) to check their mirrors.
» How does a Chicagoan train for the Tour de France? Wind.
Breakaway Event Productions today secured Richton Park as the final location for Superweek. The Monday, July 14, criterium will be just down the road from that Sunday’s Olympia Fields criterium, and it will kick off the seven-race Wheel & Sprocket Women’s Pro Tour for P/1/2/3 women.
Organizers will be scouting out the exact course tomorrow.
“It might have come down to the wire,” director of marketing Michael Garrison said, “but we’re pleased to have met our goal, which was to provide what riders have been asking for for years, and that’s consistency and keeping the races close together.”
The first six days of Superweek will all be within a 45-minute drive of downtown Chicago. With the exception of the Ripon and Evanston, the balance will all be within an hour of Milwaukee.
Garrison also said that the new Olympia Fields course will be in a subdivision close to Metra.
The Superweek criterium that was to be held in Homewood on Sunday, July 12, will now be a little farther south in Olympia Fields. Still no information about courses or the location of Monday’s criterium.
Hundreds of pro and amateur cyclists from around the world will soon come to the Midwest for Superweek. With more races in the Chicago area, organizers are looking for volunteers down here to provide housing for riders July 10-16. I’m told the priority is finding homes that can accommodate multiple guests, for teams such Virgin Blue Cycling squad, whose five riders are coming from Australia to race with us.
Hosts provide a bed, shower and secure bike storage. Riders are expected to provide their own transportation and food. E-mail Chuck and Kristin Paul at for more information.
Registration forms can be faxed in now. Online registration will be available soon is now available as well.
July 14 is still listed as a TBA location. At Winfield I spoke with Breakaway’s Michael Garrison, and he told me he was still looking for a Chicago-area location for that day.
Pre-registration is a good idea and saves you a few bucks per race. I also expect the local weekend races will fill up in the 4/5’s, starting with Evanston and then Blue Island and Homewood.
The Superweek schedule has been updated to add a July 13 criterium in south-suburban Homewood. That’s the series’ first Sunday, previously home to the Bensenville Criterium, now scheduled for Wednesday, and makes a total of four Chicago-area criteriums, plus the P/1/2-only twilight criterium in Beverly.
The schedule still has two empty slots, and I have no word on the fate of the Tour of Alpine Valley or the MGA Proving Grounds Road Race.
Registration for Tour of Elk Grove is now online. Nothing yet for Downers Grove or the Chicago Criterium.
In other summer news, the Superweek schedule has been shuffled to move the Whitnall Park Road Race to the second Wednesday, July 23. That and the Tour of Holy Hill are the only road races, although there remain three TBA’s for the first week.
A reader writes:
Is it necessary to pre-register for races? Do they all tend to fill up?
Two related trends bode well for our sport: More and more races are providing online pre-registration, and more and more races are reaching capacity, especially in the Cat 5’s. (USA Cycling limits Cat 5 fields to 50 riders, and Cat 4/5 fields to 75.)
The risk of pre-registering is that it may rain, or something may come up to conflict with the race and you’ll be on the hook for your $25. (Curse those loved ones with the gall to wed at the height of racing season!) Promoters usually don’t often provide refunds, and few will go through the hassle of transferring registration to your teammates.
But the risk is worth it if it’s a race you have your heart set on and there’s a possibility it will fill. Alas, I know of no women’s races to have filled up, nor P/1/2’s or 3’s, but the Tour of Elk Grove, Downers Grove and the Chicago Criterium are all local races where we can expect the Cat 5 and Cat 4 fields to fill. Last the local Superweek races filled their 4/5 fields, starting with Evanston, and Wisconsin’s Spring Prairie Road Race has in the past filled its 4/5 fields.
Finally, Hillsboro-Roubaix will fill up the quickest of any race, as we discovered this year, and Snake Alley is a race for which it’s essential to pre-register, not because it will fill up but because start position is so crucial.
For most other races, however, one can safely count on registering on the day of, but you never know: Even this year’s Spring Super Criterium, an untested race two hours from the city with no money on the line, filled several of its fields, to its promoters’ credit. Better to be safe than to drive 100 miles to be a spectator.
A tentative Superweek schedule is out.
Go ahead and file those time-off requests at work, as International Cycling has posted dates for the 2008 Superweek: July 11-27.
The third weekend conflicts with the announced date of the inaugural Chicago Criterium. No other details are available yet, including whether the series will be returning to new hosts Blue Island and Evanston. Both were among the highlights of 2007, so here’s hoping it does.
USA Cycling announced the 2008 National Racing Calendar today. Notable departures include the Tour of Elk Grove, Downers Grove and Superweek. The inaugural Chicago Criterium failed to make the cut, too, a disappointment but not surprising given that it’s an unknown quantity and falls on the last day of the Tour de ‘Toona.
The closest NRC racing to Chicago will be the Nature Valley Grand Prix in Minnesota, the Priority Health Grand Cycling Classic in Grand Rapids, Mich., and, for the women, the Tour de Leelanau in Traverse City, Mich.
According to the announcement, Downers Grove was dropped “primarily because of the advantage given to clubs and teams with a greater number of American riders on their rosters.” I’m not enough of an NRC wonk to understand what that means or predict the implications. Is this just meant to discourage another Canadian or Australian from winning? Is it that embarrassing for the Stars and Stripes to go to second place?
Posted by Seth Meyer
In France, July would not be July without the Tour. In the midwestern United States, the same goes for the International Cycling Classic (ICC), better known as Superweek, which ended in Whitefish Bay Sunday after 17 consecutive days of racing.
Despite a late surge by Kayle Leogrande (Rock Racing) in the P/1/2 field, including taking the highest total of three stage wins in the series, it was not enough to come back on the consistent Kahala-LaGrange team, which may have seen Australian Jonathan Cantwell bumped down to third, but Mexico’s Marco Rios held on for overall victory. Christian Grasmann of Team Sparkasse took the red sprinter’s jersey with a commanding lead over Andrew Crater (Wheel & Sprocket). Highlights from area P/1/2 riders include Josh Carter’s (ABD) top 30 placing overall and stage win in Bensenville, as well as John Meyers‘ (Turin) finish in the winning breakaway at the Evanston Northwestern Hospital Grand Prix.
Chicago suffered a great loss in the Cat 3 field with Ed Amstutz (XXX Racing) taking a fall in the Kenosha race Friday and breaking his collarbone. This led to his slipping down to the third in the overall standings, but he retained a podium placing in the general classification. Craig Streit (Procon) of Phoenix, AZ ran away with the series in the last three days, as other out-of-state riders in the subsequent ranks had already headed home in addition to Amstutz. Next top local result was Eric Wiecek’s (Team Get A Grip Cycles) late rocketing up the standings to net 6th.
