• » Superweek has not updated its results page but some results are appearing on TrueSport.
• » Next Sunday is the inaugural Sammy’s St. Charles Prairie State Criterium, put on by the Midwest Cycling Series, promoters of the Tour of America’s Dairyland. In the latest indication that MCS is positioning itself to replace Superweek, a press release notes that St. Charles is “the first race of the official Prairie State Cycling Series, which will be in full swing next July in multiple Illinois communities and feature the same caliber of safe courses, on-time starts, competition, payouts and professionalism that racers have come to expect and experience during ToAD races.”
• » Garmin-Sharp is among the UCI and national teams that have pledged to come to the Tour of Elk Grove, although rosters have not been named. Meanwhile, the total purse for elite women has been increased $5,000 to $20,000.
• » Regsitration is open for ABD’s Winfield criteriums over the Aug. 11-12 weekend. Saturday’s twilight crit will be sanctioned under USAC, while Sunday will remain the ABR national championship.
• » RDS Cycling is throwing two August races: Vernon Hills on Sunday, Aug. 12 and a new race in Villa Park on Aug. 19.
• » The Sun-Times has a guide to local climbs.
• » Liam Donoghue (XXX Racing-Athletico) recently set the 10-mile record at the Northbrook Velodrome, averaging 31.4 mph for 19:05.
• » Oh, hello, Relay Cross.

 

• » Pre-registration for Tour of America’s Dairyland closes tonight at midnight. Day-of fees are $10 per race.
• » Registration is open for Superweek, which this year will be sanctioned by ABR and include a mystery “Tour de Chicago” race on Saturday, July 7.
• » Why you should pre-register early. As one local promoter has noted, solid pre-registration allows promoters to spend the weeks ahead of a race tending to production rather than promotion. That yields a better event for everyone.
• » The South Chicago Wheelmen’s Tuesday night series will take place at the Joliet Autobahn on Tuesday, June 26.
• » Racing at the Northbrook Velodrome tomorrow night will include the 100-lap Tomasz Pac Memorial Points Race, sponsored by PACT-Dish Network.
• » Wednesday night track practices for juniors start tonight from 6-7:30.

• » This is too bad: The Sun-Times reports that the June 3 Evanston criterium is canceled. An Evanston race remains on the Superweek schedule, however. (Recall last summer’s legal dispute between local promoters and Superweek.)
• » In better news for that weekend, registration is open for Friday’s Lake Bluff Criterium, which so far has “Cuban Missile” Ivan Dominguez (Franco Bicycles) lining up for the $10,000 P/1/2 purse.
• » This is neat: The ICA began taking video interviews of the winners at Saturday’s Spring Super Crit. Full results are online.
• » Registration is open for the Fox River Omnium, which will combine a flat crit in Elgin with the famous hill-climb crit of Fox River Grove. Be sure to check out the unique scoring scheme.

 

• » Superweek released its 2012 schedule, including two days in Willow Springs and one Chicago-area venue yet to be announed.
• » Oh, look: The Lake Bluff Twilight Criterium has a Web site and a flier. Note the impressive purses: $10,000 for men, $7,500 for women, plus races for any 2/3’s and masters who can skip out on work.
• » The 2012 Cycle Messenger World Championships will be at Soldier Field. Will you be ready?.

• » STATS interviewed several young local racers for a story on juniors’ attitudes toward doping. One of them, Brian Ellison (Chicago Cuttin’ Crew), a promising revelation of 2011, had a bad crash at the track in Kenosha Tuesday night. Send him good vibes as he recovers.
• » Bicycle Heaven, host of Saturday’s Superweek race in Geneva, recommends taking Metra to the race. The station is close to the course.
• » Turin needs volunteers for its Superweek race on Sunday, July 17. .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address).

• » Randy Gillespie (Team Mack) has been in intensive care since Sunday after a hard crash in a race near St. Louis. Assistance for him and his family can be given by sending Pay Pal funds to .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address).
• » Dave Moyer (XXX Racing-AthletiCo) and Kristen Meshberg (ABD) are your 2011 elite men’s and women’s criterium champions, finishing as the top Illinois Cat 1 riders at Saturday’s Glencoe Grand Prix. That’s two in a row for Moyer. Meshberg previously earned the elite road race state championship in 2008.
• » Superweek has moved its Wednesday, July 13, race from Lake Geneva, Wis., to Brown Deer, north of Milwaukee. Registration is open, with $7 late fees kicking in Tuesday night. Superweek is also looking for host homes for riders.
• » Chicago Athlete reported this month that the 2010 Soldier Field Cycling Series is on. The 2011 edition, however, is far from certain. Be hopeful, but don’t hold your breath.

 

• » Online registration closes tonight for Saturday’s Glencoe Grand Prix, our state criterium championships and a stop on the men’s National Racing Calendar. Because of low pre-registration, the men’s 2’s race is being folded into the P/1’s race, and the women’s 3’s race is being folded into the women’s P/1/2’s. The respective 2’s and 3’s will still have separate championships based on the first Illinois riders to cross the line, and I am told an effort is being made to provide separate bib-number schemes for each field within a race.
• » West Town Bikes will be collecting donated bikes and parts at Glencoe.
• » The July 2 UWW Road Race is canceled, the third Wisconsin road race to be dropped this season.
• » Superweek registration is open.
• » The Chicago Velo Campus is looking for help to construct its temporary wood velodrome. Construction is scheduled for July 8-16. Contact .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address) to schedule a shift.
• » Meet Andrew Nordyke (Chicago Cuttin’ Crew), T-shirt model.

The Evanston Grand Prix, which had been scheduled for Aug. 21 and slated to be on the National Racing Calendar, will instead take place Sunday, July 17, and be a part of Superweek, its home since it made its debut in 2007.

The move follows an injunction Breakaway Event Productions sought in Cook County Chancery Court against Turin Bicycle and Chris Mailing, who had organized the race in previous years and who had sought to run it independently in 2011. In its filing, Breakaway claimed Mailing had agreed to run an Evanston criterium for Superweek in 2011 and 2012.

To avoid litigation costs, Mailing said, the parties agreed to a settlement in late May that is scheduled to be finalized soon. As part of the settlement, Mailing will organize the Evanston Grand Prix as part of Superweek in 2011. Moving forward, Breakaway will own rights to the name “Evanston Grand Prix,” and starting in 2012 Mailing will be free to promote his own race in Evanston.

The July race will not be an NRC race. The August date had the potential to draw blockbuster fields, with the men’s national championship and a women’s NRC race taking place the day before in Grand Rapids, Mich.

Reached for comment, Breakaway’s Andy Garrison said: “I am glad that we were able to work things out with Chris Mailing, and we look forward to producing the Evanston Grand Prix for its fifth year.”

• » ABD is delaying the start of its Wednesday night racing until next week, May 11.
• » ABD remembers Larry Lorenz.
• » Superweek has filled out the rest of its 2011 schedule.
• » This is a relevant read as you prepare for Fox River Grove, on whose hill you will want to move sur la plaque as soon as possible.
• » The Northbrook Velodrome has a lengthy guide to the track.
• » Lincoln Park’s Fitness Formula Club is the latest to offer CompuTrainer sessions, led by Debbie Dust (Enzo’s/Psimet).

Over the past few weeks I have updated the CBR race calendar with what I know about the 2011 season. I won’t be doing weekly previews this year, but I thought I’d put together a list of the races I’m most excited about. For new racers or anyone else planning their season, this may be a good place to start.

As always, your mileage may vary. Important factors in my ranking include character, prestige, difficulty and proximity

—

with concessions for personal bias and sentimentality.

20. Monsters of the Midway
May 14
It’s not the most exciting course

— a flat rectangle with unrestricted sight lines —

but it’s a beautiful and historic location and always has a collegial atmosphere. (It is a college, after all.)

19. Team Wisconsin Spring Classic
April 23
Several races take place in this botanic garden near Milwaukee, but this is my favorite. Three short stairstep climbs facilitate breakaways, and the uphill sprint is always exciting.

18. Wheels on Willy
May 15
Madison is crazy for bikes and it shows here. It’s a fun, interesting criterium course that gets a great turnout from local residents.

17. Spring Prairie Road Race
June 5
So popular among Chicago riders is this race that a few years ago it added an out-of-state 4/5’s field so that we wouldn’t muck with the Wisconsin riders’ state championship. It’s a simple, rolling rectangle of a course, notable for a short wall of a climb that will not only define the final sprint but can cause a selection on any given lap.

16. Tour of Elk Grove
Aug. 6-7
It’s not a popular course

— the U-turn in Turn 1 is a doozy —

but it’s hard to say no to the obscenely large purses up for grabs. This year it’s a UCI race, our first since ... well, I’m not quite sure. We haven’t had one since I got involved in cycling. That’s a big deal. We can only hope this draws some pros from the European scene.

15. Tour of Galena
June 11-12
This is a new event and an untested locale, but this three-stage omnium has the potential to bring high-caliber stage racing to Illinois. Galena is famous for its quality riding and hills, and it hosts one of the Midwest’s biggest triathlons. At three hours away it’s a bit of a trek from the city, but it is hoped that the location and purse will draw not only the best riders from Chicago but also from nearby states. (Full disclosure: This event is being put on by my team, XXX Racing-AthletiCo.)

14. O’Fallon Grand Prix
June 4
It’s a challenging hilly, winding course and for the second consecutive year is our state championship

—

but dang is it a long way from Chicago.

13. Winfield Twilight
Aug. 13
The Sunday race may be the ABR national championship, but for me it’s the Saturday criterium that’s not to miss. The course is much more interesting, including a long slog of a climb, and few races enjoy better neighborhood support. Here that support takes the form of a block party at the top of a climb, complete with king- and queen-of-the-hill contests.

12. Giro d’Grafton
June 18
This twilight criterium gave birth to the Tour of America’s Dairyland and with great crowds and large purses, it remains one of the top races of the series and is also part of the USA Crits series. Other recommended ToAD races include the sole road race, the Greenbush Road Race, and Tuesday’s unique, hilly criterium at Schlitz Park in Milwaukee. The Madison race at the Capitol should also be cracking.

11. Melon City Criterium
May 29
10. Quad Cities Criterium
May 30
Two of most historic and fastest criteriums of the season and an unforgettable way to spend Memorial Day weekend when combined with Snake Alley (No. 2). This year the top racers will be hoping to parlay their performances into a spot at the prestigious Nature Valley Grand Prix.

9. Evanston Grand Prix
Aug. 21
I’ll admit it: I fear the BK Stacker, that treacherous Turn 5 that has claimed many a collarbone. Nonetheless, this is a very fun downtown race and draws a huge crowd, and this year it’s on the National Racing Calendar for both men and women, so the elite races should be smashing. (Note that while the former Evanston Grand Prix strikes out on its own, Superweek still intends to return to Evanston in July, although no schedule has been released yet.)

8. Fox River Grove Cycling Challenge
May 15
I know my bias for climbing may be clouding my judgment, but every year I’m astonished that more people do not come out for this leg-breaker of a criterium course. With a steep hill that runs up to a ski jump, it shares many qualities with the famous Snake Alley Criterium. I’m also fond of the promoter, Ron DiSilvestro, whose events may be small and local but are rooted in a deep love for bicycle racing. We’re lucky to get a podium at most races, but here the podium comes complete with trophies, flowers and of course podium girls. Ciao, bella!

7. Leland Kermesse
April 16
6. Hillsboro-Roubaix
April 2
In only its third year, the Leland Kermesse is living up to its aspiration to be a Belgian-style spring classic. Like Hillsboro-Roubaix, it takes place on narrow, challenging roads, and for many riders just finishing will be reason for a victory milkshake, especially if there’s a strong wind. Although Hillsboro-Roubaix has history and prestige on its side, Leland is less than two hours from the city and this year joins the Illinois Cup.

5. Beverly Cycling Classic
There is only one race, a twilight P/1/2 affair, but this is a must-attend event for everyone. It’s the kick-off to Superweek, so all the riders still have all their skin and are eager to be the first to wear the series leader’s jersey. The neighborhood is fantastic, a hidden gem on Chicago’s South Side, and the neighbors provide a fun festival atmosphere.

4. Leland Grand Prix
May 14
Road races are getting fewer and farther between. We lost another one this year with the departure of the Circuit of Sauk. Many of us prefer them to criteriums, however, and are happy to drive three or four hours to take one in. Hillsboro-Roubaix may have more cachet, and God knows that in early April we are all champing at the bit to race, but this is my favorite and well worth the trip north of Madison. Each lap includes two long climbs, the kind of climbs whose tops you can’t see from the bottom, the kind where you spend most of the time thinking, “Does this ever end?” The kind of climbs we dream to contest while on the trainer all winter.

3. Grand Cycling Classic
Aug. 20
Michigan and Indiana races do a pretty good job of escaping our radar, but in 2011 this six-corner crit in Grand Rapids, Mich., will be one not to miss as the men’s national criterium championship takes place outside of the Chicago area for the first time in 30 years. There will be a full day of amateur racing leading to the main event, which for the first time will be open only to American riders.

2. Snake Alley Criterium
May 28
This is one of the most unique criteriums in the world and it may also be the hardest. The course features a steep, famously crooked switchback paved with brick, followed by a steep, technical descent. As the day goes on, the hill becomes a spectacle as rowdy spectators badger and cajole riders struggling to negotiate the climb. The carnival atmosphere is a one-of-a-kind experience, everyone owes it to themselves to enjoy it at least once.

1. Glencoe Grand Prix
June 25
In just a few years this race has established itself as one of the best-run in the area. The new course introduced in 2010 was a hit, and although it won’t be a national championship in 2011, it will be our state championship and will be on the National Racing Calendar for the men.

• » Tour of America’s Dairyland announced its schedule this week. The only road race will be the hill Greenbush course on Monday, June 20. Other notable venues include Madison and Milwaukee’s Schlitz Park, a fun course used in Superweek last year.
• » Speaking of Superweek, promoter Andy Garrison tells me at least five Illinois venues are planned for this summer, including Evanston, Willow Springs and the traditional Beverly opener.
• » A custom frame from Tati Cycles will be on the line for women racing the Gapers Block Crits.Tati will also be the title sponsor the Leland Kermesse.
• » A map of Chicago bicycle crash data.
• » NYC Velo interviews Evanston’s Barry Wicks (Kona).

USA Cycling today released its 2011 National Racing Calendar and it features three Chicago-area events.

Returning is the Tour of Elk Grove, scheduled for Aug. 5-7. New to the NRC will be the Glencoe Grand Prix, which moves to Saturday, June 25, and the Evanston Grand Prix, which withdraws from Superweek and moves to Sunday, Aug. 21, a day after the USPRO national championships are contested in Grand Rapids, Mich.

Only Evanston will be NRC for both men and women. Glencoe and Elk Grove offer NRC points for only the men.

 

VeloNews reports that Dewey Dickey (Mercy-Specialized) has accepted a lifetime ban effective Sept. 1 for testing positive for EPO and for refusing a test in May, as previously reported.

He must forfeit all results and prizes back to April 2, 2007, which VeloNews says is when he first violated anti-doping rules. According to Dickey, however, he had a three-year therapeutic use exemption effective from 2006. It’s unclear how the 2007 violation squares with his TUEs.

Dickey had more than a dozen wins in the past four seasons, including a masters race at this year’s Superweek.

 

Update: This VeloNews story sheds a little more light on the situation.

Update: Dickey starts to admit things.

Some final highlights from the last few days of Superweek:

• » The crash bug bit the P/1/2’s Friday and Saturday. Ryan Freund (Verizon u25) got the worst of it in Kenosha, breaking his collarbone. Bryan McVey (ReCycling), who on Tuesday had continued his solid riding with a 7th at the Bucyrus Road Race in Milwaukee, broke his nose, and although he was able to return to race over the weekend, he drifted backward in the amateur overall, finishing 5th. Jonathan Cantwell (Fly V Australia), meanwhile, was a cinch for the pro overall, winning the final three races and a record six overall. Cantwell previously won the overall in 2008.
• » Kristen Meshberg (Flatlandia) raced the entire women’s P/1/2/3 series, finishing 2nd overall. Her teammate Kim Gialdini won the women’s 3/4’s overall, finishing out of the top 10 just once over the series. Stacy Appelwick (Bouledogue Tout Noir) raced less but won a remarkable four times, ending up 4th overall, and Jannette Rho (Chicago Cuttin’ Crew) sprinted to a win at Wednesday’s Lakefront Road Race in Milwaukee.
• » Mike Seguin (XXX Racing-AthletiCo) clawed back to finish 2nd overall in the 3’s. He got some help early in the Lakefront Road Race when a sporting field stood up to let him regain contact after a flat. He late would crash while taking a dig off the front but would recover and then take 2nd in the sprint.
• » Rookie Brian Karlow (Verdigris) hit the podium a remarkable nine times in the masters 4/5’s, four of them on the top step, finishing a comfortable 30 points ahead of the next challenger in the overall.
• » Young Trevor Rolette (South Chicago Wheelmen) was our top finisher in the 4/5’s overall. Despite racing only five days, he earned enough points to place 3rd overall.
• » Brent Emery (Emerys.com) came on strong to take the 35+ 1/2/3 overall, bumping Ricardo Otero (WDT-Allvoi) to 2nd, with Mike Heagney (Vision Quest), who finished 3rd Saturday and 2nd Sunday, climbing to 3rd.
• » John Wilkie was busy shooting photos for Peloton Pix. I expect he’ll be adding even more as he finds time to edit his haul.
• » Looking back at this year’s edition of Superweek, I’m in agreement with this assessment from Mark Swartzendruber (Verizon Wireless). String 17 races together in 17 locations and there are bound to be hiccups, but organization seemed better this year. Fields, however,  seemed smaller. (On the plus side, I think smaller turnouts warded off the chronic crashing that has plagued us in recent years.) I know many people cut back because of high entry fees, which were especially steep for day-of registrations. Here’s hoping that the pendulum continues to swing to the good. All things considered, we’re extremely lucky to have two big summer series available to us — ask any out-of-town racer and they’ll tell you so.