Area riders were all over the Cat 4/5 men’s standings. Tomasz Boba (WDT / LOT) landed second in the overall, seeing him and winner Nathan Longley (Beans & Barley) finish more than 100 points ahead of third. Longley, upon clinching the 4/5’s overall, proceeded to upgrade and get 2nd in his first 3’s race. It’s the third year in a row that the 4/5 champ upgraded during Superweek, following Casey Masterson (Velo Trocadero) in 2005 and Brandon Krawczyk (Mach Schnell/JDRF) in 2006. (Krawczyk did Longley one better by winning as both a 3 and a 4 in the same Superweek.) Back to the 4/5 overall, Joel Crouch (ABD) and Pieter Ombregt (XXX Racing) out of Chicago were 4th and 6th, respectively.
On the women’s side, the Cat 3/4 series wrapped up in Whitefish Bay as well Sunday. Kristen Mershberg (Flatlandia Cycling) out of Lyons, Ill., took the final stage in addition to the overall.
Women’s Pro/1/2 racing had finished one week before, but, to jog your memory, it was Kelly Benjamin (Cheerwine) who took Superweek with a commanding lead and Debbie Dust (Team Kenda Tire) delivering Chicago’s top result in 20th. Benjamin’s teammate Sara Uhl took the sprint classification.
Finally, the men’s 40+ category also closed out over the weekend, seeing Nova IS Corp’s dominance take center-stage again. Chris Halverson won the overall comfortably while the team took the last two stages as well. Previously, Mike Heagney (PYOC) from Libertyville, Ill., won a tight overall race for the 30+ men.
That does it for this year’s Superweek. Please feel free to email the Guest Editor with any photos from the races you may come across, as he’s a bit more challenged in the photo-finding realm as compared to the Regular Guy.
Chase Food Folks & Spokes race reports
Rahsaan Bahati (Rock Racing; P/1/2): “Again, we did all we could to get Kayle maximum points to get closer to the lead. I was surprised to have such good legs after so many days of racing.”
Ron Cook (ABD; 3): “I never saw it coming. I don’t remember crossing a wheel. Nothing. All I know is I was going down.”
Seth Meyer (Team Get A Grip Cycles; P/1/2): “At Kenosha, maybe the field was getting slower or I have been getting stronger or maybe both, but nevertheless I fared respectably.”
Brian McVey (Vision Quest; 3): “So I didn’t think it would do any harm to pit and see if there was something wrong. Well I did, and there wasn’t anything wrong and to my dismay the ref in the pit told me if there was nothing wrong, I didn’t get a free lap. Shoooot.”
Christine Roettger (X Plane Team Revoluion; W-3/4): “Fresh legs didn’t help much in working to cover a break that started early and stuck for 44 laps. Four or five laps in an attack through the start/finish caused a crash that forced all but three riders to brake and swerve.”
Jessi Prinner (ABD; W-3/4): “The next time I attack with 45 laps to go, would somebody do me a huge favor and perhaps stick a metal rod in my spokes?”
Amanda Miller (Atlas; W-3/4): “I tried to keep the spirits high and said we could do it. The gap to the leaders started to shrink. Before we knew it they were within reaching distance.”
Wheel & Sprocket Brewers Hill race reports
Brian McVey (Vision Quest; 3): “The breakaway ended up lapping us, so now I could be no better than 10th overall even if I won the sprint at the end. I conserved energy and had a decent sprint to take 15th.”
Amanda Miller (Atlas; W-3/4): “Sprinted up the hill for 7th place. Felt like I could have done a lot better but had really crappy positioning. Live and learn.”
Christine Roettger (X Plane Team Revolution; W-3/4): “Her record would improve and her overall lead on me would grow as I just couldn’t get around her on the last climb.”
Matthew Smith (Big Shark; 4/5): “I kept at the front, but didn’t have the energy to ride the wave and stay at the absolute front, wheel two or three, where the race is won.”
Jeff Wat (XXX Racing-AthletiCo; 4/5): “Word from the sidelines was, ‘Gaps were opening up and the field was shattered!’ That’s what I like to hear! We broke legs!”
Brewers Hill photos
Onesixfive
Columbia St. Mary’s Great Downer Avenue race reports
Rahsaan Bahati (Rock Racing; P/1/2): “Kayle won the race with little JJ getting 6th and me winning the 4k prime...I would have to say we had a great day.”
Seth Meyer (Team Get A Grip Cycles; P/1/2): “A break of seven got off. When it was forming, it was incredibly fast, and I was almost getting dropped. Afterward, it did get a little easier though.”
Columbia St. Mary’s Great Downer Avenue photos
Czelticgirl
Machine is Organic
Nick Schweitzer
Whitefish Bay Classic race reports
Christine Roettger (X Plane Team Revolution; W-3/4): “That was my race. I lost it in some random 100 meters a quarter mile from the finish. I lost it in a blur of panic.”
Matthew Smith (Big Shark; 4/5): “I followed wheels and opened my sprint earlier in the long finishing straight, and nearly caught 4th place at the line.”
Whitefish Bay Classic photos
Greg Smith
Nick Schweitzer
Superweek has been fun, but I could now use a vacation. So I’m going to take one. In a few hours I leave for Italy South America. I expect Internet access to be spotty. Thankfully, Seth Meyer (Team Get a Grip Cycles) has graciously agreed to mind things while I’m gone. He’ll post occasionally and keep an eye on the comments. (Play nice!)
Thanks for making the first three months of Chicago Bike Racing so much fun. I wouldn’t do it if I didn’t have the pleasure of your readership and participation, and it’s been great to meet so many of you at races. When I return, I’ll be adding more training rides and races and finally publishing a list of local teams.
See you at Elk Grove!
After a hot streak, Rock Racing got shut out two days in a row, and Kayle Leogrande now has some work to do to catch Mexican Marco Rios and Australian Jonathan Cantwell, both of Kahala-LaGrange. He needs to gain 23 points over the last three days of Superweek to take the P/1/2 overall.
I’ve never been, but Saturday’s Downer Avenue race in Milwaukee will deliver a festival atmosphere with 12,000 fans coming out for the twilight racing. Wish I could make it.
Chris Halverson (IS Corp) has won only one stage so far, but he’s been a picture of consistency and holds a commanding lead in the 40+ 1/2/3.
Lyons’ Kristen Meshberg (Flatlandia) won her second stage Thursday in Sheboygan, Wis., but the women’s 3/4 overall is far from settled. Can’t say the same for the men’s 4/5: Nathan Longley (Beans & Barley) won again Thursday to clinch his overall title three days early.
Village of Howard Cycling Classic race reports
Amanda Miller (Atlas; W-3/4): “This lapped rider all of a sudden pulls off in front of us and slows down. Crap. So my wheel goes around her and I am stuck.”