Full results.

• » USA Cycling this week named John Tomlinson (XXX Racing-AthletiCo) to the track team that will compete at the junior world championships in Italy next month. He’ll be joined by Jessi Prinner (ABD), who will again compete in the road race and time trial.
• » Tomlinson is racing this week at the presigious Tour de l’Abitibi in Canada. Racing with him are James Bird (IS Corp), Chazz Martin (IS Corp) and Brandon Feehery (South Chicago Wheelmen).
• » Olympian Colby Pearce is providing two seminars on the track in August. He’ll also be competing in the Roger Delanghe Trophy Race in Northbrook on Aug. 5. This will be the first such race since Delanghe passed away in November.
• » Voytek Glinkowski (WDT-Allvoi) told me this weekend that there were only three 4/5’s spot left for this weekend’s Allvoi Cup. Women’s spots were running out, too.
• » John Wilkie of Peloton Pix has been taking great shots this Superweek, but my favorite action moment may be this shot from Evanston by Lisa McMahon. That’s Adam Lesniakowksi (PACT/Dish Network) accelerating past Rob Karlow (Verdigris) and Mike Heagney (Vision Quest) in the 35+ 1/2/3’s sprint.

 

The Bahati Foundation, which is fielding several riders at Superweek, including founder and former national champion Rahsaan Bahati, is ceasing operation, according to Bicycling Magazine’s Bill Strickland.

It’s not a huge surprise given the team’s financial difficulties earlier this summer. I’m not sure what this means for the riders racing this week, or whether the squad will still field riders at next month’s national championship in Glencoe. VeloNews reports that the current management will form a pro-am team for the balance of the season.

Bahati withdrew from Monday’s road race in Whitnall Park but won the field sprint for 4th Sunday in Evanston.

Update: Bahati released a statement Wednesday evening saying that the Bahati Foundation would continue, but that the team would be “undergoing a reorganization ... All the riders and staff who have been loyal to the team are moving forward with the new team.”

More highlights from the past week of Superweek:

• » Feedback has been positive for the new Lake Geneva course, which opened for business Wednesday with an interesting profile and picturesque views. Greta Neimanas (XXX Racing-AthletiCo) put her time trial skills to use by soloing away from the women’s P/1/2/3 field with 10 laps to go, and Ryan Freund (Verizon u25) got in another elite break, finishing 3rd in the P/1/2’s after lapping the field twice with two others.
• » Tour of America’s Dairyland sensation Jannette Rho (Chicago Cuttin’ Crew) finally made her Superweek debut Friday and finished 3rd at in Brookfield, Wis. At Saturday’s Schlitz Park course in Milwaukee, she joined Stacy Appelwick (Bouledogue Tour Noir), Mia Moore (XXX Racing-AthletiCo) and Canada’s Nettie Neudorf (Portage Junkyard Dogs) in taking advantage of Brewer’s hill and lapping the women’s 3/4’s field, with Appelwick taking the win and Rho rolling in 2nd. Kimberly Gialdini (Flatlandia), meanwhile, has ridden a very consistent series and has a solid lead in the overall with just three races left.
• » Ricardo Otero (WDT-Allvoi) clings to a one-point lead in the 35+ 1/2/3 overall, having finished out of the top 10 just once.
• » Although he has lost his grip on the overall, Mike Seguin (XXX Racing-AthletiCo) earned his first win as a 3 at Brookfield. Victor Rentas (Team G Force) has a number of top 10’s to his name and is the highest-placed local rider in the 3’s with 3rd.
• » Rookie Brian Karlow (Verdigris) is having a dynamite Superweek and will no doubt be joining his brother Rob soon in the higher categories. After winning at Homewood, he’s twice finished 2nd and twice 3rd and now enjoys a healthy lead in the 35+ 4/5’s overall.
• » Young Trevor Rolette (South Chicago Wheelmen) is also nearly perfect in the 4/5’s. He’s won twice, in Richton Park and Willow Springs, on top of three other podiums. He starts the day 10 points out of 1st in the overall.

Full results.

Lake Geneva reports
Greta Neimanas (XXX Racing-AthletoCo; W-P/1/2/3): “Nobody ever wants to sack up and take a pull because they’ll get tired, or it’s too hot, or they have a hangnail.”

Verizon u25 (P/1/2): “Going into the finish, Mike Sherer kept Ryan is as good of a position as possible to help him fend for the win, but the pair was ‘jammed up’ on the back side in the final lap.”

Debbie Dust (Bouledogue Tout Noir) went for sprint points 10 laps into Sunday night's 35-lap women's P/1/2/3 Evanston Grand Prix and kept on rolling, eventually lapping the field while maintaining a 50-second gap over a lone chaser to take her first Superweek win.

In the men's P/1/2 race, Fly V Austarlia's Jonathan Cantwell and Ben Kersten escaped from a large but dysfunctional break midway through and built a gigantic lead over a field that could never get a chase together once it neutralized the break. The two finished side-by-side with 2008 champion Cantwell, currently higher than Kersten in the overall, taking the victory. Coincidentally, Kersten and Cantwell also went 1-2 Saturday night at the Boise Twilight Crit, in that case with Kersten finishing first in a bunch sprint. Notable riders in Sunday's field included Karl Menzies (UnitedHealthcare) and Rahsaan Bahati (Bahati Foundation), both making their 2010 Superweek debut. Other local results include Tony Rienks (Beverly Bike-Vee Pak), who put in a long solo effort to win the 35+ 4/5's; Adam Lesniakowski (PACT/Dish Network), who took the bunch sprint in a 35+ 1/2/3 race that was halted and abbreviated because of a quick thunderstorm; and Justin Somerville (Bicycle Heaven) winning the 4/5's. In the 3's, Burnham Racing had Nick Ramirez off the front for the last several laps, but had to settle for 2nd and 3rd from Chris Curran and Nate Iden after Andrew Buntz (University of Iowa) launched a long attack to bring him back and take the win. The BK Stacker and the dicey Turn 4 tooks their share of victims but most races were relatively crash-free this year, at least compared to previous editions. Full results.

Reports Cathy Frampton (Project 5; W-3/4): "Then fluky things started happening."

Arron Hampton (Psimet; 35+ 4/5): "I pushed through it, arse on the tip of the saddle, funny pain face on full display and grabbed me some 5th place."

Photos Lisa McMahon Omar Patalinghug (4/5's video): 1, 2, 3 Cecile Redoble Luke Seemann Ed White

A few of the many highlights from the first Illinois leg of Superweek:

• » Bryan McVey (ReCycling) is having a breakout series in the P/1/2's, racing aggressively and making many of the breaks. After lapping the field and getting 2nd Monday in Richton Park and finishing 6th Tuesday in Willow Springs -- a race whose field sprint included a tangle of bikes -- he is the top amateur and is 7th overall, 22 points down from leader and 2008 Tour de France participant Aurélien Passeron (Garneau Club Chaussure).
• » Ryan Freund (Verizon u25) made the break Saturday in Geneva, lapping the field with two others, continuing on to the nominal chase group and even attempting to attack beyond that. It came down to a three-up sprint, where he finished 2nd to Passeron, above.
• » Kristen Meshberg (Flatlandia) has hit the top 10 in all four women's P/1/2/3 races, including a 2nd at Geneva. She held the leader's jersey after Monday's racing in Homewood, but she now sits in 3rd in both the overall and the sprints competition.
• » Stacy Appelwick (Bouledogue Tout Noir) is off to a great start in the women's 3/4's. After winning both Saturday and Sunday and finishing 2nd Tuesday, she sits in 2nd overall.
• » Nick Gierman (Burnham Racing) won in dramatic fashion in Geneva. With nine laps to go he countered a large move to go solo and made a large gap for himself. With less than two to go -- and after some lap-counter bungling -- two riders bridged to him, but as gassed as he was, he was able to launch an early attack and sprint to the win.
• » Geneva was where Drew Kushnick (Spidermonkey Cycling) picked up his first win in the 4/5's. I wonder how long he's been practicing his post-up. He'd follow that up with a 2nd at Willow Springs.
• » Mike Seguin (XXX Racing-AthletiCo) is doing it both ways -- getting in the breaks and doing well in the sprints -- and has yet to finish outside the top 10. He leads the 3's overall.
• » Mark Winston (2CC) proved his uphill sprint at Spring Prairie was no fluke. After a suicide break was reeled in late in the Willow Springs 35+ 1/2/3's, he navigated the challenging stairsteps for the bunch-sprint win, followed by Dave Reed (EMC2) and Mike Heagney (Vision Quest).
• » Chris Mosora (Verizon Wireless), meanwhile, has been having his way with the 35+ 1/2/3 series, winning out of a two-man break in Geneva and winning again in Richton Park. After finishing 5th in Willow Springs, he has a tight lead over Adam Lesniakowski (PACT/Dish Network) and Ricardo Otero (WDT-Allvoi).
• » Ed Ekstrom (Tower Racing) leads the 35+ 4/5's overall and is 2nd in the 4/5's, just two points behind teammate Alex Nemeth.
• » I liked the modified Willow Springs course. I wish races could have been longer -- such are the tradeoffs with great locations sometimes -- but the shorter laps increased the impact of the climbs, relative to the longer course used for our state road race. Then again, the short course and concurrent races led to the occasional neutralization, which is often frustrating to both fields. The corners I was worried about were wide, fast and safe, and it made a big difference to have centerline fencing all along Archer. Considering the crazy amount of race prep that went into that course, it's fairly remarkable that the early races started only 20 minutes late -- and that delay was only thanks to a tree that had fallen on the course.
• » A second 4/5's race was added to accommodate demand at Willow Springs, but that won't be an option at Sunday's Evanston Grand Prix, which is always popular. Online registration closes Friday, but if you miss that, Superweek's Andy Garrison says to .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address) to guarantee a spot.

Full results.

Geneva reports Nick Gierman (Burnham Racing; 3): "As this rider slots in behind me, my mark was hit and off I went. Over the bricks and through the turn, dancing on the pedals like a ProTour sprinter does."

Arron Hampton (Psimet; 35+ 4/5): "We were racing for third, which I realized right after I lit up that last match."

Matt Riezman (Spidermonkey Cycling; 4/5): "Midway through the race, huge gaps started forming on the hill and getting caught behind them made my race tough."

Tati Cycles (35+ 1/2/3): "Nobody will pay any attention to your team until you've beaten Mark Swartzendruber, even if it is in a sprint."

Verizon u25 (P/1/2): "The final lap almost resembled a match sprint as they cautiously eye one another, waiting to open the sprint until the final 200 meters."

Andrew Zens (Spidermonkey Cycling; 4/5): ""

Geneva photos Luke Seemann Tati Cycles Nikki Cyp

Homewood reports Debbie Dust (Bouledogue Tout Noir; W-P/1/2/3): "Even more negative were the riders who literally tailgunned the entire race and then suddenly appeared in the front with two laps to go."

Evan Jahn (Rhythm Racing; 4/5): "He won! We won! For the first time it feels like a team victory and not just individual."

Matt Riezman (Spidermonkey Cycling; 4/5): "I ran out of something."

Chris Uberti (Team Panther; P/1/2): "Thanks to attrition I was able to sneak into a money spot."

Homewood photos Tati Cycles Nikki Cyp

Willow Springs reports Arron Hampton (Psimet; 4/5): "Braking at the front on a downhill back stretch seems odd."

Andrew Zens (Spidermonkey Cycling; 4/5): "Lots of squirrels in the field today, and to be honest I was one of them."

Series photos Peloton Pix

Bernie Sulzberger (Fly V Australia) opened Superweek with an impressive win in Beverly Friday evening.

Sulzberger was one of seven riders who went up a lap. With seven laps to go he escaped with Chad Burdzilauskas (Kenda). They built a large gap working together, but on the bell lap Sulzberger attacked at the top of the hill and entered the final downhill corner alone to cruise down the homestretch. It was a small field despite $3,000 in primes, and fewer than 30 finished. Bryan McVey (ReCycling), Tomasz Boba (WDT-Allvoi) and Frank Rowley (South Chicago Wheelmen) were the top locals, finishing 15th, 17th and 19th, respectively. Full results.

• » 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.

If it's July, it must be time for that annual tour known for top international talent, crashes and controversy.

Also, the Tour de France is going on. That's right, Superweek is back for its 42nd year with 17 consecutive days of racing, including six venues close to Chicago. It continues to draw top talent, among them a full squad from Bahati Foundation, which is registered for the entire series. (Some of that talent needs host housing, by the way, especially in the Chicago area. More information here.) Today is your last day to pre-register and avoid a late fee. Important note for masters: Thanks to the suggestion of Team Mack, 35+ 1/2's can race Beverly for $20, and if doubling up at Geneva, Homewood or Willow Springs, the second race will be $20. Promoter Andy Garrison says to register in person in order to take advantage of this option; there will be no late fee for doing so. Here's what I know about some of the races:

• » Beverly Hills Cycling Classic, Friday, July 9. For spectators, it doesn't get much better than this. This challenging neighborhood course enjoys fantastic support from the residents, who plan a block party around the race. Racing is for P/1/2's only, but all cycling fans and in fact all sports fans should considering coming to watch. With its steep kicker at Turn 1 and a fast descent into the homestretch, the course will be a rough introduction to Superweek for local riders, many of whom will be in lawn chairs by the 20th lap. It's expect that at least one break will get away and lap the field, after which the sprint will favor the team with the most survivors and the best organizaion for the leadout.
• » Geneva and Homewood, Friday-Saturday, July 10-11: Both are new courses in new host cities, but both are downtown crits, which is promising. Note that Mill Race Cyclery is helping in Geneva and is looking for volunteers. Homewood and Willow Springs need volunteers, too. T-shirts will be given for your troubles.
• » Richton Park, Monday, July 12: Flat, non-technical criterium around a park.
• » Willow Springs Road Race, Tuesday, July 13. I'm curious how this course will play out. It has to potential to be a lot of fun. Except for the P/1/2's, race lengths are on the short side -- with the women 3/4's racing longer than the 4/5's, which may be a first -- so speeds should be high for a road race. The finish will be at the top of the same series of big-ring climbs employed in our 2009 state road race. Position on the final lap will be key. You'll want to be patient and save your sprint until the final rise, but at the same time you can't afford to get swarmed on the initial approach or get stuck behind cracked riders. A good leadout will do wonders. The course is an abbreviated version of the state road race, and will include a fast sweeping descent onto Archer. I hope it doesn't turn into our own private Stockeu. Meanwhile, a rider tells me that the shoulder on Archer is in dodgy condition. He recommends favoring the yellow line on this section. Note that the pivotal Willow Springs Road stretch will be closed to traffic, and fencing will separate traffic on Archer.
• » Schlitz Park, Saturday, July 17. Fun crit in Milwaukee with a steep hill.
• » Evanston Grand Prix, Sunday, July 18. Oh, Evanston. This is always a fun race to watch with great crowds and a fun downtown setting, but it's forged a reputation for crashes, from the pros on up to the 4/5's. For photographers looking for crash porn, there are two spots to set up camp: The first is Turn 4 as Davis turns onto Orrington. Riders on the outside have a habit of clipping the barriers in front of Hotel Orrington. Even more problematic is the famous BK Stacker in Turn 5. Here two lanes become one, and the outside curb pinches in more sharply than you expect. If you’re not directly behind someone’s wheel into this corner, you may be in trouble. Meanwhile, riders at the front will be taking the turns smoothly and blasting out of them, leading to a significant accordion effect in the back.
• » Whitnall Park Road Race, Monday, July 19. This 2-mile circuit race takes place on the scenic rollers of a botanic garden. The finish comes after a fast, leg-burning climb and than about 50 meters of flat road.
• » Lakefront Road Race, Wednesday, July 21. One of the more interesting road races you'll do, located along a beautiful stretch of Lake Michigan. The 4.5-mile course includes two steep kickers, a fast sweeping descent and a short passage through a narrow bike path.

Full schedule here. Good luck!

For those with the time, means and legs to do so, a stage race or series can be an unforgettable experience. In the Midwest we're blessed with two such series: The 10-day Tour of America's Dairyland, which closed Sunday, and the 17-day Superweek, which starts next Friday in Beverly.

A handful of Chicago riders went all-in for the 2010 ToAD, including 27-year-old accountant Andrew Zens (Spidermonkey Cycling). Just two years after taking up racing -- in 2008 he was the dude on the Discovery bike with the Discovery jersey and the Discovery socks -- Zens headed north to race all 10 days of Cat 4/5 racing. He wrote about some lessons learned on his blog, and this week I chatted him up to learn more about his experience.

What on earth possessed you to race 10 days in a row? At first it was the quest for upgrade points, but as the season progressed I wanted to do something that I had never done before. In your first season there are tons of firsts, but in the second season it's hard to find something that you haven't tried or really challenges you.

Prior to this, what was your most intense stretch of racing? Gateway Cup was four days.

Was there a moment where you were like, "What have I gotten myself into?" Day One. It was a race in my hometown and I`I tried to do a little of everything. This was the best learning experience a racer can have.’ didn't sniff the front of the field, nor the middle of the field for that matter, and I thought, "Is it going to be 10 days of this?"