Christine Roettger (X Plane Team Revolution; W-3/4): “Hydration, burritos, sleep. Wake up and kick some ass. That’s my plan.”
Mark Swartzendruber (Delta Faucet; 40+ 1/2/3): “The faster guy won. That’s the thing about bike racing. Most of the time the faster guy wins.”
Heritage Square race reports
Amanda Miller (Atlas; W-3/4): “Two laps to go the skies opened up and it poured. Crap!”
“I like to watch the cyclists. They’re a little bit sexy.”
Sniff. Only a little bit?
Granted, I was already pedaling squares and had been dropped from the 3’s race, but when the lead P/1/2 group passed me 70 miles into their Tour of Holy Hill, it was like I was standing still. First it was a group of four, including Kayle Leogrande (Rock Racing), then a chase group of about eight, including two more Rock Racing riders. I presume they made the catch, because the results included four of the top six.
Rock Racing’s Sebastian Haedo, younger brother of CSC sprinter J.J. Haedo, won Tuesday’s criterium in Cedarburg, Wis., giving Rock Racing four consecutive wins.
The P/1/2 overall is as tight as can be, with a single point separating the top three riders (Marco Rios and Jonathan Cantwell (Kahala LaGrange) and Brian Jensen (HRRC/Trek Stores)). Certainly Rios and Cantwell have the team advantage, but much is likely to hinge on how much more Rock Racing will be doing, as Leogrande is only 28 points down.
I confess to not following the NRC teams that closely when they are not racing nearby, but does anyone know why more teams didn’t show up this year? Seems like most of the big teams skipped Superweek and went straight from the Cascade Cycling Classic in Oregon to the Tour de Toona in Pennsylvania. Previous years have had more riders from the likes of Health Net, Navigators and Jelly Belly. Only Victor Rapinski is representing Navigators, even though Hilton Clarke (Navigators) had been racing here just a few weeks ago, and one almost has to wonder why. Does Milwaukee have a great Belarussian restaurant we should know about?
As for the other categories, perhaps I shouldn’t have been so braggy about teammate Ed Amstutz (XXX Racing-AthletiCo), who found himself a marked man at Tour of Holy Hill, Superweek’s final road race. He held his lead in the 3’s overall but then had to return to the office, and others bave been taking advantage. Craig Streit (Procon) won Cedarburg in a break of three to move ahead in the standings. I must also call out Lance Niles (Unattached), who won at Holy Hill in a four-man break. All year Niles has been an aggressive rider in the 3’s and a genuinely nice guy. I wasn’t disappointed to see him take this one.
Cedarburg kicked off a six-race women’s 3/4 series, with Kristin Meshberg (Flatlandia) of Lyons winning to take the first overall lead.
The 4/5 race is down to two riders: Nathan Longley (Beans & Barley) and Tomasz Boba (WDT), who finished 3-4 in Cedarburg. Longley has won three races so far and has a 34-point lead over Boba and almost twice as many points as the next-closest contender.
Holy Hill race reports
Bryan McVey (Vision Quest; 3): “It felt like I was standing outside in a hail storm going downhill at 35 mph getting pegged by little pieces of road.”
Seth Meyer (Team Get a Grip Cycles; P/1/2): “It was really just 50 guys attacking and counterattacking each other, 5 miles into a 100-mile race.”
Mark Swartzendruber (Delta Faucet; 40+ 1/2/3): “All three are great riders, hard workers and honest racers and are held in great esteem in my eyes. The three were Chris Halverson (Nova IS Corp), Clark Priebe (Team Mack) and John Van Susteren (Mach Schnell/JDRF) ... Racing with those three was as much fun in bike racing as I’ve had in a long while.”
The Editor (XXX Racing-AthletiCo; 3): “It’s a shame I didn’t quite have the tactical know-how or fitness to make this work.”
Cedarburg race reports
Rahsaan Bahati (Rock Racing; P/1/2): “This has been the best venue thus far this superweek. The local community came out in numbers to support us and it was really cool.”
Christine Roettger (X Plane Team Revolution; W-3/4): “I thought I quit at the line, but it was the WRONG line. And I am dumb. Why race my butt off for an hour and 25 miles worth of racing to give up one half second short?”
Amanda Miller (Atlas; W-P/1/2/3): “I tried to stay in the top five the entire race. One, to avoid crashing. Two, to cover any attacks that I thought would stick. Three, not have to sprint out of every corner like I did this weekend in the Pro/1/2/3’s.”
Mark Swartzendruber (Delta Faucet; 40+ 1/2/3): “The race was essentially 35 laps of terror as each lap, Clark Priebe (Team Mack), who descends and corners like Paolo Savoldelli (Astana), swooped into the fourth corner faster than anyone else was willing to risk and then we’d chase like hell as Priebe would look back and smile at the eight of us chicken[s] who were grabbing handfuls of brake while he was careening around the corner like frickin’ Valentino Rossi.”
Wolverine Sports Club (W-3/4): “The race included many attacks and one very brief solo break and came down to a pack finish.”
Cedarburg photos
Machine is Organic
Photo by Luke Seemann
I have only a few things to add to my previous post about the weekend, but I’ve aggregated a slew of race reports. (You can tell it’s been a great day of racing when everyone and their soigneur is blogging about it.)
» Grant Potter (Herbalife) did about all he could to make ground in the 30+ 1/2/3 overall, but winning wasn’t enough to get on the podium, which remained unchanged and gave victory to Libertyville’s Michael Heagney (PYOC).
» Chris Clary (Turin) recommends that we henceforth refer to Turn 5 as the BK Stacker. Seems appropriate to me.
» Misgivings about Turn 5 aside, let us again congratulate organizers for a near flawless inaugural event. They really outdid themselves in introducing cycling to a new audience. Two great ideas that other organizers could emulate: a handsome flier that included a guide for watching races and a roster of pro riders, and a speed display on Sherman Avenue that emphasized how wicked fast some of these fields were going. Let’s hope that the proposed skyscraper construction doesn’t jeopardize the route next year.
Carl Zach race reports
ABD Cycling (P/1/2): ”Jeff Schroetlin maneuvered himself into the winning break of seven riders late in the race and then attacked with just two laps remaining to isolate himself and one other rider.”
Becky Broeder (Hub Racing; W-P/1/2): “Today I had a severe case of CBF. It ... stands for Can’t Be F^$%ed. Guess I’m weird that way. Some say ‘headcase.’ I say ‘sensitive.’”
Bryan McVey (Vision Quest; 3): “I was feeling pretty bad. I actually got sick two times during the race from all the drainage into my stomach from my runny nose.”
Amanda Miller (Atlas; W-P/1/2/3): “The first half of the race was extremely fast. There were so many times I thought I was going to get dropped.”