Racing in Illinois, we get to know each other pretty well. But what was it like racing against a bunch of cheeseheads you didn't know, plus riders from out of the area? At first it was really hard, not only because I had no idea who had a good wheel to follow but it made bike racing less social in general. However, as the week went on I started to make new friends in the field. That was even more important after Day Four when my teammate Bryan Witry, who was to travel with me, broke his arm.

What happened there? At Road America he was jockeying for position coming into the uphill finish when a cheesehead rode under his bars and crashed him. Quoting Bryan, "It sucked that guy didn't have Randy Warren's voice in his head saying stay calm." The Warren safety clinic saves me weekly.

Did that make for a long day? It really did. The worst part was that on Day Four I finally started racing well after being called out by a Chicago racing friend. Jannette Rho (Chicago Cuttin' Crew) had told me after the third day, "You need to be more aggressive."

Did Bryan's crash affect how you rode the rest of the series? Probably. I got more aggressive and tried to really enjoy the races the hardest part was traveling by myself every day. It took some of the fun out of the midweek part of ToAD.

What were you doing more aggressively? Getting in breaks? Defending position up front? And how did it work out? I tried to do a little of everything. This was the best learning experience a racer can have. One day I attacked and attacked and attacked,`When I crossed the line I was empty, and that's all you can ask of yourself.’ then I cracked. One day I sat on the strongest rider's wheel. One day I went for every prime. I read on a Web site somewhere that you have to race for a year in your category before you can expect to do well in it. So I thought I could get my year in in a week with 10 races.

What was the best moment of the week? The Greenbush Road Race. It was the first 4's race where I competed in a sprint finish. And the course was so much fun, flying through the woods. When I crossed the line I was empty, and that's all you can ask of yourself.

Where did you stay all week? I grew up within two hours of every race, so I stayed with my parents. They still have my Bob Marley posters from high school on my walls. On Saturday night it was the Chicago host house with six racers from four different chicago teams (XXX, Chicago Cuttin' Crew, Iron Cycles, Spidermonkey).

If you were to do this again, what would you do differently? What advice do you have for others? Unless something changes I plan on doing this series again next summer, and I will realize how much mental stress is involved with racing day after day. I would say remember to have fun. The first day I really worried about results and I sucked. When I made sure to have fun and try things, the results improved. I mean, if it's not fun then you are just riding in circles.

Two days removed, how are your legs feeling? Actually they feel great. I will be heading down to matteson later this evening, and I would expect to see me on the Turin ride tomorrow. Then it's a break for a couple days.

Do you wish you'd taken any rest days? Not at all. I would have wondered, What did I miss?

How was watching the P/1/2 races? It was amazing. The Rahsaan Bahati (Bahati Foundation) show at Grafton was something to see. Great question from Bahati after Greenbush: "You don't need anything bigger than a 21, right?" Me: "Well, I rocked a 26 but we got different legs."

Heh. That's like Tiger Woods asking you which wedge to use. Exactly. I also enjoyed rubbing shoulders with team directors like Verizon u25's Mike Ebert. It's always good to find him toward the finish. He knows where to stand for a good view.

I always loved lingering near the directors and eavesdropping as they yelled into the radios. Well, without the radios they have time to talk to you a little more.

How much Superweek are you going to do? Not many. Maybe four. This past week and a half I've seen how a stage race should be run. It was so organized and professional. `When I made sure to have fun and try things, the results improved. I mean, if it's not fun then you are just riding in circles.’The directors and promotors were amazing. They are even crediting Bryan six races for next year. I was blown away. I don't really want to go back to the Superweek disorganization. However, the road races are looking pretty fun, especially Willow Springs.

Do you have any goals for the rest of the season? I want to figure out how to make the jump from being a top 20 finisher to a top 10 finisher. I am really looking forward to Glencoe and Gateway. The Gateway crowds are unmatched, which makes the weekend.

Have you figured how many upgrade points you ended up with last week? Zero! And that's the best part. I don't even care and I still had a blast each and every day.

That's the spirit! You've grown wise, grasshopper. Now that you have freed yourself from desire, I'm sure the points will come. I am sure they will. I would like come back as a really strong Cat 4 for ToAD next year.

• » 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.

• » 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.

• » 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 .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address).
• » 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.

The village council of Downers Grove voted Tuesday to eliminate the $37,000 it spends on the USPRO National Championship weekend, the crown jewel of local racing.

Although the budget's wording suggests the race will be canceled, I'm told that organizer Special Events Management is seeking sponsorship to plug the gap, and the race may go on. (The Downers Grove budget also calls it a "criterion," but that is neither here nor there.) USA Cycling was unaware of the development. Director of communications Andrea Smith says at this point the race remains on the national championship calendar. SEM estimated that more than 15,000 spectators attended the races in 2009. Although downtown restaurants benefit, locals tell me that some retailers see a drop in business and resent the crowds, and several close up shop for the weekend. At a July planning workshop, the village council rated the race as "low priority." Village manager David Fieldman did not return a request for comment. In addition to national championships for men, women and elites, Downers Grove traditionally hosts a full slate of amateur races over two days, including a Saturday twilight pro-am. In 2010, however, the women and elite men will have their criterium national championships in Bend, Ore. SEM manages the Chicago Criterium as well, and that race's future also will hinge on angel sponsorship without city funding. Meanwhile, the Daily Herald reports that Arlington Heights is considering not funding its Superweek race, a midweek criterium that made its debut in 2009. Read the comments for a sampling of residents' attitudes toward bike racing.

Time to start crossing names off your holiday shopping list: Chicago Bike Racing calendars are here! Perfect for all the coaches, wrenches, parents and significant others in your life.

New this year: A cyclocross-only calendar! There are two ways to order: For $17.50 plus shipping, you can order either calendar online. Follow this link for road and cross or this link for cross-only. Or, I will have a limited number of calendars for sale in person. Price: $15. Cheap! I will have them available at remaining cross races and XXX Racing-AthletiCo functions, or I can have them available from my office in River North. .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address) to make arrangements. Buying 10 or more? $12.50 each. As in previous years, this is not a big money maker for me. It's just a chance to share some of my favorite photos with some of my favorite people. Note that there are still several cross races I expect to shoot. If I get any gems, I may publish an update in December. Stay tuned. All photos are from the 2009 season, and all your favorite races and racers are included:

Road and cross Cover: Ryan Freund (ABD) cruises through the BK Stacker at the Evanston Grand Prix.

January: A masters races makes its way up the challenging Circuit of Sauk climb.

February: Debbie Dust (PACT/Dish Network) beats Kristen Meshberg (Team BH USA) in an exciting sprint at the Winfield Twilight Criterium.

March: Wayne Simon (Verdigris) leads the charge up the ski hill at the Fox River Grove Cycling Challenge.

April: Devon Haskell (Team BH USA) negotiates a wet corner off the front at the Glencoe Grand Prix.

May: April showers lead to May flowers: Some color at the Cat 3 Tour of Elk Grove.

June: Adam Lesniakowski (PACT/Dish Network) had a perfect endgame to win the Downers Grove Cat 2 race.

July: Ryan Freund (ABD) bridges to a move in the Chicago Criterium P/1/2 race.

August: Who will ever forget Rahsaan Bahati (Rock Racing) and the thrilling end to the USPRO National Championship?

September: Seth Meyer (XXX Racing-AthletiCo) gives it full gas on the final climb in Willow Springs to claim the 2009 state championship.

October: Bobby Lea (Team OUCH) takes Turn 8 at the Downers Grove pro-am.

November: State champion Scott McLaughlin (SRAM) is first up the hill at the Dan Ryan Woods cyclocross race.

December: It takes a village: Heckle Hill gives every kind of encouragement to Jacob Thom (Half Acre Cycling) as he gamely rides up through the thick mud.

Cyclocross only Cover: Jacques Cartier (XXX Racing-AthletiCo) leaps over a barrier at Jackson Park.

January: It was a cloud of dirt and fury as the 4A's charged across a softball field at Jackson Park.

February: Pony Shop is there, so this must be near the front of the race.

March: Robin Williams (Mercy-Specialized) rolled through the women's 1/2/3 field at Dekalb.

April: Uh-oh. Something has made Henry Loud (Team Pegasus) angry at Dekalb -- very angry.

May: That's Ed White (Half Acre Cycling) escaping from the 4B scrum at Dan Ryan Woods.

June: Cat 4 powerhouses Brittany Barran-Stanley (Verdigris) and Janette Rho (Bouledogue Tout Noir) march up the Dan Ryan Woods run-up.

July: Andrew Yeoman (Team Pegasus) shows good shoulder form at Dan Ryan Woods.

August: Ara Oggoian (Bicycle Heaven) leads the P/1/2/3's over the barriers at Sunrise Park.

September: Dave Norton (The Bonebell) pops a wheelie for the adoring tifosi at Sunrise Park.

October: Ah, fall. Tim Boundy (Verdigris) gives Andy Daley (Burhnam Racing) a nice draft at Sunrise Park.

November: The crowd erupts as Jacob Thom (Half Acre Cycling) tops Heckle Hill.

December: The shot you've been waiting all year for: Super Girl is queen of the hill, and dozens of her loyal subjects cheer the latest muddy pratfall.

• » Fall Fling information is out, with new courses for 2009. Criteriums will be in West Chicago, the road race in Crete. This is always an excellent way to wrap up your season -- or start the next one.
• » It got lost in the Superweek hubbub, but ABR held its state road race championships July 18 in Port Byron, Ill., and some Chicago-area riders won their categories, including Adam Leibman (ABD) in the 4's, Tim Henry (Project 5) in the 30+, Brian Harris (PYOC) in the 40+ open and Debbie Dust (PACT/Dish Network) in the women's open.
• » Congratulations to Christina Peck (Chicago Cuttin' Crew), who won this weekend's North American Cycle Courier Championships in Boston. She is the first woman to ever win the overall, and she did so decisively.
• » Why we do wheel-rubbing drills. Nice save, Mike.
• » Francine Haas (Alberto's) is leading a beginners clinic for women Saturday in Glencoe.
• » There are only a few no more Cat 5 spots left for Sunday's Glencoe Grand Prix, but there's plenty room in both Cat 5 heats of Saturday's Grayslake Cycling Classic.
• » Well-Fit is hosting a cyclocross information session Aug. 13.
• » Anne Barnes (Turin) is looking for host housing for the women of Team Tibco over Downers Grove weekend. .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address) if you can help.
• » You think crashing in the BK Stacker is bad enough in the Cat 4's? Try it when you're actually going fast. (Not for the squeamish, or those emotionally attached to carbon fiber.)
• » Colorado Springs to L.A. to Chicago to Oregon and back to Colorado Springs. The life of a gypsy cyclist.
• » The Bike Film Festival starts next Wednesday.
• » Team Beer'd spends most of its time "drunk and wearing spandex."
• » Our old friend Carlos Cabalu (Quaker City Wheelmen) has refreshed the Unattched Rider look.
• » How to post up.

The 41st International Cycling Classic, better known as Superweek, is in the books. The phrase I heard most over the past two weeks was "better than last year," and indeed I believe it was. The races were closer to running on time, fewer had to be cut short and nothing turned into a fiasco. The best improvements were the additions of the Elgin and Lakefront road races. I will always miss the Tour of Alpine Valley, but these help make up for it.

Size and caliber of fields did seem to be down up and down the board, despite a good collection of international riders. Part of that could be because of 2008's problems, but I chalk most of it to the economy and the high costs of travel and registration. All that said, read this note if you earned any checks. Finally, if you didn't get enough of the ever mellifluous Eddie van Guyse, here are his daily audio recaps. Local highlights from the final four days of racing:

• » Team Get a Grip Cycles didn't contest many races, but it made the most of its entry fees. Ben LaForce won twice in the 3's, and Chris Padfield picked up a win Thursday, going solo for most of a rainy 3's race in Racine. I expect it won't be long before his victory post-up, shown above, makes its way into the pro peloton.
• » Christian Zauner (Verdigris) won the 40+ 1/2/3 in Kenosha on Friday and Robert Kron (Team Mack) was consistently near the top, but they finished 3rd and 2nd in the overall to Wisconsin's Chris Halverson (IS Corp), who has been having a tremendous summer. He swept the weekend races, and Brent Emery (Emerys.com/Team Life Cyclists) nipped Kron by one point.
• » Pascale Petro (Project 5) won the women's 3/4's race Racine but placing 5th the next three days -- Project 5, indeed -- wasn't enough to get the top spot in the overall, and she finished 2nd by four points. Champaign's Anona Whitley (Wild Card Cycling) finished in 4th.
• » Chicago-area riders took the final 4/5's races behind Ben-Jamin Widoff (Team Powerbar) in Racine, Joel Friedman (Bicycle Heaven) in Kenosha and Humboldt Park and Rob Karlow (Verdigris) in Whitefish Bay, his third of the series. Karl Schult (Guiness) picked up two more 2nd's, and in 5th he was our highest placement in the overall.
• » For more complete reports of the elite races, check out Lyne Lamoureux's excellent Podium Insight. And once again John Wilke did yeoman's work over at Peloton Pix, working harder than any of us to shoot most of the races and provide entertaining reports.

Full Racine results. Full Kenosha results. Full Humboldt Park/Downer Avenue results. Full Whitefish Bay results.

Racine reports Peter Beels (Leadout Racing; 3): "Throughout the rain many people got gapped and dropped in the corners and abandoned."

Hub Racing (W-P/1/2/3): "There's still work to do here to maintain these positions and possibly move up."

Chris Padfield (Team Get a Grip Cycles; 3): "I took a quick glance back and no one wanted to come along and suffer with me, but that's cool, less to worry about."

Racine photos John Rowland: P/1/2, W-P/1/2/3, 3 John Wilke

Kenosha reports Hub Racing (W-P/1/2/3): "Racers down in general classification want those last couple of stage wins, and there was no patience in the peleton."

Geoff Kuyler (Leadout Racing; 3): "I was worried about riders coming out of drafts but never saw anyone in my peripheral vision and took my second win of the week."

Podium Insight: "As usual the last lap were chaotic and according to Hayden Godfrey (Subway-Avanti), 'there were guys going all over the show as usual.'"

Steve Tilford (Tradewind Energy/Trek Stores; P/1/2): "Obviously, from the photo below, the race yesterday could have gone better."

Kenosha photos Extreme Photography John Rowland: P/1/2, W-P/1/2/3, 3, W-3/4 John Wilke

Humboldt Park reports Hub Racing (W-P/1/2/3): "Josie Giddens tried to make the bridge for hub racing, and almost had her until the rain started down."

Humboldt Park photos Nikki Cyp Extreme Photography John Wilke

Downer Avenue reports John Meyers (ABD; P/1/2): "Freaking Blue Angel jets buzzing us mid-race? Wow, that was sweet."

Podium Insight: "The Kelly Benefit squad controlled the front as the lap cards were flipped with primes still being announced until the final big daddy of them all, the crowd prime of almost $1,200 with one lap to go."

Downer Avenue photos Extreme Photography John Wilke

Whitefish Bay reports Hub Racing (W-P/1/2/3): "When she came off, everyone in the field went for the attack, and the result was an extreme acceleration. No attack was going if everyone went."

Julia LaFranchise (Team VRC; W-P/1/2/3): "Perhaps everyone was a little jittery because in the third corner of the VERY first lap, half the peloton went down."

Podium Insight: "The duo along with two other teammates earlier in the series defended the lead from day one, a new feat for Superweek."

Michael van Eerd (Team VRC; P/1/2): "Eric Bennett got taken out by crashing against a little kid. Both are fine though."

Whitefish Bay photos Extreme Photography John Wilke

• » When Wednesday's morning races started 30 minutes late after a delay in road closing, the 40+ 1/2/3 field registered its displeasure by briefly standing still on the whistle, disgusting the Superweek staff, not to mention the 4/5's waiting to start behind them. The racing itself was more positive and dramatic: Wayne Simon (Verdigris) and Bryan Rheude (MS Racing) attacked after the second kicker and worked together to stay away over the last mile and a half. Simon dropped Rheude to take the win, but Rheude hung on for 2nd ahead of a charging sprint. With four days to go it's a tight race for the overall, currently led by Robert Kron (Team Mack).
• » Sean Piper (Depaul) has had a breakout Superweek, making well-timed moves to get away and then well-timed attacks to close the deal. He won out of a late two-man break at Monday's Whitnall Park Road Race and finished 2nd at Wednesday's Lakefront Road Race (long course). Ben LaForce (Team Get a Grip Cycles) is also making the most of his Superweek races, winning again Tuesday out of a 7-man break at the Whitnall Park Criterium.
• » World championship-bound Greta Neimanas (XXX Racing-AthletiCo) motored away in the last kilometer of the Whitnall Park Criterium to win the women's 3/4 race. The next day she held her own in the sprint, placing 4th. Pascale Petro also is enjoying a good week, placing in the top 10 in all three races and now sits in 2nd overall.
• » Lakewood's Karl Schult (Guiness) won the masters 4/5's race in Elgin and repeated the feat at the Whitnall Park Criterium, taking the 4/5's ahead of Ernie Ciccolini (Van Wagner/Yojimbo's) in 2nd.
• » Curtis Gunn (Fly V Australia), the rider who T-boned a children's bike at Richton Park and wound up in Cook County Hospital with a punctured lung and broken rib, was racing again Monday in Whitnall Park.
• » The P/1/2 field has gotten extra firepower this week with a bigger squad of Kelly Benefit Strategies riders (above, Alex Candelario gets nipped by Juan Van Heerden (Team MTN) at the Whitnall Park Road Race) and a few Team OUCH riders. Rock Racing has lit up the racing the past two years and registered eight spots for this year's series, but Superweek tells me the team left riders on the hook for their own transportation. Only Sergio Hernandez made the three-day drive to take part. Here is a letter national champion Rahsaan Bahati wrote to team owner Michael Ball on the matter.

Full Whitnall Park Road Race results. Full Whitnall Park Criterium/Cedarburg results. Full Lakefront Road Race (long course) results.

Whitnall Park Road Race reports Geoff Kuyper (Leadout Racing; 3): "No one thought they had a chance as it all happened at low speeds, but no one chased and the gap grew."

Lauren Liscinski (Team VRC; W-P/1/2/3): "I tried to keep the pace quick and on the last little hill before the finishing climb someone attacked left and it was all I could do to slot back in and not lose any more places."

Whitnall Park Road Race photos Nikki Cyp John Wilke

Whitnall Park Criterium reports Brian Batke (Carbon Racing; 40+ 1/2/3): "Eventually I got caught with about seven to go, then I just kept following the attacks."

Hub Racing (W-P/1/2/3): "Following the last sprint, attacks began to fly."

Geoff Kuyper (Leadout Racing; 3): "The last lap didn’t go as planned as no one in the field would work with us and I got stuck on the front for too long."

Greta Neimanas (XXX Racing-AthletiCo; W-3/4): "I moved up the outside before the last corner and like Jens Voigt (Saxo Bank) rolled off the front. I just put my head down and went into pursuit mode."

Cedarburg photos John Wilke

Lakefront (long) reports Chad Bishop (Harper's Cycling; 3): "All of the sudden I hear all of the guys in the field start hooting and hollering."

Mark Hotchkin (Leadout Racing; 3): "Going up the hill right after two laps to go, I got a gap on him, and decided to go alone."

Brad Huff (Jelly Belly; P/1/2): "This course is by far one of the best I have ridden in the Superweek series although I am completely shelled. I need sleepy and no more pedaly."

Journal Sentinel: "Jonathan Cantwell (Fly V Australia), who won the Superweek crown in 2008, has used his veteran wiles to guide Bernie Sulzberger throughout the series."

Team OUCH (P/1/2): "'The race had a strange dynamic. A big group would get off the front and come back, then another would go. It was hard to figure out which would be the one that stuck.'"

James Pradun (GDVC; 3): "I knew this was my last chance."

Lakefront (long) photos John Wilke

Rock Racing has yet to make an appearance, but pros Karl Menzies (OUCH) and Mike Friedman (Garmin-Slipstream) both made big impressions on Sunday's's Evanston Grand Prix despite riding without teammates.

Early in the P/1/2 race Menzies created a break with Ronnie Strange (Hotel San Jose ) and James Stemper (Geargrinder). The three ran a disciplined rotation, conceding to Stemper the maximum sprint points, but after 48 laps out front they were caught and quickly replaced by a six-man group that included Friedman. That group became five, then four and then with about five laps to go, just three, with Ryan Freund (ABD) losing the pace. Friedman put in one big dig to get away, but the other two matched him, and coming down Sherman Avenue it was South African Christoff Van Heerden (Team MTN) handily taking the sprint for his second win of Superweek. Meanwhile, Freund, who just a year ago was finishing 2nd in the 4's race here, put in a courageous effort to stay off in no-man's land, but a $200 gamblers prime nailed his coffin shut for good, and he limped in at the back of the pack. The BK Stacker continued to claim its share of flesh and treasure -- including some mayhem on the final lap of the 3's race -- but although I missed most of the day, I'm told that overall there was less carnage than previous editions, and unlike last year, the P/1/2 race never had to be neutralized to tend to injured riders. Having spent the past few days on vacation, my finger has been off the Superweek pulse. Nontheless, here are some highlights since the last wrap-up:

• » Riders are raving about Thursday's return to the Milwaukee lakefront, and I'm looking forward to Wednesday's long course there. Our top result comes from Ben La Force (Team Get a Grip Cycles), who bridged to an early break in the 3's and saved enough to sprint for the win.
• » Thursday's P/1/2 race in Shorewood, Wis., got to a late start because a small residential fire on the course. The race was shortened, meaning sprints for points every five laps, including one for a $1,664 crowd prime. "The announcers cranked up the sound system and really got the crowd rocking," reports ace photographer John Wilke. "That fed the racers and they were hammering. The Euros were going nuts, attacking everybody. It was just crazy."
• » Former local amateur Reid Mumford (Kelly Benefit Strategies) made an appearance at Friday's Tour of Holy HIll along with teammate and Superweek veteran Alex Candelario. Mumford made the final selection of four, but came in last in his group. (My kind of ride!) Meanwhile, Tim Yuska of the new Iron Cycles squad picked up 3rd in the 4/5's.
• » Brewers Hill on Saturday's Schlitz Park criterium course took a toll on most fields. Notable local survivors include Chris Padfield (Team Get a Grip Cycles) winning his chase group for 2nd in the 3's and state champion Liam Donoghue (XXX Racing-AthletiCo) winning the 4/5's.
• » Ben Jamin-Widoff (Team Powerbar) had a successful day in Evanston. First he came in 2nd to Rob Karlow (Verdigris) in the 4/5's, and then he hung on for 5th after his three-man break -- which happened to include 2009 phenom Joel Friedman (Bicycle Heaven), brother of the Garmin-Slipstream rider -- was reeled in on the last lap of the 4's race, won by Blue Island's hero Ernie Ciccolini (Van Wagner/Yojimbo's). WDT-Allvoi had a good day in the 3's, staying out of trouble and going 3-4 with Ricardo Otero and Waylon Janowiak, who have been a potent twosome lately. No local winners in the masters races, but Streamwood sprinter John Coyle (Wolverine Sports Club) grabbed 3rd in both the 30+ and 40+, and Paul Swinand (Comcast) finished 2nd in the 40+, his second 2nd of of the week after doing the same at Elgin. Evanston gave women 3/4's their first chance to race, and Pascale Petro (Project 5) was the top local, getting 4th.

Full Lakefront/Shorewood results. Full Tour of Holy HIll results. Full Schlitz Park results. Full Evanston results.

Lakefront (short) reports Ben La Force (Team Get a Grip Cycles; 3): "The peloton got close at one point and after that effort the gap started growing again up to almost two minutes."

Mike Shea (Spidermonkey Cycling; 4/5): "My diabetes has been great at every race. Today was the terrible exception."

Jake Teitelbaum (Spidermonkey Cycling; 4/5): "There are only a few people willing to do anything. Everybody else wants to hang out and get pulled along through most of the race."

Lakefront (short) photos John Wilke

Shorewood reports CyclingNews: "The primes and red jersey sprint points were hotly contested, and this kept the pace very high and strung out."

Hub Racing (W-P/1/2/3): "A tour can be fickle and to win it you have to make it through every day. Safely."

Julia LaFranchise (W-P/1/2/3): "I heard something behind me and the next thing I know I'm getting eaten alive by a very angry peloton that decided I'd spent enough time off the front. Bummer."

Adam Mills (Mercy; P/1/2): "Fun, fast and rough like a good Superweek race should be."

Dale Tye (Altarum Cycling; W-P/1/2/3): "My legs are smashed and I felt like I was pulling a truck and trailer unit behind me by the end of the race today."

Kristin Wentworth (Kenda; W-P/1/2/3): "I was impressed with the aggressive racing after hearing that in prior days things were a little negative and slow. Money will do that to a field of poor racers!"

Shorewood photos Greg Smith John Wilke Runaway Wind

Tour of Holy Hill reports CyclingNews: "According to MTN this move was done 'to entice racing in the main field, but no one responded.'"

Bryan McVey (Vision Quest; P/1/2): "They both beat me in the sprint but at least we didn't get sucked up by the field."

Brian Morrissey (XXX Racing-AthletiCo; 4/5): "I was really moving, and as I watched the gap close, I began to entertain glorious visions in my head as time slowed to a standstill."

Avi Neurohr (Chicago Cuttin' Crew; 4/5): "I don't want to get stuck in a packlet of droppees, so I bury it and go from 40th to 30th. Over the top, again, I'm waiting for the blitz, but it's pretty limp. Everyone's dead."

William Pankonin (XXX Racing-AthletiCo; 4/5): "I had been racing really smart, but when we hit the last hill before the run into the finish, my legs fell off."

James Pradun (GDVC; 3): "Everyone decided to stop working, so on the last lap, I attacked twice."

Tour of Holy Hill photos John Wilke

Schlitz Park reports Julia LaFranchise (Team VRC; W-P/1/2/3): "When a rider went up the road in the first lap I powered up the climb and joined her. Turns out this was the winning break!"

Hub Racing (W-P/1/2/3): ""With groups spread all over the 1-mile course, it was hard for the racers to tell what they were sprinting for at the finish."

Chris Padfield (Team Get a Grip Cycles; 3): "It was a race for second at this point and i just kept my own pace until I caught the lone chaser, a tiny junior."

Kristin Wentworth (Kenda; W-P/1/2/3): "The wet roads are pretty nasty and trying to draft often results in a face full of gritty water."

Schlitz Park photos John Rowland: P/1/2, W-P/1/2/3, 3 Greg Smith John Wilke

Evanston reports John Coyle (Wolverine Sports Club; 30+ 1/2/3, 40+ 1/2/3): "Some days you just seem to know exactly what to do."

Hub Racing (W-P/1/2/3): "Josie Giddens responded to the capture with a counter of her own. From two laps out she flew for the line, head down, through 5,000 spectators fueling her on."

Geoff Kuyper (Leadout Racing; 3): "I flew into the last corner and jumped shortly afterward, about 300 meters from the line. Somehow no one was able to come around me and I was able to hang on for the win!"

Henry Loud (Team Pegasus; 3): "Had Peter not gone down, the sprint would have been stacked!"

Kristen Meshberg (Team BH USA; W-P/1/2/3): "It's always fun racing when you have a huge crowd and tons of people cheering for you."

Avi Neurohr (Chicago Cuttin' Crew; 4, 4/5): "Sure enough, the last lap through turn five, all hell."

Steve Ohlhaber (Dolce Vita; 4/5): "No one would pull through when you came off the front. Instead they would attack the chase group or surge up on both sides."

Joe Schubert (Half Acre Cycling; 4): "I corner like the devil and prefer the inside line."

Jeremiah Smith (Half Acre Cycling; 4/5): "s my group rounds the bend and heads into the finish line we have 5 laps to go, there seems to be some jostling for position and right behind me I hear a rider go down"

Evanston photos Carolyn Golz Luke Seemann Tim Speciale Ed White John Wilke

Superweek packs up today and heads north to Wisconsin for the balance of the series, save for Sunday's Evanston Grand Prix.

Some local highlights from the past three days of racing:

• » Between Ryan Freund's locomotive engine and Josh Carter's sprint, ABD has had a formidable 1-2 punch at its disposal, and they've been the top locals in the P/1/2 races. After several attacks lit up Tuesday's race in Arlington Heights, Freund made the winning break of five, coming in 3rd. Carter meanwhile picked up two more top 10's -- 9th at Richton Park on Monday, 6th in Bensenville on Wednesday -- and sits in 6th overall.
• » Tomasz Boba (WDT-Allvoi) has his own private podium, placing 1st, 2nd and 3rd on Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday, respectively, in the 30+ 1/2/3. Teammate James Londono has also had a successful week, winning the 30+ 4/5 in both Richton Park and Arlington Heights and securing a good lead in the overall.
• » Hogan Sills (Verizon Wireless) immediately picked up where he left off in Champaign, winning the 3's race in Richton Park and placing 2nd in Arlington Heights. Sunday's winner Joe Bippus (South Chicago Wheelmen) has been consistently in the top 10 and now leads the overall.
• » Marshaling and course management has been satisfactory thus far, but a young girl on a bicycle rolled onto the Richton Park course during the P/1/2 course. Curtis Gunn (Fly V Australia) was buried in an attack and struck her bike in a violent collision, and the race was suspended while he was taken away in an ambulance. CyclingNews reports that he punctured a lung and broke ribs. The girl was unharmed.

Full Richton Park results. Full Arlington Heights results. Full Bensenville results.

Richton Park reports Eric Bennett (Team VRC; P/1/2): "With a very short lap, the pace was going to be high, and there was a strong chance that a breakaway could lap the field."

CyclingNews: "The bunching up of riders through some of the tight turns, coupled with sketchy riding made for some hair-raising experiences for a number of riders."

Stephen Butler (Wheelfast; 30+ 4/5): "Through squinted eyes and clenched teeth I eyeballed about 10 riders in front of me."

Hub Racing (W-P/1/2/3): "With six total up the road, Colavita was split apart for the first time this week and could only put one rider into the top five."

Julia LaFranchise (Team VRC; W-P/1/2/3): "There was a small gap on the field so I got to the front and did my best to make the break stick."

Dale Tye (Altarum Cycling; W-P/1/2/3): "Normally things come back together after a sprint as the sprinters recover from their efforts, but this time they had a reasonable gap and they kept on going!"

Chris Uberti (Panther/RGF; P/1/2): "If you're scared of bumping shoulders and chopping fields in a sprint, Superweek is not for you."

Andrew Zens (Spidermonkey Cycling; 4/5): "One guy yelled, 'You gotta hold your line, or you are gonna kill all of us,' and he couldn’t have been more dead on: This guy was gonna hurt one of us unless we dropped him off the back quick!"

Arlington Heights reports Stephen Butler (Wheelfast; 30+ 4/5): "We bunched-up riders at the back lost a lot of momentum in the turn and had to accelerate extra hard to maintain contact with the front riders."

Rob Curtis (Bicycle Heaven; 4/5, 30+ 4/5): "I'm tired. I suck. I'm too fat for this sport."

Debbie Dust (PACT/Dish Network; W-P/1/2/3): "Hammer up the bumpy gutter between turns 7 and 8, pick through the holes and sprint my guts out as soon as I saw daylight."

Adam Mills (Mercy; P/1/2): "Just being able to finish a Superweek race is an accomplishment."

Avi Neurohr (Chicago Cuttin' Crew; 4/5, 30+4/5): "I had a fantastic Italian beef sandwich and lemon ice from Johnnie's."

James Pradun (GDVC; 3): "I couldn't even sprint because everyone was blocking after bonking."

Mike Shea (Spidermonkey Cycling; 4/5): "I felt the effort but I actually felt good! But I didn’t go to the front. Why? Because I’m a dunce."

Dale Tye (Altarum Cycling; W-P/1/2/3): "There were many riders keen to breakaway so the race was very active."

Arlington Heights photos John Wilke

Bensenville reports Hub Racing (W-P/1/2/3): "The peloton took some of its hardest shots at Colavita today and for the first time, the leaders could't win the race, and the peloton made them work."

Chris Koster (XXX Racing-AthletiCo; 4/5): "We stretched it out and had the room to go into the tricky Turn 4 fast with a nice safe line."

Adam Mills (Mercy; P/1/2): "We started as all the races have started thus far. Too fast. Maybe I should warm up? Nah, what's the fun there?"

William Pankonin (XXX Racing-AthletiCo; 30+ 4/5): "Spin, breathe, spin, breathe, turn, hammer."

Tom Panton (XXX Racing-AthletiCo; 30+ 4/5): "It’s a huge sense of accomplishment when you help a teammate do well."

Dale Tye (Altarum Cycling; W-P/1/2/3): "Everyone was just really tired and that made the whole race a bit of a non-event."

• » Mike Ebert (ABD) has some good advice for surviving Superweek with body and sanity intact.
• » Help ABD raise funds to send Jessi Prinner to Russia. Prinner is now in California training with the national team.
• » Downers Grove registration is open.
• » Liam Donoghue (XXX Racing-AthletiCo) gets Markley'd.
• » Bryce Walsh (Turin), the ultracyclist who last year attempted to set the 24-hour track record at the Northbrook Velodrome, recently competed in the 325-mile, 45,000-feet-of-climbing Ride Across the Alps. His time of 30 hours, 4 minutes was good for 20th place.
• » Compliments of Doug Peterson (WDT-Allvoi), Time Trial Track Chicago. It's like CBR, but with skinsuits.
• » The best newspaper coverage of the Tour de France and Lemont's most famous son Christian Vande Velde (Garmin-Slipstream) continues to be the Chicago Tribune The New York Times, including regular diary entries from Vande Velde.
• » The Allvoi Cup continues Saturday at the Northbrook Velodrome.
• » "I'm going to Yojimbo's!"

The Superweek buzz is thus far cautiously optimistic. One can't yet set their watch by start times, but delays haven't been outrageous, and most riders I've talked to are happier with the way things are going this year.