Scott Peterson (Wheaton Franciscan Healthcare; 3): “Yeah, it wasn’t first, but being out in the break for a large part of the race is more fun that sitting in the pack wondering when someone’s going to force you into a face plant with a pole.”
Jason Snider (Silver Cycling; 30+ 1/2/3): “This break was going and we needed to do something. I jumped up to the front and put my head down for about a lap.”
James Sweeney (ABRT; 30+): ”Curtis Long (ABRT) and I are concentrated on trying to win the overall, so we are racing full tilt.”
June Upshaw (X Plane Team Revolution; W-P/1/2/3): “My body actually gave out after the Carl Zach crit and I got sick that nite. Sore throat and a fever. Whew. But I still dreamed that nite that I was racing Evanston.”
Carl Zach photos
Nick Schweitzer
Evanston race reports
Cyclingnews report: “An impressive show ... included a two-man break, a five-man chase that caught the break and a gutsy attack on the final lap that netted Adam Bergman (Colavita) the win.”
Donovan Braud (XXX Racing-AthletiCo; 4/5): “Eight or nine riders in front of me went onto the low sidewalk and crashed out. Thankfully, I was able to SLOWWWWW down and go around the people picking themselves up. By the time I got around them ... I was trapped in no-man’s land.”
Becky Broeder (Hub Racing; W-P/1/2/3): “After eight days of racing, I’m raw enough to want to smash some asshole that calls me asshole. Besides, nothing is more asshole-ish than yelling ‘Asshole!’ in front of kids and other assholes.”
Sydney Brown (X Plane Team Revolution; W-P/1/2/3): “When you’re on a team, you need to be prepared for this and take your joy in how the team does and the satisfaction you get from doing your job well.”
Ron Cook (ABD; 3): “We had covered 40 miles in just 1 hour and 27 minutes. That’s an average speed of 27 mph. I think that is the fastest crit I’ve raced so far.”
Debbie Dust (Team Kenda Tire; W-P/1/2/3): “With about two laps to go things were getting pretty strung out and crazy so I tried the best I could to hold decent position and stay out of crash danger.”
Bryan McVey (Vision Quest; 3): “I was feeling good and was sitting pretty with five laps to go, then four, three, two, then all of the sudden riders from both sides of me moved up, and I got pushed right out the back. DAMNIT!”
Seth Meyer (Team Get a Grip Cycles; P/1/2): “I guess an 8-man breakaway won this race. Who knew? I thought we were all together.”
Amanda Miller (Atlas; W-P/1/2/3): “The only thing that sucked about it was the manholes. There was also two sketchier corners.”
Brian Morrissey (XXX Racing-AthletiCo; 4/5): “I wanted so badly to be in this race. To be at the front, feeling the pain, gritting my teeth, taking my pulls, feeling the satisfaction as I flicked my right elbow and the line came past.”
Organic Athlete (P/1/2): “I was stoked to see Ben at the front of the peloton with three laps remaining.”
Scott Peterson (Wheaton Franciscan Healthcare; 3): “I spent, once again, a fair bit of time on the front or instigating some action.”
Frank Rowley (D’Arcy; P/1/20: “I must have hit a manhole lid just right, sliding to the barrier and just barely saving myself from some good road rash.”
Matthew Smith (Big Shark; 4/5): “I came out of the Burger King Corner of Death and then the last corner either third or fourth wheel.”
Jason Snider (Silver Cycling; 30+ 1/2/3): “If Aric Hareland (Silver Cycling) wasn’t in the overall I would have skipped the race for sure.”
Mark Swartzendruber (Delta Faucet; 40+ 1/2/3): “Riders forgot over and over again that Turn 4 was a right, not a left, and that Turn 5 was a diminishing radius turn that did not get wider as the race progressed. These memory lapses resulted in frequent trips to the wheel pit or to Northwestern Medical Center.”
James Sweeney (ABRT; 30+ 1/2/3): “It was fast the whole time. After some shadow boxing among the favorites, as well as the guys high up overall, it came back together with about six laps remaining.”
Scott Van Maldegiam (Spin Doctor Cyclewerks): “The SRAM support pit was so busy that some riders received two free laps in a row because they couldn’t get to everyone in only one lap. It seemed every lap that someone was getting put back into the field.”
Jeff Wat (XXX Racing-AthletiCo; 4/5): “We came out of the final turn uber fast and the sprint was on.”
The Editor (XXX Racing-AthletiCo; 3): “If they wanted to see me Sunday’s criterium in Evanson, they’d better be there in the first 20 minutes.”
Evanston photos
Trevor_Ash
Evanston Review/Pioneer Press
Kittenry
Met Cycling
Adam Sacasa
Sandy Weisz
Ed White
XXX Racing-AthletiCo
Zhefei
Photo by Luke Seemann
Photo by Ellen Wight
Photo by Luke Seemann
There will be full Carl Zach and Evanston wrap-ups as soon as I get the chance, but for now let us applaud Chris Mailing and the rest of the organizers and volunteers for a fantastic, well-run inaugural race in Evanston. It was an instant classic. All day enthusiastic and curious spectators crowded the course. Plus it was great to see so many racers roll up having ridden their bikes directly to the race. It’s rare we get to race this close to home. Hooray for Evanston!
Brief summary of the day’s races:
» Ed Amstutz (XXX Racing-AthletiCo) got a perfect leadout from teammate Matt O’Keefe to narrowly win a bunch sprint in the 3’s. After two days off, Amstutz heads into tomorrow’s Tour of Holy Hill with a six-point lead in the overall.
» Teenager Samantha Schneider (Mesa Cycles) sprinted to a win in the women’s P/1/2/3, but the finish was marred by a crash beyond the finish line that took out Corrie Berrigan (Team Kenda Tire). Berrigan was taken away by ambulance but flashed a wave on her way out.
» Victor Rapinski, the lone Navigators rider, was aggressive off the front of the P/1/2 race, but in an eight-up sprint it was Adam Bergman (Colavita) who countered Rapinski’s moves and was able to make the winning move himself. Local clubs ABD and Turin were represented in the break by Josh Carter and John Meyers, respectively. (Rock Racing, which had won Friday and Saturday, took the day off.)
Observations on Thursday’s and Friday’s races, which I didn’t attend:
» Rahsaan Bahati (Rock Racing) writes in his blog of having unkind words with Beverly winner Andy Crater (Wheel & Sprocket). Did anyone else overhear this? The alleged slur seems incredible to me and I’d be happy to hear another side. I, for one, have been thrilled to see Bahati and Rock Racing here, and judging from the buzz on the sidelines, everyone else is, too. I can’t wait to see what they bring to Elk Grove and Downers Grove.