The most positive change has been the addition of the Elgin Cycling Classic course. It was much more technical than the road races we're accustomed to, but it was a great stretch of residential road. The best part was that it was a closed-road course, which felt very pro, and the intersections were all well-marshaled. (I confess I flinched when I saw police cars at the intersections. I fully expected the klaxons to light up so we could be scolded for not riding single-file. Such is riding in the northwest suburbs.) Pavement was excellent except for the final three turns, which caused some trouble in some races, including a violent crash at the end of the 4/5's race. A hush fell as one rider walked through the crowd with what was once a bike but had become no more than a collection of parts, with tires peeled from crushed rims and chainring taco'd. Highlights from the weekend's racing:

• » After getting shut out of Friday's action, local riders fared better in the Blue Island P/1/2 race. Ryan Freund (ABD) was in a break long enough to pick up some sprint points, and then sprinter Josh Carter (ABD) won the race with a bike throw.
• » Nobody I've talked to can remember a 3's break lapping the field, but that's what happened Saturday when seven riders made it all the way around. XXX Racing-AthletiCo and WDT-Allvoi each had two riders in the break, but once the field was lapped, XXX Racing-AthletiCo was able to tap its other teammates for leadouts, leading to Peter Strittmatter winning the sprint and the race and Jacques Cartier to come in 3rd. WDT-Allvoi settled for 2nd and 4th from Ricardo Otero and Waylon Janowiak, the same pair that made the break a week before in Wood Dale.
• » Ernie Ciccolini (Van Wagner/Yojimbo's) has been campaigning for an upgrade all year. Surely he sealed the deal Saturday by winning both the 4/5's and the 30+ 4/5's. In the photo above he looks remarkably casual as the Cat 2 trackie sprints to win the latter.
• » La Grange Park's Matt Silvia (King Keyser) has an impressive dirt pedigree, but we've not seen much of him on the road. His Superweek has been notable, having placed 4th and 2nd in the 4/5's and 30+ 4/5's at Blue Island, and then 6th in Elgin.
• » Elgin's P/1/2 finish had an international flair, with only one American in the top 8. The rest hailed from South Africa, Australia, Holland and Taiwan. Saturday's winner Carter finished 9th and starts the week in 7th overall.
• » Colavita/Sutter Home is thus far having its way with the women's P/1/2/3 series. None of its three riders have finished outside the top five, and Nicky Wansgard sits atop the overall. Local rider Jeannie Kuhajek (Team Mack) is holding her own, picking up some sprint points at Blue Island and coming in 8th at Elgin.
• » Burnham Racing and XXX Racing-Athletico made up about a third of the 3's field Sunday, so once an acceptable five-man break came together as the 3's passed the women's peloton, it came together for good, building up a two-minute gap. It was Joe Bippus (South Chicago Wheelmen) who got the biggest benefit, however, launching an early sprint to drop what was left of the break, ahead of state criterium champion Jeff Wat (Burnham Racing) in 2nd.

In other Superweek news, Andy Garrison tells me he expects Rock Racing to show up Wednesday with eight riders, and he expects Mike Friedman (Garmin-Slipstream) soon too. Former national criterium champion Brad Huff (Jelly Belly) also is joining us this week after racing the Tour de Champaign. Garrison also reports that official Dave Fowkes has designed some barrier improvements at Evanston to reduce the annual crash-fests in Turns 4 and 5.

Full Blue Island results. Full Elgin results.

Blue Island reports Stephen Butler (Wheelfast; 30+ 4/5): "A rush of adrenaline took control over my tongue and I screamed, 'Gosh darn it, Endure It!'"

Jacques Cartier (XXX Racing-AthletiCo; 3): "Someone in our break jumped to the pack. That was when chaos took over."

CyclingNews: "Carter got in to prime position with the help of teammate Ryan Freund and launched his jump coming out of the final corner."

Elvis Falbo (Beverly Bike/Vee-Pak): "It was unintentional and totally not my style."

Hub Racing (W-P/1/2/3): "The Hub train came apart around the final turn as the hard charging colavita bunch came to the front."

Chris Kinonen (XXX Racing-AthletiCo; 30+ 1/2/3): "What’s the number one rule in a break? Don’t get dropped from it. This is what I kept telling myself."

Tim Yuska (Iron Cycles; 4/5): "A South Chicago Wheelmen rider was on point and did an awesome job setting a good tempo. Usually there are people swarming to the front and then hitting the brakes, not wanting to do any work once they get there."

Andrew Zens (Spidermonkey Cycling; 4/5): "Boom, another crash in front of me in the last turn. I stayed up and then I attempted to sprint to the finish."

zMotion Racing (P/1/2): "On the last lap Juan and Hector were perfectly placed for the sprint when on the second to last corner were cut off and forced them to scramble back towards the front of the peloton"

Blue Island photos Kevin Curtis John Wilke

Elgin reports John Coyle (Wolverine Sports Club; 30+ 1/2/3): "It was a race that was pretty technically and strategically sound."

Daily Herald: "'I'm really a wuss, if you want to know the truth.'"

Jim Hamman (Tower Racing; 4/5): "I wanted to make certain to be first into the first dangerous turn first and set up Ed and Don for a sprint finish. It was perfectly scripted."

Hub Racing (W-P/1/2/3): "Can Colavita sprint like this for two weeks or can Hub push them into eventual submission?"

Dave Jagee (Flatlandia; 4/5): "I decided it was all or nothing. Work my way through the crash, put my head down and start to hammer."

Adam Mills (Mercy; P/1/2): "I cramped to the point of seeing striations in my quads, then decided to be a cheerleader for the remainder."

William Pankonin (XXX Racing-AthletiCo; 30+ 4/5): "I lost my nerve as the swarm came and when I saw racers taking big risks all around me, and I gave up precious positions until I found myself in the middle of the pack."

Francisco Torralba (Team Tati; 30+ 4/5): "I joined a small group of other laggards, which always makes the penitence easier. In those situations I like to fantasize that I am in a breakaway group, escaping from an imaginary pack barely two corners behind."

John Wolters (XXX Racing-AthletiCo; 4/5): "I could hear the tires of another rider to my right so I put my head down and sprinted it out for 4th place."

Tim Yuska (Iron Cycles; 4/5): "I had a bad feeling about that turn before the race, and now I know why. I ass- and elbow-skidded until running into the curb."

Elgin photos Mark Keller

With a fan's large Australian flag flapping over the finish line, two Aussies hit the podium Firday at Superweek's opener in Beverly.

Australian national criterium champion Bernie Sulzberger (Fly V Australia) won out of a 12-man break, followed by teammate and 2008 overall winner Jonathan Cantwell in 3rd. In 2nd was Chad Burdzilauskas (Kenda), shown above launching a bridge to an early move.

Attacks started on the first lap. Eventually a 13-man break formed and lapped the field less than halfway through the 62-mile criterium. After several primes and an intermediate sprint, a second break of 12 formed, including 10 from the original break, and it built about a minute on what was left of the field. Fly V Australia had three in this second break and used its numbers to its advantage. Of the approximately 80 riders who started, no more than 35 finished. I could be wrong, but although Wisconsin riders Rob White (Geargrinder), James Stemper (Geargrinder) and Andy Crater made both breaks, I didn't spot any Chicago riders among the finishers. Rock Racing was not present, but other elite teams included Garmin-Slipstream, which sent two Dutch riders, Ricardo Van der Velde and Hans Dekkers, the latter of whom earned the red points jersey. Full results. Update: Elgin's Douglas Street Bar and Grill will be hosting OpenSprints fixed-fork roller races Sunday. These races are fun, and could be a good way to spin the post-race pain out of your legs. The restraurant is at 231 Douglas Ave., close to the start/finish.

Race reports Adam Mills (Mercy; P/1/2): "Superweek is a place where time has a different meaning, where the only time that matters is the race start time and when Noodles or Chipotle close"

Photos Luke Seemann John Wilke

It was a rough Superweek in 2008. Venues were late in being secured, and some turned out to be of questionable design. Crashes seemed endemic, many because of rider error but some because of dodgy courses. And then there was the matter of cashing those prize checks.

Some speculated that that might have been the end of Superweek, but indications are that complaints were well-taken, and in its 41st year, Superweek seems to be more on track, with experienced race directors and event producers being brought on board to help. Prominent teams aren't shying away. Rock Racing has registered eight riders, and there will also be representatives from Garmin-Slipstream, Team San Jose Hotel, Jelly Belly and Fly V Australia. Strong teams on the women's side inlclude Colavita/Sutter Home and Hub Racing. (Host housing in Chicago is sought for some of these riders.) Here is the the complete 17-day schedule. Fee-free registration closes tonight. I haven't been to every venue, but here's what I know:

Beverly (Friday, July 10) Opening night is P/1/2-only, but all cycling fans should visit this charming Chicago neighborhood and take in this stellar course. A steep hill at Turn 1 takes its toll on riders, and a screaming downhill turn sends racers down the homestretch at a frantic pace. The atmosphere is electric, the sprints are wild and this could be Chicago's most fun race to watch. Metra is close, handy for those heading straight from work.

Blue Island (Saturday, July 11) Flat rectangle. What more can be said, other than this takes place in another great neighborhood with good community support?

Elgin (Sunday, July 12) The 4/5's have already sold out and there's much excitement for Elgin, which reprises a course long ago used as a UCI juniors event. To honor that pedigree, an extra $1,000 is on the line for U-23 riders in the P/1/2 field. It's a residential route with plenty of rollers. Enough to facilitate separations? Possibly.

Richton Park (Monday, July 13) Of the courses that made their debut in 2008, this was the most acceptable. Good pavement and good turns around a suburban park.

Arlington Heights (Tuesday, July 14) A new course: Flat figure-8 with two long stretches that should allow for high speeds.

Bensenville (Wednesday, July 15) The village of Bensenville generously paved a path through a park for us to race bicycles on, but it's not ideal: The path is narrow with off-camber turns. The finish line is again on a chicane, which will allow for hundreds of nearby concertgoers to enjoy the finishing action, but it makes for a dangerous sprint. Keep your head up as you clear the line.

Lakefront, short course (Thursday, July 16) Superweek is calling this a road race, but since it's less than 5 km, I'm not sure it qualifies. In either case, it's a fun course in a great Milwaukee location that has been unavailable because of construction since 2005. There's a steep kicker on each lap. I'm a bit wary of races being run concurrently. Lap traffic would be dangerous with only one field on the course at a time, so with no more than 2 minutes separating fields, I hope officials are vigilant about pulling riders out of competition. (P/1/2's and women will race in Shorewood, Wis., in the evening.)

Tour of Holy Hill (Friday, July 17) This is Superweek's lone remaining true road race. There are a few uphill kickers, but nothing that will afford climbers much advantage. The steepest pitch comes after Waterford turns into Kettle Moraine, but it's followed by a long, straight descent that will allow laggards to catch back on. Also beware of the jokers who will drill it up the feed-zone climb. Give yourself time to scout out the uphill finish, as it’s a stretch of road that’s not covered on the rollout or the 8.1 mile course. Last year many people didn't heed this advice and were caught off-guard by the finish line and the slight incline leading up to it.

Schlitz Park (Saturday, July 18) Another Milwaukee course that's been off-limits for a few years, this one features a steep climb and fast, technical descent.

Evanston (Sunday, July 19) I'm not suggesting a conspiracy, but in this race's two-year history it has sent more than its share of riders to the sponsoring hospital. It shouldn't be a dangerous course, but all fields have been susceptible to gnarly pile-ups in two of its six corners. The first is Turn 4 as Davis turns onto Orrington. Riders on the outside have a habit of clipping the barriers in front of Hotel Orrington. Even more problematic is the famous BK Stacker in Turn 5. Here two lanes become one, and the outside curb pinches in more sharply than you expect. If you're not directly behind someone's wheel into this corner, you may be in trouble. Meanwhile, riders at the front will be taking the turns smoothly and blasting out of them, leading to a significant accordion effect in the back.

Whitnall Park, long course (Monday, July 20) Another road race in name only, this is a good, rolling closed course in a botanic garden. Races will be decided on the final climb that's followed by no more than 50 flat meters before the line. Note that since this is not a criterium, there will be no free laps.

Whitnall Park, short course (Tuesday, July 21) The action stays in the park, this time on the same course that has in the past been used as a spring criterium. It features long stairstep climbs -- I have always had success here attacking at the base of the second stairstep. The finish line is shown to be on the course's lone flat stretch, which comes after a long, curving descent. (P/1/2's race in the evening in Cedarburg, Wis.)

Lakefront, long course (Wednesday, July 22) This 4.2-mile course uses the same course as the short course, but then adds one more up-and-down for good measure. This time there are three fields on the course at one time, so once again I am hopeful that officials clear out the lap traffic, all due respect to those who paid $30 only to get popped in the first few laps.

I am not familiar with the balance of the Wisconsin schedule, but July 25's Great Downer Avenue Bike Race is always a crowd pleaser with giant primes and large turnout of spectators.

• » Tour of Elk Grove registration is open.
• » Superweek's Andy Garrison tells me that the 4/5's races at local venues, especially Elgin, Arlington Heights and Evanston, are filling up. Register online at Truesport.
• » Speaking of Superweek, winners at Cobb Park and Fox River Grove this weekend earn two free Superweek entries; P/1/2 and women's winners get five free entries. With Superweek races costing $30-$39, that's a significant bonus.
• » The Chicago Tribune wrote an obituary of Higher Gear's John Olin, including touching comments from Jeff Miller, to whom Olin donated a kidney in 2002. A ride in Olin's memory will take place Sunday at 7:30 a.m. starting at Plaza de Lago in Wilmette. At an easy, no-drop pace the ride will go up to Lake Bluff and back, about 40 miles.
• » One of the bigger events to hit the Northbrook Velodrome kicks off Saturday when the Allvoi Cup has its first stage.
• » Don't miss the New York Times photo essay of bar fighter turned bike racer Steve Marmo.
• » A reminder: Check your results on race day. Yes, even when it's wet and cold.

• » New Chicago resident Mark Swartzendruber (Verizon Wireless) is throwing Druber's 40K Time Trial Challenge Aug. 23 near Champaign. Bonuses of $50 go to anyone who can beat Swartzendruber, as well as to any man who can beat an hour "naked" -- no aero equipment. (Women get 1:05.)
• » Add the Sept. 19 Ronald Reagan Criterium in Dixon, Ill., to your calendar. (I expect hard-right turns and massive oxygen deficits.)
• » The Tour of Elk Grove won't be going through Schaumburg this year.
• » New details have been posted to the Superweek schedule. I notice that the Bensenville map indicates it will go clockwise this year, which I hope will make for a safer circuit. Also, registration is now open.
• » Mark Keller (Bicycle Heaven) has been taking some great photos and posting them at Bike Race Imaging.
• » The Judson and Turin rides appear in the second half of John Bresland's video essay "Zero Station," which celebrates the sanctuary we find on group rides. "Everyone here ... is really here."
• » More cycling, fewer injuries and fatalities. Funny how that works.
• » A history lesson from Steve Tilford (Tradewind Engergy/Trek Stores): "Up until maybe Telekom, the teams didn’t ride tempo all day. Riders raced."
• » Hoffman Estates' Fitness for America Sports Festival will include a 10K time trial July 25.
• » "You wave, we drink."

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.

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

Breakaway Event Productions on Monday announced that the Elgin Cycling Classic will be a part of Superweek in 2009 on Sunday, July 12.

Breakaway's Michael Garrison says the 5.5-mile course, including hills along the Fox River, is identical to the Four Bridges of Elgin course that was a UCI event before it was discontinued in 2003. (Here's Cyclingnews coverage of the 2003 edition.) Four Bridges was always a showcase for espoir talent, and Superweek will continue that legacy with special prizes for the top U23 riders in the P/1/2 field. Garrison also says a full Superweek schedule is imminent, and he reports that he is working out traffic issues for a possible return to the Milwaukee lakefront, where construction has precluded racing since 2005.

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.

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."

• » What we're up against: "Get On The &#$&ing Sidewalk!"
• » Don't miss Mark Swartzendruber's Superweek report.
• » Some more crash porn from the Superweek 3's.

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.

And here's the rest of the known reports and photos from the last seven days of Superweek. Reports are still trickling in, so I'll update this post as needed.

There's not much more I can add in regards to the racing, other than to congratulate the Chicago-area riders who won their series: Voytek Glinkowski (WDT-Allvoi) earned twice as many points as his nearest competitor in the masters 4/5's, Alex Smetana (Spidermonkey Cycling) took the 4/5's, and as previously mentioned, junior Jessi Prinner (ABD) won the women's 3/4's. I think she might have a future in this sport.

Tour of Holy Hill race reports Clint Carter (Ski Utah; 3): "There needs to be a lake at the finish of every hot bike race."

Aram Dellalian (Bearclaw; P/1/2): "Got pinched on the right side, and lots of swearing with Australian accents were thrust at the rider responsible for the pinch."

Sterling Magnell (Rock Racing; P/1/2): "The race got shortened to 65 miles, totally reshaping what is typically a long race of attrition into a glorified circuit race. Adding to that the finish was unmarked from any distance until you happened upon it at the crest of a hill."

Joey Rosskopf (Kudzu; P/1/2): "It actually kind of felt like my brakes were rubbing the whole race. They weren't actually, but that's how sluggish I felt."

Adrian Silva (Half Acre Cycling; 4/5): "Soon the gaps grew, my body redlined and before I knew it there was a big one, right in front of me."

Cedarburg race reports Clint Carter (Ski Utah; 3): "The speed is up, then it's down, and everybody is riding their brakes through the turns. It makes harder."

Jason Danvir (Sugar Cycles; 3): "Coming out of the last turn I was sitting about 10 back (where I wanted for an uphill sprint) and making ground quick when my rear derailleur pulley threw my chain."

Aram Dellalian (Bearclaw; P/1/2): "Alors, apres de rien de courer avance pour long temps, avec 10 tours avant de arrive, un petit group de quatre courers gagne une minute sur le peleton."

Alex Smetana (Spidermonkey Cycling; 4/5): "He clipped his pedal coming out of the turn and with some nervous grace, I slipped through the 6 or so inches between his head and the curb."

Cedarburg photos Clint Carter Extreme Photography John Wilke

Whitnall Park race reports Jason Danvir (Sugar Cycles; 3): "I felt good about my legs and managed a good move up the last climb but got pinched and was forced to give way (not crash) only to accelerate again and hold on for 13th."