» A tight 30+ series will be decided tomorrow in Evanston. Look for some exciting team tactics from Chicago’s PYOC, Minnesota’s Silver Cycling and Florida’s ABRT, all of whom have a horse in the race for overall. “We’re going out with guns blazing,” second-place James Sweeney (ABRT) writes. “I’m going to take some chances, which could drop me out of second place, but I came here with the goal of winning, so we’ll see what we can do.”
Humboldt Park race reports
Jason Snider (Silver Cycling; 30+ 1/2/3): “We completely [had relations with] the dog, and probably thoughts of the overall are fading.”
James Sweeney (ABRT; 30+ 1/2/3, P/1/2): “The top three places overall in the series are very close in points, so the day was spent with us watching each other.”
Shorewood race reports
Rahsaan Bahati (Rock Racing; P/1/2): “Hey, um, what happened yesterday was outright embarrassing.”
Debbie Dust (Team Kenda Tire; W-P/1/2): “I think they called primes on 22 of the 29 laps we did today which kept the speed high and the movement at the front of the group pretty crazy.”
Hub Racing (W-P/1/2): “When a team comes together it’s a beautiful sight to watch, a beautiful ride to experience.”
Green Lake race reports
Cyclingnews report: “Rock Racing has stormed into the middle of the series, earning valuable NRC points and pocketing some decent cash along the way.”
Kelly Benjamin (Cheerwine; W-P/1/2): “Superweek is over for another year and it was a fun week, as always, filled with good racing, lots of family time and, of course, drama.”
Rahsaan Bahati (Rock Racing; P/1/2): “I had to do nothing all day but control the front and try my best not to knock this guy Andy Crater out.”
Andy Daley (Team Clif Bar Midwest; P/1/2): “Perhaps it’s time to also get a call-up for the amateur racer who worked six hours in a cubicle before skipping out of work to go race bikes.”
Mike Ebert (ABD; P/1/2): “A tight course with a little hill made for a fast and brutal race that didn’t even have any primes, but only about 40 guys actually finished.”
Hub Racing (W-P/1/2): ”Jenette Williams was barely able to walk but stood tall as they called her to the line to cheer her current 3rd place.”
Jason Snider (Silver Cycling; 30+ 1/2/3): ”Aric Hareland (Silver Cycling) took off solo. About a lap later Dewey Dickey (Mercy/Specialized) went up to him and I knew knew that was lights out.”
Superweek returns to the Chicago area Sunday with the inaugural Evanston Northwestern Hospital Grand Prix, a race that many of us are extremely excited about. This was the first 4/5 field to fill up, and I expect the other fields to be bigger than usual as well. In addition, Cat 3 women who have missed out on the week’s fun will finally get a chance to race as the women’s races expand to P/1/2/3.
It’s a doozy of a course in Evanston, basically a modified figure-8. (Figure-6?) There’s a long straightaway down Sherman Avenue, so speeds should be high as racers barrel toward the start/finish at Sherman and Davis. The two turns on Clark street may be dicey. Traffic islands at each corner will funnel the packs through tight holes, and as sprinters anticipate the final tear down Sherman, these corners should yield plenty of mayhem on the final laps.
Because of the capacity field, organizers urge 4/5 racers to to check in at least 45 minutes before each race, lest their slots be turned over to wait-listed riders.
As for the rest of the races, the only course I’m familiar with is Monday’s Tour of Holy Hill. It’s been two years since I’ve been there, but I don’t remember the hills being that significant. More challenging was the wind. There is, however, a steep climb when the race exits the course and goes up Powderhill Road toward the finish line. Just like Alpine Valley and the Proving Grounds, this is a finish that demands to be checked out beforehand. Ride it, drive it or walk it, just don’t be surprised by it.
Holy Hill, by the way, is the course where a rider was killed in 2006. Aaron Bieberitz (PCW) was off the back of the 4/5 race when a commercial driver stopped at an intersection but continued onto the course and into Bieberitz’s path. Without blaming either party, the incident is a reminder to keep your head up at all times, and not to assume any vehicle sees you or will yield for your behalf.
![[ Whitnall Park pro peloton ]](http://www.chicagobikeracing.com/blog/p/07/whitnall.jpg)
Photo by Luke Seemann
I just spent two more super days in Wisconsin taking in Tuesday’s Whitnall Park Road Race, a nice 2.3-mile closed circuit in a botanical garden, and today’s MGA Proving Grounds Road Race, a rolling course with a dodgy finish. I raced a little but watched a lot more. Among the highlights:
» I had a few chances to get acquainted with Hub Racing, a scrappy team with messenger roots out of Washington, D.C., that was thrilled when its Jenette Williams outsprinted two-stage winner and overall leader Kelly Benjamin (Cheerwine). In one last lunge for the line, Benjamin lost control of her bike and took a hard fall, but injuries did not appear serious.
» Can I mention my teammates? I will. Ed Amstutz (XXX Racing-AthletiCo) has owned the last three days of the Cat 3 races. He followed a 2nd at Monday’s Alpine Valley Road Race with another 2nd at Whitnall Park, winning the field sprint. He topped that with the first Superweek victory of his career, sprinting to a win at the aptly named Proving Grounds. He holds a commanding lead in the overall, but a few days back at the office might give others a chance to make up some ground.
» Twice on Tuesday solo riders started with final lap with impressive 40-second leads. The first time, Ross Giese (Unattached) was out of sight in the masters 4/5 race, but a chase from the Brazen Dropouts caught him on the final climb, yielding a 2nd and 4th for the Madison, Wis., team. In the next race, Ryan Belew (Colorado University) held a similar lead but was able to make it stick, crossing the line with plenty of time to spare and a whoop of “C-U!”
» Despite frequent scoldings, some pro riders insisted on taking feeds from the left side of the road at Whitnall Park. This finally had calamitous results with five to go when a crash took out several riders, including Cesar Correa (Team Clif Bar Midwest), who gamely finished the balance of the race well off the back.
» I told Chicago’s Ted Burger (Unattached) last week that he would be a good candidate for an interview at Chicago Bike Racing, but he’d need to notch one more victory on top of his Circuit of Sauk triumph. Apparently that’s all the motivation it took, as Burger was able to win the 4/5’s at Whitnall Park.
» Riders must negotiate two tricky turns to re-enter the Proving Grounds. An off-camber left turn and a sweeping downhill cause mayhem each year, and this year proved no different, with two or three riders going down in the 3’s on the former. Big ups to Luca Lenzi (Vision Quest) for getting tangled up but still scrambling to his bike and overtaking some of the field by the finish line.
I had to clear out of the Proving Grounds as soon as my race was done, so I didn’t see how the pros wrapped up and didn’t take complete notes on the other results, but I’ll be updating this post as the reports flow in.
Whitnall Park race reports
Rahsaan Bahati (Rock Racing; P/1/2): “I got the boys to line it up for a lead out to contest the field sprint, which we did a good job handling.”
Carrie Cash (X Plane Team Revolution; W-P/1/2): “As I jockied with Katie Weber to move up for the last turn, things looked to be getting a little dicey.”
Debbie Dust (Team Kenda Tire; W-P/1/2): “We were about 200 meters from the finish line when a rider on my right pushed me (yes, literally pushed with her hand) into another rider on my left
Andy Daley (Team Clif Bar Midwest; P/1/2): “We still had fun, and I’m already trying to figure if I can skip another day off from the real job for another chance to play pretend pro bike racer.”
Hub Racing (W-P/1/2): “The whole of Hub Racing pushed Jenette through the field the final time up the big climb. Over the top, J-Dub unloaded.”
Jason Snider (Silver Cycling; 30+): “If I wasn’t so amazed by their complete lack of racing knowledge, I would have bust out laughing.”
James Sweeney (ABRT; 30+ 1/2/3): “The last lap had a lot of pushing and shoving, a couple crashes ... so it was pretty hectic.”
T3 (Category 6; 30+ 4/5): “I’m not a sprinter, but with 48 registered in my field, pay outs 12 deep and the hill to boot
Steve Tilford (Trek/VW Midwest; P/1/2): “We went to the front immediately but realized after a lap that the field had no interest in chasing them down.”
Matt Waite (Brazen Dropouts; P/1/2): “Someone got a feed from the wrong side and took out a rider that was sprinting up that side. I came within inches of going down with them. Thank god for MTB skills and quick thinking.”
Whitnall Park photos
The Editor
Proving Grounds race reports
Rahsaan Bahati (Rock Racing; P/1/2): “Go go go, slow slow slow. That went on the whole race.”
Becky Broeder (Hub Racing; W-P/1/2): “A shoutout to the boys that were made an example of at the Proving Grounds race today.”
Ron Cook (ABD; 3): “By the time I came around to the start finish area I barely could get up the hill.”
Kevin Krakovksy (XXX Racing-AthletiCo; 30+ 4/5): “For all the competitiveness and aggression needed for this sport, selflessness and camaraderie are much more important in the end.”
Bryan McVey (Vision Quest; 3): “Coming into the last couple miles we were hauling.”
Brian Morrissey (XXX Racing-AthletiCo; 30+ 4/5): “And just as I caught back on again, they were off, up the final hill for the final decision.”
Scott Peterson (Wheaton Franciscan Healthcare; 30+ 1/2/3): “Not sure exactly what happened, but my rookie riding skills had me coast up behind Eck and had me overlapping by about a quarter-wheel on the outside.”
Alex Sharon (ABD; P/1/2): “After grittin it out for as long as i could at whitnall, for some reason or other I thought MGA was do-able. Ha! Five minutes into the race and the pain was too much. Adios.”
Jason Snider (Silver Cycling; 30+): “Good news: We all got paid and the ‘wanknuts’ were shut out and pretty much out of the overall.”
James Sweeney (ABRT; 30+ 1/2/3): “In the last 5 miles there were several attacks, and going up the hill there was one rider with a small gap. I was able to sprint up the hill and past the last rider to take the win.”
X Plane Team Revolution (W-P/1/2): “After turning the corner, I checked my wheel to see if I’d brought anyone with me. Nope. It was clear and I put my mind to catching the tail of the three [up the road].”
The Editor (XXX Racing-AthletiCo; 3): “I didn’t mean to attack, I swear, but there I was in no man’s land. This would be my last chance to be useful, so I plowed ahead toward the green beacon on the horizon.”
Proving Grounds photos
The Editor
![[ Women's P/1/2 field: Alpine Valley ]](http://www.chicagobikeracing.com/blog/p/07/alpinevalleycbr.jpg)
Photo by Luke Seemann
People, people, people. How many times must I remind you to pre-ride the finish?
I can’t blame riders for not noticing the new map on the Superweek Web site, which showed that the finish line for today’s road race had moved from Highway D to inside the Alpine Valley grounds, apparently in an attempt to help facilitate a closed-road finish. I hadn’t noticed it myself.
But I can blame riders for not riding or even driving the finish. It was obvious many had failed to do so, judging from the cries of bafflement I heard after races. People either were under the impression that the finish was still on D, or they severely misjudged the distance they had to the finish after the final turn.
It didn’t matter to Jordan Heimer (Kegels). Sprinting wasn’t necessary as he repeated the show he put on at the Winfield Twilight Criterium by riding away from the men’s 4/5 field. That’s an impressive feat given the course’s brutal terrain. Joel Crouch (ABD) was the next best local finisher in 4th.
A group of nine separated from the 3’s field on the very first climb. Mike Woell (Flanders) timed and executed his sprint best to take the win. Ed Amstutz (XXX Racing-AthletiCo) took 2nd and moves into 1st overall, thanks to the doubling of points at road races.
The women’s race came down to a field sprint with Jane Robertson (Metromint) beating Kelly Benjamin (Cheerwine) by half a bikelength. Benjamin should retain the overall lead, however, having won the first two races of the series.
I left before the men’s P/1/2’s finished. With four laps to go a group of four appeared gone for good. I’m not great with rider ID’s, but it looked like the group included Karl Menzies (Health Net) and last year’s winner Brian Jensen (HRRC/Trek Stores), and I’m tempted to say the others were Frankie Dierking (Abercrombie & Fitch) and Adam Bergman (Colavita). Can’t wait to see a report on who exactly they were and who pulled it out.
Update: Those were indeed the four in the break, plus a fifth of Johnny Clarke (Colavita), who I was mistakenly told was taking the day off. Menzies was the winner.
An administrative note: I’ll be camping and racing in Wisconsin the next two days and doubt I’ll have proper Internet access. Look for my next wrap-up Thursday evening.
Race reports
Becky Broeder (Hub Racing; W-P/1/2): “I managed to come back from the dead more times than I can count.”
Sydney Brown and Katie Weber (X Plane Team Revolution; P/1/2): “I also had 5 opportunities on a particular downhill to wonder if shox on a road bike might not be a bad idea.”
Hub Racing (W-P/1/2): “One by one, the Hub Racing women sacrificed themselves for the mighty J-dub until only Becky Broeder remained to escort Jenette Williams up the tortuous climb.”
Amanda Eaken (Metromint; W-P/1/2): “Apparently sprints of unknown length with no end in sight favor Jane Robertson perfectly! “
Bryan McVey (Vision Quest; 3): “I thought since I just upgraded to Cat 3 that these guys would realize we need to start working together to reel the break in. Man are cyclists stubborn.”
Jason Snider (Silver Cycling; 30+): “I was so ... pissed, a stream of vulgarities came from my mouth that are even too obscene for this blog.”
James Sweeney (ABRT; 30+ 1/2/3): “Each lap we dropped a rider or two as we hit the series of ‘leg breakers.’”