Aram Dellalian (Bearclaw; P/1/2): "Slowly moved up, and kept it near the jersey for the final few laps. He's a good draft, and you know he's obligated to be at the finish mix, so it works out well."

James Pradun (Endeavour; 3): "I covered more attacks than I probably should have. I finally got sick of it near the end, and the next attack that went wound up sticking. Damn."

Mike Shea (Spidermonkey Cycling; 4/5): "I really didn’t actively race this one. It felt like no one really did. I sat in. I played it safe. There were no attacks, few surges. Everyone pedaled along with an understanding."

Whitnall Park photos Extreme Photography Dana Melanz John Wilke

Racine race reports Jonathan Cantwell (Jittery Joe's; P/1/2): "Rock Racing were out to brake the field apart from the gun and to have Magnell Sterling try and form a breakaway without me in it. Again the boys did a great job and we did not let anything dangerous go up the road."

Jason Danvir (Sugar Cycles; 3): "We snaked the entire field and I was able to hold out for 3rd across the line in the field sprint. Good day!"

Aram Dellalian (Bearclaw; P/1/2): "I see an opening on the inside and, chop or not, dove into it. Normal stuff. BUT! The big former jersey wearer went even further inside and I had to slam the brakes or take us both down. Dicey, at best."

Racine phoos Judith Pannozo John Rowland John Wilke

Kenosha race reports Jason Danvir (Sugar Cycles; 3): "Wreck after wreck, people cutting corners, cutting wheels, coming unclipped (cause of 2 separate wrecks) and just being ignorant. To add insult to injury they were going to the wheel pit, taking their free lap and jumping back in to cause more damage."

Aram Dellalian (Bearclaw; P/1/2): "I rolled in probably with a top 10 in the field sprint, but too many breakaway mates were in the mix as well. 48 km/h. Most probably the fastest crit I've ever done/seen."

Angelo DiGiovine (Active Athlete/Squadra Ovest; 3): "I think I did some kind of Superman flying move into the metal barriers."

Sterling Magnell (Rock Racing; P/1/2): "If I run second overall in the race, I'm going to do it in style. I'm very proud of the riding I've been doing from the beginning. No one else has had more challenges come their way. I've had a target on my back the entire time and I'm stilling putting it to them every time I line up."

Matt Smith (Vitaminwater-Trek; 3): "I had plenty of spark left, and was simply waiting for a hole, waiting, waiting. Finally I had daylight to the line and I shot through."

Kenosha photos Dana Melanz John Rowland John Wilke

Downer Avenue race reports Denny Yunk (CZ Velo; 3): "Playing it safe through the corners put me at the back of the field pretty quickly. I stayed there until guys started popping off the back, requiring me to accelerate around them."

Aram Dellalian (Bearclaw; P/1/2): "Wyoming's finest, Adrian Geritts (La Grange), hit the deck hard. I was twowheels back, on the inside, and luckily he fell to the outside. I saw sparks, and jussst missed his rear wheel. Had legs, but lost the nerve to make the jump, and followed wheels to finish 11th."

Brian Morrissey (XXX Racing-AthletiCo; 4): "Just as I cracked, Chris Padfield joined the spearhead of it and off he went. I just got spit out the back like shit through a goose."

Chris Padfield (Team Pegasus; 4/5): "I was hurting, as I should be, as I accelerated out of the second turn and snapped a quick glance back. It didn't look good."

Scott Peterson (Team Wheaton; 3): "I assumed I could determine who was or wasn't going to be a problem so I threw down my money like a deep-in-the-hole drunk at a Vegas roulette table."

Downer Avenue photos Paul Matsushima Julie Pusateri John Rowland Brooks Taggert John Wilke

Whitefish Bay race reports Chad Hartley (Jittery Joe's; P/1/2): "Don’t get between an Aussie and his beer!"

Sterling Magnell (Rock Racing; P/1/2): "I'm happy and disspointed at the same time. It gives me a lot of motivation to go home and work hard to improve my riding."

Whitefish Bay photos John Rowland John Wilke Runaway Wind

No details yet, but Superweek has already updated the results to reflect Sunday's action.

Jairo Perez Suarez (Colombia) won, his second of the series after winning the second day of Bensenville. Jonathan Cantwell (Jittery Joe's) finished well ahead of Sterling Magnell (Rock Racing) to secure the overall title. Meanwhile, Rahsaan Bahati appears to have been a no-show for the fourth consecutive day came up empty in the sprints after a break got away and devoured most of the available points, enabling Chad Hartley (Jittery Joe's) to run away with the sprints title. Alex Voitik (Turin) finished 4th to wrap up the 3's overall title, and Jessi Prinner (ABD) came in 3rd in the final women's 3/4's race, giving the South Elgin junior the overall title. Full wrap-up to come.

Rock Racing let its legs do the talking at Downer Avenue on Saturday with Justin Williams winning the $7,000 prime -- the largest prime in American racing -- and then Sterling Magnell winning the race to get within 3 points of Jonathan Cantwell (Jittery Joe's) for the overall. Rahsaan Bahati (Rock Racing) took another day off and it now looks doubtful that he can win the sprints competition, with Chad Hartley (Jittery Joe's) leading by 18 points.

Update: CyclingNews has a full report. Chicago's Chris Padfield won the 4's race, and Alex Voitik (Turin) and Matt Hebard (GS Boulder) went 1-2 in the 3's, which is also where they stand in the overall. Jessi Prinner (ABD) won the women's 3/4's and now leads by 4 points.

With two days of Superweek left, things are getting tense up in Wisconsin.

Yet another Colombian won in Kenosha Friday -- Juan Pablo Forero Carreno, the fourth from the squad to do so this Superweek -- but the real action is for the overall, where current leader Jonathan Cantwell (Jittery Joe's) and Sterling Magnell (Rock Racing) have stopped being polite and started being real. Check out this CyclingNews report or this race report from Aram Dellalian (Bearclaw) for all the drama. Sprints leader Rahsaan Bahati (Rock Racing) took two days off for a wedding and has now lost the red jersey again to Chad Hartley (Jittery Joe's), who leads by 4 points. The CyclingNews story reports a clever tactical move, in which with a large break up the road Friday, Jittery Joe's intentionally slowed the field so that the break would lap, thus giving Hartley a chance to pick up points. Same old, same old in the 3's: A horrendous crash took down several riders in the final sprint Friday. My eyes on the ground, John Wilke of Peloton Pix, says three ambulances were required. Meanwhile, Chicago's Matt Smith (Vitaminwater-Trek) won just inches ahead of Turin's Alex Voitik (above). It's now a three-man race for the overall, with Voitik leading by 4 points over Matt Hebard (GS Boulder) and Tomasz Boba (WDT-Allvoi). (Myself, I was registered for what should be a thrilling day on Downer Avenue today, but with the way the 3's have been riding, I'm not confident about getting through those tight corners without major incident. I'll be taking the day off.) In women's 3/4 racing, South Elgin's Jessi Prinner hasn't won since Evanston, but she's been racking up the points and now leads the overall by 1 point.

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.

I don't have time to write a full wrap-up, but the news from Wisconsin is that the Colombians have won two in a row. Carlos Alzate won out of a four-man break Tuesday in Cedarburg, and then last night at Whitnall Park, Juan Esteban Caruzjul took a two-lap flier and held it for the win.

The major development, however, is that Jonathan Cantwell (Jittery Joe's) came in 2nd, giving him a one-point lead in the overall and the yellow jersey that Sterling Magnell (Rock Racing) has worn since winning two weeks ago in Beverly. "I can only imagine what Rock has in store for me in the next few days," Cantwell writes in his blog, "but they better realize that I'm an Aussie and we are built tough!" Magnell's rejoinder: a picture of a dollar bill on a toilet seat. The next few days should be exciting. The only other result I'm aware of comes from the 3's race in Whitnall Park, where Robert Quinn (Unattached) picked up his second victory of Superweek won the field sprint behind a solo flier from Paul Beyer (WWVC).

• » Longtime cyclist and masters racer Paul Sorenson (The Bike Shop) of Aurora died Friday after an unexplained crash while training in Ohio. Visitation will be Thursday from 4 to 8 p.m. at the Frederich-Jones Funeral Home, 44 South Mill St., Naperville.
• » More sad news: ABD member Jon Flick was seriously injured in a car accident his month. ABD is organizing a July 30 ride to raise funds to help him out.
• » It's been hard not to notice the Attack Cycles wheels the Rock Racing lads have sported during Superweek. This is a new venture from Rahsaan Bahati, who jokes in this CyclingNews profile that the "bling-bling" wheels are "for the people who like to spend money but don't really go that fast."
• » The Chicagoland Bicycle Federation will have a members-only viewing section at Sunday's Chicago Criterium. Bring your member card for entry.
• » Rising gas prices confirm what we've known all along: Driving less saves lives.
• » Another suspicion confirmed: Bicycles are useful for chasing down evil-doers.

OK, fellow report dorks, I've populated the Evanston wrap-up with all the reports and photo galleries I'm aware of. Go crazy.

The Cat 3 crash video is proving to be an Internet sensation. Its star -- the Bikes To You rider who hits the deck, gets up and is then slammed from behind -- has raced both days since Evanston and seems to be enjoying his new celebrity. Quick updates from up north: A long delay shaved a few laps from Cat 3 and P/1/2 road races at Holy Hill, but otherwise people seemed happy to be away from the crit courses. If ever there were a race to scout the finish, this was it, as the .4-mile, uphill finishing stretch caught both amateur and pro riders by surprise. In the pro race, a small group slipped away late. It included representatives from both Kelly Benefit Strategies and Rock Racing as well as Frank Pipp (Health Net), making his Superweek debut, but it was Ryan Roth (Team Race) who held a gap from the corner all the way to the line to take the win. The Cedarburg course was also a welcome one: safe, hilly and fun. It even ran mostly on schedule. The 3's were scheduled to do 35 miles but did 38 -- serving your correspondent right for only packing one energy gel. Chicago-area riders doing well included Alex Smetana (Spidermonkey Cycling), who won the 4/5's race in a sprint, and Alex Voitik (Turin), one of this Superweek's revelations, who halfway through the race was somehow able to form a break faster than you can say, "Dude, that's a dangerous move." He and fellow tough guy Matt Hebard (GS Boulder) rode two others off their wheels before Hebard took the win in the two-up sprint.

The directions in the race announcement are incorrect for Wednesday's race in Whitnall Park. Do not follow them unless you've been dying to visit Green Bay, Wis. Instead, follow instructions to this address. Also, the Racine course has been slightly altered. Says official Carl Wilkins: "The 15-foot-wide turn lane onto State Street will not be used. The race course is the same except we will be turning onto 3rd Street instead of State Street." Finally, Wilkins reports an item of "significant value" was found at Holy Hill. Find him if you know what it is and it is yours.

Crashes were again the main story Sunday when Superweek returned to the Chicago area in Evanston.

With the exception of the masters race and the women's P/1/2/3, every race on the day was suspended at least once while medics tended to fallen riders, and all races were abbreviated. Is it any wonder this race is sponsored by a hospital? In the P/1/2, Turn 4 proved to be the trouble spot. The first serious crash took out Proctor winner Matt Busche (IS Corp), sending him to the hospital with deep cuts on his face. The second happened with five laps to go with Tuesday's masters winner Daniel Carruthers (Hansaton Hearing Systems) hitting the deck hard. It was a scary crash, but he would eventually jump back in to finish the race and even finish in the money. Racing was suspended each time. During the pauses, I noticed series leader Sterling Magnell (Rock Racing), clad in custom yellow shorts to match his jersey and knee warmers to cover his bandages, roll up to check on the injured riders and offer supportive words. Classy move, I say. After the final crash, the race was reset with 10 laps to go in order to give riders a chance to warm back up before going for some big primes. Soon a three-man break formed that included Wednesday's solo winner Jairo Perez Suarez (Colombia), Tommy Nankervis (DLP) and Friday's winner Peter Dawson (Rock Racing), who finished 5th out of a break here in 2007. Dawson must be getting some sprinting lessons from his new teammates because he easily took both the $600 crowd prime and the final sprint for the win. Rock Racing would thus go home with all three jerseys: white for the stage, yellow for Magnell's overall lead and red for Rahsaan Bahati, who continued to pad his lead in the sprints competition. Magnell and Bahati are positioned well to take the $1,500 prize for top overall and the $2,000 prize for sprint points. However, the pro race announcement states that riders must race on July 27 in order to be eligible for these prizes. Many of us have been expecting Rock Racing to be racing the $25,000 Chicago Criterium that day. Will Bahati and Magnell have to forfeit their prizes in order to show up on Chicago's JumboTrons? Or will they be compelled to stay in Wisconsin and race in Whitefish Bay instead? As for the women, the P/1/2/3 series wrapped up with Verducci/Breakaway taking home both the stage and the overall behind sprinter Theresa Cliff-Ryan, who ended the week as she started it, winning a bunch sprint. Debbie Dust (Team Kenda Tire) and Devon Haskell (Team Get a Grip Cycles) were your top Chicago finishers, getting 5th and 9th respectively. Back to the crashing. As far as I know, the women P/1/2/3's was the only race without a crash. The women's 3/4's were not as lucky. Jessi Prinner (ABD) was well off the front when Tamara Fraser (XXX Racing-AthletiCo) took a hard spill in Turn 4. Prinner was allowed to take the win uncontested, and the rest of the women raced two laps for 2nd place. The 4/5's and 4's races were surprisingly clean in their early trips through Turn 5, the notorious BK Stacker. About halfway through the 4/5's race, the day's first race, two riders off the back became its first victims. One of them continued to lie there as the pace car came around followed by a five-man break that had formed in the first few laps. Its leader at the time, Nick Gierman (Vitaminwater-Trek) plowed into the downed Northwestern rider, who now had a chainring-shaped gash across his back to complement his road rash. The race was then halted. When it resumed, Gierman jumped back in and the break was awarded its estimated gap. Chris Padfield (Team Pegasus) and Ryan Freund (IIT) snuck away from the break. They did so so sneakily, they apparently escaped the attention of the officials, who failed to give them a bell with one to go. Thus, on what should have been their final lap, they rolled through casually, confusing anyone who was paying attention. If this were indeed the final lap, Freund would have had an uncontested victory. Instead, they continued to roll for one more lap, and this time they sprinted for it, with Padfield crossing the line first. Freund would have had a good case for a protest, but he did the sporting thing and instead jumped straight into the 4's race. This race would be unlucky for him again as he would bloody his nose getting caught up in one of that race's crashes at the Stacker. They day's most violent crash may have come in the 3's race. Two riders tangled about 50 meters from the finish line. High-speed pileups ensued with bikes, wheels and bodies flying through the air and down the road, as captured here in video form and here in still photography. Meanwhile, Tomasz Boba (WDT-Allvoi) escaped the carnage and won his fourth race of the series. Just about anyone who finished behind him was just happy to have gotten through the minefield unscathed. But aside from the crashes, Mrs. Lincoln, how was the racing? Fast and fun, and Evanston was again a fantastic host. After two years of mayhem in Turns 4 and 5, however, it may well be time to rethink this course. Turn 7 at Downers Grove is the only other corner I can think of that causes this much trouble. Downtown Evanston is the perfect spot for a bicycle race, but perhaps there can be a different route that's just as exciting and spectator-friendly but safer for everyone. Backing up a day, it was a wet one up in Waukesha. Only about 30 finished the P/1/2 race, finishing a day that got started after a long delay after a set-up truck had to be towed from the course. CyclingNews credits a late $1,000 prime with setting the table for Spencer Beamer (DLP), who attacked out of a break as the sprinters stood up with three to go. (If that name rings a bell, it may mean you've been perusing my Flickr photos. Here's a photo of Beamer demolishing the juniors field in 2005 at the beloved Tour of Alpine Valley.)

Waukesha race reports CyclingNews: "A $1,000 cash prime resulted in disorganization and hesitation in the large breakaway group, allowing opportunist Spencer Beamon (DLP Racing) to get one of the biggest wins of his career with a brave solo move."

Sterling Magnell (Rock Racing; P/1/2): "I woke up feeling like I'd been hit by a Mack truck. I've never really messed my face up before like this and it's oh so strange."

James Pradun (Endeavour; 3): "The guy in front of me sat up from complete exhaustion and opened up a huge gap. By the time I closed it, I had 2 seconds to recover for the sprint."

Waukesha photos CycleSage John Wilke

Evanston race reports ABD/Geargrinder (P/1/2): "The officials restarted Jeff Schroetlin with a small gap but didn't give one to the other riders. With a fresh field behind him, his solo move lasted approximately two blocks."

Charles Biro (Team Get a Grip Cycles; 3): "I narrowly squeaked by the carnage, improving three places from people crashing out in front of me."

Brian Boyle (Vitaminwater-Trek; P/1/2): "I did something I've never done in any criterium at any level after being dropped: I chased back on. I couldn't believe I actually made it back into the field."

Clint Carter (Ski Utah; 3): "A rider hit the deck close to my line and a bike was flying through the air right at me. I didn't know if I was going to make it or not."

Gary Chioda (Tower Racing; 4): "Sure enough guys to my inside go down. I can feel the breeze from the rider next to me as he hits. I manage to keep cool and not overcorrect. I made it through."

Newt Cole (XXX Racing-AthletiCo; 4): "All around me was absolute carnage. I felt like I was in the eye of a Hurricane as a clinic of bad bike handling was on display."

Jason Danvir (Sugar Cycles; 3): "We went from 18 to go to 14 to go after the restart. This caused a large portion of the field to lose their minds!"