Matt Waite (Brazen Dropouts; P/1/2): “I’m positioned nicely in the middle of the peloton. I look back and I have two riders behind me. What the hell!?”
The Editor (XXX Racing-AthletiCo; 3): “I got a bad case of speed wobbles on the first descent, and the bumpy second descent loosened the screws of my bottle cage.”
Photos:
The Editor
![[ Bensenville Criterium 3's ]](http://www.chicagobikeracing.com/blog/p/07/bensenville.jpg)
Photo by Luke Seemann
An out-of-town wedding kept me from the first two days of Superweek, but I showed up Sunday to watch the 3’s race in Bensenville.
There was a lot of chatter about how hard the racing had been Saturday. We’re just not quite ready for racing that long in such heat. One rider who was prepared for the weather was Jonet Hernandez (Mapei), who came in from Florida to win the inaugural Blue Island criterium in the 3’s. He’d find himself a marked man on Sunday, the price of success
At Bensenville Team Clif Bar Midwest and Team Get a Grip Cycles tried a lot of late moves together. Indeed the race came down to a two-man escape with three laps to go, but it wasn’t them. Instead it was Eric Loberg (Beans & Barley) and Jon Alvarez (Homegrown Racing) who waited patiently before slipping away while the pack played a game of No You Chase, with Loberg coming around Alvarez at the last second with the field sprint right on their heels.
It was great to see that Reid Mumford (Kelly Benefit Strategies) is back racing. Devastating to see was Marek Serafin (WDT) not racing. I caught up with him as he cheered his team at Bensenville. A back injury hobbled him at Proctor and has kept him off the bike since. There are two places you never want to see a rider like Serafin: 1. sprinting ahead of you. 2. standing on the sidelines. We all hated losing to him, but I for one hope he’s able to return soon.
The problem with Superweek is that people are too busy and tired to do much proper race reporting, so I don’t have much to aggregate here yet. (On the other hand, Superweek also brings a lot of out-of-town riders, so if there are race reports or blogs I don’t know about, feel free to pass them along.)
The regional P/1/2’s have done well the first few days of Superweek, but that may change today with Alpine Valley as more pro teams come for National Racing Calendar points after wrapping up the Cascade Cycling Classic in Oregon. Last year Navigators, Health Net and Toyota-United were among those who appeared at Superweek, and I’m hoping this year sees the Midwest debut of Rock Racing.
Update: Don’t miss this nice bit of crash porn from the Beverly race, compliments of Mark Zelewski, shooting for Cyclingnews. Amazingly, Johnny Clarke (Colavita) would get back in and finish 7th. An Australian rider I talked to Monday said Clarke would be taking a few days off, mostly to sort out some bike damage.
Beverly race reports
Cyclingnews: “On the back side of the course, before the downhill on the last two turns, Andy Crater (Wheel & Sprocket) benefited from a veteran friend in the field.”
Andy Daley (Team Clif Bar Midwest; P/1/2): ”Cesar Correa and I finished last in the results, but with half the field shelled, just finishing makes for a successful day.”
Seth Meyer (Team Get a Grip Racing; P/1/2): “For some reason I thought I could come back to Chicago after two days of travel, eating poorly, not training at all and with a funky sleeping schedule and actually perform. Yeah. No.”
Frank Rowley (D’Arcy; P/1/2): “I watched the rest of the race, trying to stay away from people I know and the question, ‘Why aren’t you riding?’”
Alexander Sharon (ABD; P/1/2): “My sprinting legs made an unannounced appearance in Beverly.”
Beverly photos
Mark Zelewski/Cyclingnews
Blue Island race reports
Cyclingnews: “Defending Superweek women’s overall champion Kelly Benjamin (Cheerwine) wasted no time in showing the other ladies who the favorite was for the week.”
Ed Amstutz (XXX Racing-AthletiCo; 3): “Two hours in the heat, at blazing crit pace, with only twp bottles, was two much for my legs and I began to cramp with about eight laps to go.”
Donovan Braud (XXX Raincg-AthletiCo; 4/5): “After 27 laps, my heart rate was off the chart, so I figured I would hang on for dear life.”
Carrie Cash (X Plane Team Revolution; W-P/1/2): “I was tired, hot, thirsty, and had a blast.”
Debbie Dust (Team Kenda Tire; W-P/1/2): “I made sure that I was near the front and continued to watch the sprinters and their teams, looking to jump into their leadout trains for some help to the line.”
Bryan McVey (Vision Quest; 4/5): “I managed to stay upright barely avoiding the biggest crash near the end which was just off my left shoulder. It’s never fun hearing bikes and bodies hit the deck behind you.”
Brian Morrissey (XXX Racing-AthletiCo; 4/5): “A crash first makes itself apparent, from your perspective at least, somewhat like a gopher, or Bugs Bunny, burrowing toward you.”
Scott Peterson (Wheaton Wisconsin Healthcare; 3): “The body wasn’t sending me solid signals that it was time for liftoff.”
Jane Robertson (Metromint; W-P/1/2): “The biggest highlight of the day was Amanda Eaken fending off both Trish Bell and an Amazon woman from Hub Racing for the desired wheel, and coming 3rd in the field sprint.”
Jason Snider (Silver Cycling; 30+ 1/2/3): “A great first day, except for the six hours in the car, Illinois tolls, [lousy] roads, and all you mother[lovers] who camp out in the left lane. “
James Sweeney (ABRT; 30+ 1/2/3): “Curtis bridged to a break that ended up with nine riders, and they lapped the field. He then won the field sprint! One heck of a ride. I was able to get 5th in the field sprint for 12th place. Wow, what a start!”
Scott Van Maldegiam (Spin Doctor Cyclewerks; 4/5): “I may not be a great racer right now, but at least I can spot the squirrels.”
Blue Island photos
The Land Shark
Liz Farina Markel
Mark Zelewski/Cyclingnews
Bensenville race reports
Cyclingnews: “Fast Midwest rider Josh Carter (ABD) ... used his knowledge of the course to his advantage, sprinting out of the final turn on third wheel to take the win.”
Ed Amstutz (XXX Racing-AthletiCo; 3): “Had I let Nico Westlund (XXX Racing-AthletiCo) know I was there, I’m sure we could’ve pulled off a top 10 for XXX.”
Brian Boyle (XXX Racing-AthletiCo; 3): “I admired the combativeness of the race. I wish I could have contributed to it.”
Carrie Cash (X Plane Team Revolution; W-P/1/2): “It is awesome seeing all four of your teammates plugging it at the front and regrouping to dish out or take whatever is thrown at us.”
Debbie Dust (Team Kenda Tire; W-P/1/2): “Breaks were off the front most of the race but with about two to go everyone was together and I was in the Cheerwine leadout train once again (no better place to be!).”