Aram Dellalian (Bearclaw; P/1/2): "Midway between Turns 4 and 5 there was a bit of a lull in the pace, and I attacked. Hard. Went into Turn 5 almost too fast, but I had a gap! Rounded the final turn first. Just me, thousands of people, and massive noise from all angles. I didn't dare look back. What a feeling."

Debbie Dust (Team Kenda Tire; W-P/1/2/3): "Things were fast but safe. I only had someone's shift lever shoved into my ass once, so that's pretty good."

Tamara Fraser (XXX Racing-AthletiCo; 3): "When another racer swung across my line in a corner, I touched my brake -- my front brake -- probably harder than I needed to. D'oh! I went over the handlebars and landed on my chin and chest."

Nick Gierman (Vitamanwater-Trek; 4/5, 4): "I got to send a huge thanks out to the medial crew as they were definitely on top of their game today.

Jeff Holland (XXX Racing-AthletiCo; 3): "My body actually goes inside the barrier, shoulder first, and I come to a screeching halt and fall on the curb."

Damon Nelson (Beverly Bike/Vee-Pak; 4/5, 4): "The team was really starting to steamroll the course and were picking up plenty of places until the race was stopped with eight to go. After the riders were peeled off the pavement in the infamous BK Stacker, the race was lined up for a third time."

Chris Padfield (Team Pegasus; 4/5, 4): "Another wreck or three after this I mentally called it quits. Enough. I no longer had the legs to make it back up to the front nor the will."

Jason Ludtke (Team Pegasus; 4/5): "Holy cripes, this was ridiculous! I stuck with the group for a while but got nerves and fell off the rear at the end of lap five."

Sterling Magnell (Rock Racing; P/1/2): "Made for an odd outing but we maintained and are focusing on tomorrow now."

Seth Meyer (XXX Racing-AthletiCo; P/1/2): "I enter the turn and I see 10 guys on the ground in front of me. I brake hard and swerve to make my way around."

Joey Rosskopf (Kudzu; P/1/2): "I was on the wheel of the guy who wrecked. He took the corner too wide and might have been blinded by the bright setting sun and ended up running into the outside curb/barrier, which sent his bike flying up and back out onto the road right in front of me! I kind of ducked and swerved to avoid the back half of his bike."

Mike Shea (Spidermonkey Cycling; 4/5): "Instant frustration. And the chase group? I guess we didn’t exist. Chase eliminated."

Mike Sherer (Alderfer Berger; P/1/2): "It was a blast getting to race 100 feet from my condo. The race went great for me. I felt amazing and was probably the best I have ever felt on my bike."

Tom Thiesen (Endeavour; 3): "If you find that you are not physically capable of ducking and covering, whatever you do, do not stand up and start walking around without looking what's coming."

Tati Cycles (4/5, W-3/4): "Jesse Williams is off the front, leading Liam Bradshaw out. The field is now completely strung out. Jesse dumps Liam off at the BK Stacker, who takes two hot corners and a long sprint solo and just edges out an xXx rider for the win."

Jeff Wat (Vitaminwater-Trek; 3): "I worked really hard to get to where I was on the last lap and throughout the race and a bit of poor bike handling at 30+ mph did me in along with a few other riders."

Evanston photos Carolyn Golz: 3, 4, 4/5, 30+ and 40+, W-3/4 Eric Harper Jason Knauff Paul Matsushima Julie Pusateri Luke Seemann Pupila Quadrada Matt Smith Ed White John Wilke

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.

Bensenville residents went to a concert Wednesday night and a bicycle race broke out.

And what a race it was. Announcers cajoled dozens of music fans out of their lawn chairs to come watch Jairo Perez Suarez (Colombia) wrap up an amazing solo break from the men's P/1/2 field. He was off by himself for about 25 of the race's 80 laps. Several tried to bridge, including hard efforts from ABD/Geargrinder, but none got more than halfway across. This wasn't Suarez' only solo effort: He successfully stayed off the front of the field on Tuesday to capture 9th place after the break had lapped the field. Rahsaan Bahati (Rock Racing) won out of that break after attacking early and lapping the field with seven others. Wednesday his team's attentions seemed to be on the points competition and defending its overall lead. Bahati had had his sprints leader jersey taken from him before the race because of what had been discovered to be a misallocation of points. The jersey thus passed to Chad Hartley (Jittery Joe's). During the race, Hartley and Bahati were always close, shadowing each other like sumo wrestlers before a grapple, but it was Rock Racing, operating with a full squad, that manhandled most of the points sprints, and the points leadership passed back to Bahati. Sterling Magnell (Rock Racing) finished 3rd on the day to retain the overall lead. Other highlights from the rest of this week's Chicago races:

• » As cyclists we talk a lot about courage. Usually it involves an improbable attack or a difficult time trial. We have so much courage, we like to think, that we carry it around in suitcases. No more will I hold this delusion. Tuesday we witnessed true courage when trained spectators leapt into action to save the life of Jim Scott. There was no hesitation. Thinking was quick, actions swift.
• » Firefighter Tony Rienks (Beverly Bike/Vee-Pak) was one of the heroes who gave first aid. Wednesday, he showed his mettle on the bike, getting a well-deserved victory in the 4/5's race.
• » Richton Park was a well-received course, aside from an egging in the 3's race. Bensenville? Not so much. Technical is one thing. Unnecessarily dangerous is another. Uneven pavement in Turn 3 caused multiple accidents on Tuesday; to our relief it was paved overnight. (Thank you, Bensenville.) An off-camber turn on the chicane struck me as dodgy, and I was surprised to see only one rider wipe out there. The biggest problem, however, was the finish, which was positioned on the snaking stretch of new pavement in order to be near the park's bandshell. USA Cycling's rulebook gives these specifications for road races: "The finishing area should be at least eight meters wide and be adequately protected so as to prevent spectators from running into the street. The last 200 meters should be free of turns and curves." Assuming that this applies to criteriums as well (which it apparently does not; the national championships in Downers Grove finish a mere 150 meters from the final corner, after all): 1. Promoters have said the path is 25 feet. If that's accurate, that's less than 8 meters. 2. The last 200 meters was decidedly not free of turns or curves. 3. It seems painfully obvious that the chute out of the finish should be free of curves, too. Cyclists are utterly exhausted at the end of our sprints, and if we throw, it's difficult to steer safely. Only one crash occurred at the finish line, but it was catastrophic, and there were many more close calls.
• » All that said, Bensenville was once again a cordial host. And knowing the generous and expensive work the village did in order to construct this course, I don't mean to be ungrateful when I make these observations. I hope Superweek can return for years and years to come.
• » Not many pros have shown up for the women's pro tour, but many of the country's top amateur squads are here. Three locals to root for are Jessi Prinner (ABD), Debbie Dust (Team Kenda Tire) and Kristen Meshberg (Flatlandia). Meshberg is easy to spot: Just look for her omnipresent grin.
• » Between sprinting and time trialing, most of us have to choose but one. At Blue Island, Tomasz Boba (WDT-Allvoi) showed the 3's that he can hold his own in a field sprint, getting 2nd in the field. Sunday in Olympia Fields, he proved he can time-trial, single-handedly holding off the field for the final 10 laps. On Wednesday in Bensenville, he proved that he can do both in the same Herculean effort. With just a few laps to go, he easily jumped across to a dangerous three-man break. Just as that break got absorbed at the final turn, Boba launched a ferocious sprint and held off a charging Robert Quinn (Unattached), who himself has proven this week that neither his time trial nor his sprint are to be trifled with. He sprinted to win a three-up sprint Tuesday in Bensenville, and he came in third out of the break on Saturday.
• » Kiwi Daniel Carruthers (Hansaton Hearing Systems) rode to a long solo victory in Wednesday's 30+ 1/2/3 race. If he does it again, be sure to wave your hands rather than clap to show your appreciation: Carruthers is deaf. (He depends on a flag to know when the bell lap is.)
• » Joe Bippus (South Chicago Wheelmen) is off to a great start: In the first four races of Superweek, he landed two 4ths, a 2nd and a victory in the 4's.
• » Forgive me for being braggy, but I'm proud of my teammates in the lower categories. Both Monday and Tuesday saw XXX Racing-AthletiCo riders going on successful solo attacks late in the 4/5's races: Sean Piper in Richton Park, Dave Moyer in Bensenville. Then on Wednesday in Bensenville's 30+ 4/5's, Jeff Holland outsprinted the formidable Voytek Glinkowski (WDT-Allvoi), who had come in 1st and 2nd the previous two days.
• » Chicago's Spidermonkey squad should feel good about themselves, too. They've accumulated 11 top-five finishes in the lower-category races.
• » Many people have noticed the smaller fields in the 4's, 4/5's and 30+ 4/5's. I don't think attendance is necessarily down. Keep in mind that in previous years there has only been a 4/5's field with the occasional masters race. Last year, most of the Chicago-area 4/5's races, which were all held on weekends, filled up. So now instead of a crowded 75-man field, we have three fields of 20 to 30 riders. I don't think it's a bad thing. This has kept these races safer, and with the 4/5's races serving as proxy 5's races, more riders have a chance to be competitive within their own ability levels. My only surprise is that more riders aren't doubling up, either because the races are scheduled back-to-back or because they are scheduled to be longer than we're used to.

Full Superweek results.

Richton Park race reports ABD/Geargrinder (P/1/2): "With only three riders it was difficult to cover every move and a couple of times it looked like the team would only have stories about the one that got away, but then Zach Watson bridged across to a large group."

Rahsaan Bahati (Rock Racing; P/1/2): "After a number of attacks, a group of eight guys slipped away and we had the youngster Justin Williams there."

Taggert Brooks (CZ Velo; 30+ 1/2/3): "tTey had better numbers when the field was together. Why would they block for one teammate in a break of 10 when they had nearly 20 percent of the remaining field?"

CyclingNews: "With one lap to go it was all green and gold of Kelly Benefit on the front -- but not far behind were the Texas Roadhouse riders waiting to crash the party."

Aram Dellalian (Bearclaw; P/1/2): "Major props to perennial 'sit in and sprint' guy Justin Williams (Rock Racing) for getting up the road and lapping the field. Never seen him attack, let alone lap the field. Bravo, guy."

Kudzu (P/1/2): "The race started off faster than a blitzkrieg as we averaged 412 watts for the first 15 minutes."

Sterling Magnell (Rock Racing; P/1/2): "I'm on this like you wouldn't believe. I'm scared, I'm nervous. I've been getting support from every angle and I feel like I'm on a razors edge. It feels good. I feel compelled. This is big for me."

John Meyers (ABD/Geargrinder; P/1/2): "Superweek races are way better than 9 out of 10 regional races. Fast people show up. The races are hard, and hard men do well."

James Pradun (Endeavour; 3): "Someone started throwing eggs at the riders in the Cat 3 field. Two guys got hit in the head and shoulder. WTF?"

Joey Rosskopf (Kudzu; P/1/2): "Having already made the mistake of letting one break slip away today, no one in the bunch wanted to let it happen again."

Richton Park photos CyclingNews

Bensenville Tuesday race reports ABD/Geargrinder (P/1/2): "Although this was the fifth day in a now of racing for many riders, the attacks started once again from the gun."

Rahsaan Bahati (Rock Racing; P/1/2): "Back to business and with a very technical course, I did what Justin did the day before and lapped the field very, very early in the race."

Beverly Bike/Vee-Pak (30+ 4/5): "In the 4/5 with seven laps to go around an easy left turn half the lead pack went down."

CyclingNews: "All looked set for a two-up sprint when a moment of inattention over a dodgy corner by Katie Weber (WebCor) sent her to the ground with 10 laps to go."

Debbie Dust (Team Kenda Tire; W-P/1/2/3): "It was definitely a good race: difficult, sometimes twitchy, but that's just part of criterium racing."

Jeff Holland (XXX Racing-AthletiCo; 30+ 4/5): "Brian Morrissey and I were ready for a breakaway when the time presented itself, but nothing really stuck in the wind."

Nate Iden (Spidermonkey Cycling; 4): "Why did they have to change the Superweek course n Bensenville? Last year's course was kick'ass, and it was right in the village next to the greatest deli in the Chicagoland area, Mario's."

Karla Kingsley (Easton/ Sugar CRM/ Specialized; W-P/1/2/3): "I was grateful to have my break companion back with me, and we got down to business working together again."

Kudzu (P/1/2): "The slightest gap on this course could spell disaster, as the pace stayed high on the long straights and especially out of the turns."

Sterling Magnell (Rock Racing; P/1/2): "[Bahati] cleaned up like a formality with a little trackie split to the right while everybody was looking at their shoes. He won by four bike lengths. Ha."

Brian Morrissey (XXX Racing-AthletiCo; 30+ 4/5): "The last thing I remember before realizing that I was on the grass with a torn skinsuit was thinking, as I was hurtling towards a barrier, 'Oh, shit.'"

James Pradun (Endeavour; 3): "I was probably 8th position as someone a few bikes ahead of me took the turn too hot and slid out. The guy on my inside panicked to avoid the crash, swung right, and rode me right into a rock garden."

Joey Rosskopf (Kudzu; P/1/2): "With expert timing, as soon as Oscar saw me surrender to the charging field, he jumped off the front, and within the next lap or two he joined the group already off the front."

Jeff Schroetlin (ABD/Geargrinder; P/1/2): "Hence, a semi-gianormous bunch of impatient over-achievers pedaling faster than the rest of us, went on ahead and, apparently missing the security of the general population, ended up pedaling all the way around to the tail end of the main mob from which they pedaled so feverishly to escape. Nice work, geniuses."

Team Tati (4/5): "Early attacks meant that the speed was very high for a one hour, lower-category crit."

Bensenville Tuesday photos Luke Seemann

Bensenville Wednesday race reports Beverly Bike/Vee-Pak (30+ 4/5): "Tony attacked and was able to hang on for the victory in front of the gentelmanly Nate Gayesky from xXx by four bike lengths."

CyclingNews: "The Colombians are always floating on the front of the field, looking for cash primes and any opportunity they can use."

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): "When a rider in front of you pulls off at 30 mph it makes it very difficult to close the gap, thus it usually means you are in a spot of bother."

Jeff Holland (XXX Racing-AthletiCo; 30+ 4/5): "I’ve never seen such unselfish and committed teamwork as I did today from my teammates Chris Sherpitis and William Pankonin."

Sterling Magnell (Rock Racing; P/1/2): "The only thing we couldn't control was this one Colombian who is riding otherwordly."

James Pradun (Endeavour; 3): "Losing positions sucked, but luckily there was no crash this time and the long sprint started from the last turn."

Joey Rosskopf (Kudzu; P/1/2): "Attacks had started once again, and I was only jumping on the stuff that had Rock guys in it."

Chris Sherpitis (XXX Racing-AlthetiCo; 4/5): "My vainglorious hope was that I could lift the pace even higher on the backstretch of the last lap so that nobody could attack or at least not with great speed."

Matt Smith (Vitaminwater-Trek; 3): "We weren't flying, but it was fast enough for that muggy day. With six or seven to go, I started checking the lap counter. Not a good sign."

Bensenville Wednesday photos Chris Carter: W-P/1/2/3, P/1/2, 3 Luke Seemann

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.

We have our first Superweek crash porn, compliments of Tricia Smith.

It's impossible to tell exactly what led to what in this sprint from Sunday's Cat 3 race, but here we have Chris Hurst (Baraboo Sharks) unclipping and falling into Matt Hebard (GS Boulder). Hurst ends up completely on one side of his bike, briefly defying gravity before hitting the ground. Hebard stays upright but hits his arm hard on the barricade. Hebard placed 4th, Hurst 5th. The uncropped photo series starts here. Hebard's initial self-diagnosis was a broken arm, but that proved not to be the case. In fact, he was back in action Monday in Richton Park. Perhaps in an attempt to stay as far away from other riders as possible, he created a huge solo lead in the first 10 laps. He would get caught but after recovering, he successfully got off the front again with about 10 laps to go, this time with Brian Moritz (Bikes To You). Together they built a huge lead, and it was Moritz sprinting out of the final corner for the victory. There were palpable sighs of relief as riders showed up in Richton Park and found the race much safer and enjoyable than Sunday's course in Olympia Fields. Let's hope Bensenville delivers as well. Full wrap-up to come later. Richton Park P/1/2 results. Richton Park W-P/1/2/3 results.

There's been some outstanding early racing at Superweek, but the biggest story so far has been the course for Sunday's Olympia Club Criterium.

A protruding manhole cover was unable to be patched safely, so the course was shortened from the planned 6-corner .6 mile to a 4-corner .5 mile through a development of mostly vacant monster homes. In addition, a raised lip of concrete lined the gutters of the unfinished streets: deep enough to take you out, but shallow enough so that you forget it's there. Andy Daley (Vitaminwater-Trek) likened it to a giant game of Operation: Touch the sides, game over. These gutters, a tricky Turn 3 and a strong, swirling wind -- and no doubt some dodgy handling -- resulted in a series of hard, bone-breaking crashes in the closing laps of the Cat 3 race. That field started with 60 riders. Officials and organizers were thus wary of unleashing more than a hundred P/1/2's on the course. A chaotic riders meeting was convened at 5:15 p.m., a half-hour before the scheduled start. The issues were presented, and various solutions were proposed, including splitting the field into two heats, running a shorter race or canceling the race altogether. (More than one wag suggested a miss-and-out for what was essentially a 800m velodrome. Match sprints and madisons were also mentioned.) At one point, announcer Eddie van Guyse took a straw poll of who wanted to cancel the race. The photo above shows Rahsaan Bahati (Rock Racing) registering his vote.
Guyse: "Is that your hand, Rahsaan?"
Bahati: "That's both my hands -- and my bike!" It was a tense yet almost comical 20 minutes. In the end, riders who wanted to bow out were offered credits or refunds. Most local amateurs took advantage of the offer, reducing the field by about a third. I couldn't stay for the entire race, but I watched as the first few laps passed without incident. The riders lined out at a scorching pace but took the corners smoothly. And it resembled a miss-and-out after all, with about one rider getting popped and pulled on each lap. Later, multiple crashes would take place in Turn 3, a fast, sharp and bumpy corner. With about 30 of the 80 laps to go, a group of four had formed, including ABD/Geargrinder riders Zach Watson and Josh Carter, who counterattacked following an intermediate sprint. With 16 to go, however, a serious crash suspended the race while an ambulance was brought in. The break was restarted with a half-lap lead, and then Watson, an expat member of the squad living in Boulder, Colo., led out Carter for the win. Other notes from the first weekend of Superweek, with the caveat that my commentary is somewhat hamstrung by the fact that few results have been posted:

• » Rock Racing took another bite out of Superweek Saturday with Bahati winning and Friday's winner Sterling Magnell taking 3rd and keeping the lead in the overall.
• » Team Tati picked up the first victory in its short history with Liam Bradshaw sprinting to win Saturday's 4/5's in Blue Island after a late Wild Card flier was reeled in with one to go. The downstate Wild Card squad, another new team in orange, still managed to put riders in 2nd and 3rd. Many have wondered how Team Tati's retro wool jerseys are holding up in the heat: "The Ibex wool is great," Patrick Myers reports. "Really no problem at all. I did a 200k brevet in it." So there you have it.
• » Nothing like creating a secret alliance with another team, getting them to promise to lead you out -- and then losing the wheel and finishing 2nd to your co-conspirator. That's what happened to Nick Gierman (Vitaminwater-Trek) in Saturday's 4's race. He'd lose to Nate Iden (Spidermonkey Cycling), and then Sunday would finish 2nd again, this time in a two-up sprint against Dan Damotte (Proctor) after the field disintegrated in their wake.
• » XXX Racing-AthletiCo had a banner day at Olympia Fields. First Dave Moyer won out of a three-man break in the 4/5's. Then Jonathan Dugas and Brian Morrissey took an early leave from the masters 4/5's race, creating a break with Brian Kavanaugh (2CC) that nearly lapped the field. Dugas won and Morrissey getting 3rd, and then Newt Cole and Jeff Holland went 5-6, giving the squad four of the top six.
• » There were attempts to get away but nobody got a very long leash in the Cat 3 race. With 10 laps to go, however, Tomasz Boba (WDT-Allvoi) counterattacked a move and quickly built a quarter-lap lead. From my perspective on the sidelines -- I had exited the race in order to get a better view of the sprint; the things I do for you people -- Vitaminwater-Trek appeared to be the only team willing to commit bodies to the chase. That lack of commitment, plus disruptions from the aforementioned crashes, let a fading Boba hold the narrowest of margins all the way to the line. Just one second behind him an argy-bargy sprint barreled to the line, sending James Pradun (Endeavour) into 2nd and Chris Hurst (Baraboo Sharks) into 5th but also into the barriers, out of his pedal and then down the tarmac.

Full Superweek results.

Blue Island reports ABD/Geargrinder (P/1/2): "'One of the Canadian guys totally chopped me in the turn [for Rahsaan Bahati’s wheel], and then what really killed me was that he couldn’t even hold Rahsaan’s wheel!'"

Rahsaan Bahati (Rock Racing; P/1/2): "On this course you could come out of the corner sixth or seventh and take your time because it was so long to the finish."

Brian Boyle (Vitaminwater-Trek; P/1/2): "Out of the last turn I was able to drill it and pick up many places over the apathetic riders at the back who were just looking to finish."

John Coyle (Wolverine Sports Club; P/1/2): "The Colombian team continued to push breakaways and the field was unwilling to let them go, so the peloton resumed the strung out two abreast or single-file for dozens of laps and I began to tire."

Eric Goodwin (Vitaminwater-Trek; 3): "I missed a turn at the front and started to draw a little unwelcome attention from my companions. I said something about seven teammates blocking and indicated that it would be my only comment on the subject (using fewer and more colorful syllables)."

Nick Gierman (Vitaminwater-Trek; 4): "Nate was right ahead of me and I was closing on him. However, the line was closing on both of us."

Don Hanke (Tower Racing; 30+ 4/5): "About 24 years ago I finished 2nd at the Moline Quad City race. That had been eating away at me for a long time, but not any more!"

Jeff Holland (XXX Racing-AthletiCo; 30+ 4/5): "I sprint, start to fade, sprint again, fade again, and then sprint again as I see people moving up to left and right. I cross the line 7th."

Nate Iden (Spidermonkey Cycling; 4, 30+ 4/5): "I passed the taco stand and still had the lead, still grinding, just waiting to be over taken, but it never happened."

Kudzu (P/1/2): "In the final three laps the field was pretty sketchy as it stretched more than 15 wide through the corners when only about 10 riders should have gone through."

Chris Padfield (Team Pegasus; 4): "I never thought I would describe a crit as 'mellow,' but this was downright relaxed."

James Pradun (Endeavour; 3): "I held onto his wheel, pulled out with about 100m to go, put my head down and gunned it."

Mike Shea (Spidermonkey Cycling; 4/5): "The plan changed to a simple one: keep an eye on the stronger riders from each team and mark their position. I didn’t have extra juice to spare and it was still a hard race."

Team Tati (4/5): "Meanwhile, the other teams ignored and overlooked us as usual, and fought it out over a series of futile breaks."

Tom Thiesen (Endeavour; 3): "Despite being almost twice as long as most crits in the rest of the calendar, competition for positions was fierce from lap one."

Tim Yuska (Get a Grip Off Road; 4, 4/5): "A rider tried to squeeze through a quickly closing gap directly ahead of me. Of course the slight contact caused a meeting with the pavement for the poor fellow."

Blue Island photos Carolyn Golz Jason Knauff: 3, 30+ 4/5, 4/5, 4 Matt Smith Team Tati Team Tati (II)

Olympia Fields race reports ABD/Geargrinder (P/1/2): "Josh Carter scored ABD/Geargrinder’s first win of Superweek, winning out of a break of four that had also been powered along by pseudo-teammate Zach Watson."

Rahsaan Bahati (Rock Racing; P/1/2): "I won more points in the red jersey and Sterling Magnell finished 6th, and that allowed him to stay in yellow."

Newt Cole (XXX Racing-AthletiCo; 30+ 4/5): "'Sorry, bro, nothin' personal. Those are my boys up there.'"

Aram Dellalian (Bearclaw; P/1/2): "It was a nice course. Turn 3 was a bit of an odd one, but nothing we hadn't done 2,049 times before."

Nick Gierman (Vitaminwater-Trek; 4): "I get to the front and started pulling. Next thing I look back and I have opened up a pretty big gap."

Jeff Holland (XXX Racing-AthletiCo; 30+ 4/5): "We used strong team tactics to keep our guys in the break and also get our blockers a top-10 finish. Does it get any better than that? "

Nate Iden (Spidermonkey Cycling; 4): "None of us crashed, Alex came in 5th, me 3rd and Nick 2nd. That is all I can say about a 12-mile race."

Kudzu (P/1/2): "Countless wrecks occurred as everyone battled for the wheel in front, only to run out of real estate."

Sterling Magnell (Rock Racing; P/1/2): "Then came a crash that the officials stopped the race for, then restarted us, giving the break a dubiously generous head start."

Brian Morrissey (XXX Racing-AthletiCo; 30+ 4/5): "I learned a hard lesson in tactics this afternoon, and that I am entitled to nothing until I cross that line."

Dave Moyer (XXX Racing-AthletiCo; 4/5): "As we’re halfway up the hill before my pull I attack, which for some reason really surprised the other two. I didn’t look back until two corners later and saw I had a pretty solid gap."

James Pradun (Endeavour; 3): "With three to go the pace picked up again and didn't slow down, stretching almost single file the whole way."

Joey Rosskopf (Team Kudzu; P/1/2): "It turned into a very sane race for the amount of deliberation and worry that went on before hand."

Matt Smith (Vitaminwater-Trek; 3): "A blue shirt had the audacity to tell the assembled riders' that all the crashing wasn't because of the course."

Tom Thiesen (Endeavour; 3): "With 3 laps to go, the carnage started. Apparently everyone realized it was their last chance and simultaneously tried to move to the front."

Tim Yuska (Get a Grip Off Road; 4, 4/5): "I was always getting gapped on the 120-degree turn that had already claimed several other riders’ skin."

Olympia Fields photos Carolyn Golz Luke Seemann Matt Smith

And we're off!

Superweek kicked off hot and humid tonight with the Beverly HIlls Cycling Classic, a challenging but thrilling course on Chicago's far south side. Gaps opened up all over the place early and many locals got a rude welcome to Superweek P/1/2 racing when they found themselves blown off the back before they'd even gotten to their first energy gel. Kelly Benefit Strategies had a large crew and was aggressive from the get-go. Eventually a 10-man break came together about 30 miles into the 60-mile race. Familiar faces included Rob White and John Meyer (ABD/Geargrinder), Hinsdale native Chad Hartley (Jittery Joe's), former UCVC star Todd Yezefski (Fitness Together/IF) and Reid Mumford (Kelly Benefit Strategies). Thousands of dollars in primes later, the pack lapped what little was left of the field with about 10 laps to go. ABD/Geargrinder had good numbers at the front, but it was a green-and-black sprinting clinic that a large, raucous crowd got to enjoy: First Rahsaan Bahati (Rock Racing) won out of a chase group to take 11th, and then Sterling Magnell (Rock Racing) beat Hartley by inches (above) for the first win of Superweek 2008. I'll update this post as more photos and reports roll in. Tomorrow we have what may be a rainy day in Blue Island, and then a debut course in Olympia Fields on Sunday. Partial results.

Race reports ABD/Geargrinder (P/1/2): "The team started off racing aggressively and just 20 laps in Rob White joined three other riders off the front, and shortly thereafter Ryan White buried himself to help get both he and John Meyers into the group as well."

Rahsaan Bahati (Rock Racing; P/1/2): "When the rest of the boys get here next week, we should have some good times."

Aram Dellalian (Bearclaw; P/1/2): "My shorts totally got caught in my saddle. The midwest humidity ... gahhhh."

Chad Hartley (Jittery Joe's; P/1/2): "First loser. But it was close."

Sterling Magnell (Rock Racing; P/1/2): "Cramping, nauseous, the whole bit, then somehow I won."

Mike Sherer (Alderfer Berger; P/1/2): "A break went early with about nine guys. Of course I missed it like I always do."

Photos Luke Seemann Matt Smith John Wilke

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.

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."

Ask and you shall receive. I have course information for the four new Superweek courses.

Sunday's criterium in Olympia Fields will be in a development that, as of the last pass of the mapping satellite, was still under construction. It's a .6 mile course with some sweeping turns. Monday's criterium in Richton Park is .7 miles and goes around Pierce Park. It's hard to tell from the profile, but it looks flat. Here are MapMyRide profiles for the new Wisconsin courses: Ripon, a 1.6-mile 6-corner course close to but very different from where Wisconsin held its state championships this year, and Racine, which looks like a nice downtown course with a long stretch along a river. I'm also told that discounted hotel rooms in Wisconsin are running out.

Enough exasperated people have e-mailed me for the Superweek schedules because they can't locate them at the Superweek site that I'll re-post them here: For P/1/2's, for the rest of us.

And, no, I don't know where the Olympia Fields or Richton Park crits will be, but I'll let you know as soon as that information is released.

The races will be longer, the weather will be hotter and the racing will be faster and more breakneck than ever. Superweek is here. Are you ready?

This year's 17-day, 19-venue series has several new courses (which have yet to be revealed) and I don't have experience with all the old ones, but here's what I know:

Beverly (Friday, July 11) Opening night is P/1/2-only, but all cycling fans should pay a visit to one of Chicago's more charming neighborhoods and take in this doozy of a course, perhaps the jewel of the Superweek portfolio. A steep hill at Turn 1 takes its toll on riders, and a screaming downhill turn sends racers down the homestretch at a frantic pace. The atmosphere is electric and the sprints are wild.

Evanston (Sunday, July 20) Beware the BK Stacker! Gorgeous weather and solid organization made this a racer- and fan-favorite in its 2007 debut, but lower categories had more than a few troubles getting past the Burger King at Turn 5, where an optical illusion makes the turn look wider than it actually is. Avoid the outside line on the early laps until your pack gets the hang of it. Turn 6 also narrows before spitting out into the wide finishing stretch of Sherman Avenue. Lower categories should count on bottlenecks at both corners and be prepared to accelerate out of them. Stick to the front or you'll be sapped by the accordion affect.

Holy Hill (Monday, July 21) Disputes with local authorities have taken away the popular Alpine Valley and Proving Grounds courses, making Holy Hill our only true road race. There are a few uphill kickers, but nothing that will afford climbers much advantage. (Sigh.) Last year the biggest challenge was getting through a dodgy mile of chip seal. Hopefully a year is enough time for it to have settled into a smooth surface. Give yourself time to scout out the uphill finish, as it's a stretch of road that's not covered on the rollout or the 8.1 mile course.

Whitnall Park (Wednesday, July 23) This is a gorgeous course. It’s in the same botanical garden as April’s Whitnall Park Criterium, but the course is longer (2.3 miles) and in the opposite direction. Nominally it is a road race, but it's a closed course and feels more like a crit. The finish is uphill following a sharp left turn, and the line will come at you sooner than you think. The winner will make this turn no farther back than 10th, and a good leadout will deposit its rider at the hill’s base. Late-race fliers have worked here, too.

Downer Avenue (Saturday, July 26) Lower categories don't always get a chance to race this course, so this year should be special. And if the racing doesn't work out, there will be a Belgian beer festival in which to drown sorrows. This is a nice bookend to the fan-friendly Beverly as tens of thousands of spectators will line up along this technical, triangular course in Milwaukee.

I'll be busy racing but will provide highlight reports as best I can. I'll also be aggregating all the race reports that I can. If there's a blog or report archive I should know about, including out-of-town guests, let me know.

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. .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address) for more information.

• » Fleshed-out Superweek schedules are available: for P/1/2's, and for the rest of us.
• » 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 .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address) 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.

• » We have the same local crits as last year, but Bensenville moves from the first Sunday to the first Wednesday. The series again opens with a P/1/2 twilight criterium on Friday, July 11, in Chicago's Beverly neighborhood, followed by a criterium in Blue Island the next day and then the Evanston Grand Prix the next Sunday.
• » Some notable road races are not listed: the Tour of Alpine Valley, the MGA Proving Grounds Road Race and an awesome course last used in 2005 on the Milwaukee lakefront. (In an interview last year, Breakaway communications director Jon Reimer indicated that a return was expected now that a construction project there was complete.) Also missing are crits in Green Bay and Sheboygan, Wis. There are, however, three TBA's on the schedule, so perhaps we'll see some of these courses yet.
• » The criterium formerly in Green Lake, Wis., moves a bit west to Ripon, and there's a new criterium in Racine.
• » For the first time in the 40-year history of Superweek, all categories will race on the popular Downer Avenue course in Milwaukee on the series' final Saturday -- accompanied by an "all-day Belgian beerfest."

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 .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address) 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. Final Superweek results. 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. Latest Superweek results. 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

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.)

• » I'm told that Corie Berrigan (Team Kenda Tire) is doing OK following her crash Sunday in Evanston. No broken bones, and she expects to race next weekend's 24 Hours of Nine Mile mountain bike endurance race.
• » 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.

Latest Superweek results. 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

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:

• » The mornings first race, the 4/5's, produced crash after crash -- surprise! -- in the dicey Turn 5. The second lap was the most severe, taking out several riders and causing a major split in the field. It appeared a broken collarbone was the worst of the injuries, and fortunately the corner was home to only a few more crashes as the day went on.
• » 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:

• » Friday's finale to the women's P/1/2 series proved anti-climactic as the top three overall had already been clinched. Kelly Benjamin (Cheerwine) won both days, this after winning the field sprint at the MGA Proving Grounds on Wednesday. Obviously Tuesday's hard crash didn't slow her down at all. Benjamin finished the week with an astounding four wins, two 2nd's and a 5th. Out of a possible 200 points, she rang up a near-perfect 185.
• » 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. Full Superweek schedule.

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:

• » There hadn't been a lot of major pros showing for the first four days of Superweek -- pretty much just Karl Menzies (Health Net) and a handful of Colavita riders -- but that changed when the two imposing Escalades of Rock Racing rolled into Hales Corner, Wis., for the Whitnall Park race. (Rock Racing tried to enter 11 riders, including star sprinters Rahsaan Bahati and elite national criterium champion Kayle Leogrande. I overheard some confusion amongst the officials and promoters regarding whether 11 was above the NRC limit; I'm not sure how it got settled.) Rock Racing was active in most moves and had two riders in the winning break of six. It had to settle for 3rd and 5th, however, when amateur Brian Jensen (HRRC/Trek Stores) took the win. Bahati finds some silver lining on his blog, but as I passed Camp Cadillac after the race, the mood was decidedly solemn.
• » 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. Latest Superweek results. 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 -- at top speed. My front wheel locked into her rear derailleur, shredding my $700 wheel and taking me down with her in the process." 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 -- I liked my chances." 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

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. Latest Superweek results. 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

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 .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address).) 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. Latest Superweek results. 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.

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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.

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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.