Andy Daley (Team Clif Bar Midwest; P/1/2): “At Mile 38 I decided I’d rather be munching on some BBQ-flavored chips and soda than pedaling endlessly in circles for another hour.”
Jeff Holland (XXX Racing-AthletiCo; 4/5): “Within a few laps of starting, my legs already felt cooked from the Blue Island race the day before.”
Scott Peterson (Wheaton Franciscan Healthcare): “I’m relegated to the sidewalk, where I blast by the family picnic going on and narrowly miss running over the kids’ lemonade stand.”
Frank Rowley (D’Arcy; P/1/2): “All I saw was someone sliding face down and riders swerving. I braked hard and luckily got through for a field finish. Not sure exactly were I finished, but at this point I don’t really care. I was just happy to have hung on”
Jason Snider (Silver Cycling; 30+ 1/2/3): “This same [jerk] has bridged up to a move I was in and another with Hareland and just refused to work. Just refused. He was only there to spoil it.”
James Sweeney (ABRT; 30+ 1/2/3): “I went over the curb, which dropped off into a rut on the other side. My wheels got stuck and I had to unclip at 30+ mph to try and stay upright.”
Scott Van Maldegiam (Spin Doctor Cyclewerks; 4/5): “Bit by bit, I kept trying to claw me way up the field and kept falling back.”
Bensenville photos
Gesika22
Mark Zelewski/Cyclingnews
The Editor
Photo by luke seemann
It’s go time.
In 1969 Otto Wenz Jr. organized a bike race in Milwaukee as a companion to a new musical festival called Summerfest. As Summerfest grew beyond expectations, so did the bike racing, and the International Cycling Classic is now too super to be contained in one week alone. This year it features 19 venues across 17 days (four of them near Chicago), making it the biggest racing series in America and a bonanza for regional amateurs.
Action starts Friday with a fun, hilly course in Chicago’s Beverly neighborhood. Yes, hills! In Chicago! This is a P/1/2-only affair, but it’s worth the trip to come watch. Top-caliber racing is always thrilling to see up close, plus it’s a chance to experience a tidy, tranquil part of town that is a secret to most Chicago residents. Racing starts at 5:45 p.m., and there’s a Metra stop nearby (107th Street station on the Rock Island line; take the 5:05 p.m. from LaSalle Street).
Races will be longer and faster than we’re accustomed to, and the prizes will be bigger as well. Race a few days with the same, tough competitors and you’ll likely find yourself with new boundaries and new friends (and maybe a nemesis or two).
We have more hot weather coming next week, so pre-hydrate well and carry as much liquid as you can, especially if you don’t have anyone to offer hand-ups. Two bottles alone may not be enough. Note: Except in extreme heat, the criteriums will not have feed zones.
Red alert for 4/5’s: As of Tuesday morning the Evanston race is full and Bensenville and Blue Island are close to capacity. Register now!
Here’s a preview of the road races I’ve been to, and I invite readers to give the crit lowdown in the comments.
This week I had an exchange with Jon Reimer, director of communications for Breakaway Event Productions, which promotes the 19 different races of the International Cycling Classic, better known as Superweek.
I wanted to know about the new races, and I wanted a promoter’s perspective on safety. Among other things, we get this nugget: Parts of Superweek will be televised! Time Warner subscribers, start clearing your DVRs now.
The Superweek Web site reports that 4/5 fields are filling up quickly, especially for the races in Chicago. Fees go up $5 per race starting Monday, so register now or start picking out the best place to watch.
In other race news, here is a Glencoe News story about the inaugural Glencoe Grand Prix in August. It looks like an interesting course. I’ll plot it out on MapMyRide when I have a chance. ”IllinoisFrank” provides us with this map. Note that the course for juniors at 5’s will be slightly altered, taking a shortcut down Hawthorn to avoid the sharp turn off South onto Vernon. I’ve never seen a race do this, but it seems a prudent precaution.
The Evanston Review profiles the upcoming Superweek crit, with some background on how the event came to be.
Three cheers for Turin’s Chris Mailing, who helped make this happen. I’m hoping Evanston’s blue laws don’t prevent us from finding him that Sunday and buying him a beer.
The Superweek page for Blue Island doesn’t yet have a course map, but according to Main Street Blue Island, which has produced a nifty YouTube video detailing important Blue Island history and retail along the course, this will be the route. It’s a basic rectangle through tree-lined streets, both commercial and residential. From the satellite view it looks flat, but MapMyRide suggests a 100-foot dip around turns 1 and 2. Perhaps someone from Blue Island can scout it out for us.
In other news, Point Premium Root Beer was today announced as the series title sponsor. International Cycling has always done a great job finding title sponsors for the individual races, but I don’t know that it’s ever had a sponsor for the entire series.
Meanwhile, June Upshaw (Kenda Tire) gets her new blog off the ground with a look at the rules of Superweek. Among other things, she finds a $250 fine for stealing food. Please keep this in mind when your hand is in my jersey looking to nip a Clif Shot.
Gentlemen, start your credit cards: Superweek registration is open! The 4/5 fields are capped at 75, so I expect they will fill up, especially the local events. The flier has the complete breakdown of which fields are available at each event.
(Thanks, Scott!)
The Superweek schedule has been updated.
Previously the first Friday’s crit had been announced as being in Fon fu Lac, Wis., but it is now in Green Lake, Wis., another hour and a half away from Chicago.
Somewhat more exciting: The map for the July 22 Evanston crit is out and it’s a doozy. It’s a .9-mile course shaped like a golf club. Looks like the start/finish will be at the plaza at Sherman and Davis. We’ll ride counter-clockwise around a city block before heading up Orrington toward Northwestern University. We’ll turn left at the Burger King, home of many a 99-cent Whopper during my college years. (I expect that here is where on certain laps homeless people will ask the lead riders for change, cycling’s first reverse prime.) Then we’ll head back down Sherman, past the new Barnes & Noble and back to the start/finish.
Like most of the Superweek crits, Evanston is longer than we’re used to around here. “30 mi.” means 30 miles, not 30 minutes. Cat 3’s will do 40 miles. Pro/1/2’s will do 62.
Here is a Google Map version to give a better idea of the location. I’m hoping someone will ride the course this weekend and return with commentary on road conditions and what exactly those corners will be like. In fact, Team Judson and XXX Racing-AthletiCo rides usually wind down Sherman on their way home. Perhaps Sherman/Davis will become a new sprint point for the next month.
This much is certain: This will be a fun, fun race to watch. Evanston is among the races on the National Race Calendar for both men and women, so the country’s best teams and riders will be there, and this looks like a dynamite location. Race early and bring your lawn chairs and cowbells for later.
![[Glencoe Grand Prix]](gr/glencoead.gif)
August 10, 2008
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