Many of us whinged last year at the short races of Downers Grove -- 20 minutes for a combined 3/4 field? -- but it appears our pleas have been answered with this year’s schedule, which features longer races and adds several races to Sunday’s festivities.

Cat 3’s get two chances to race: 45 minutes with the 4’s on Saturday, and a Cat 3-only race for $1,500 on Sunday. Women get 3/4 and 1/2/3 races on Saturday, plus the elite national championship on Sunday. And by starting an hour earlier on Sunday and eliminating some dead time before the men’s national championship, organizers squeeze in a total of three Cat 5 races.

I also notice that Saturday’s 50K P/1/2 race doesn’t start until 7 p.m., an hour later than last year. With a 7:49 p.m. sunset on that day, I’m wondering whether artificial lighting will be necessary. You can see in this picture how dark it was for last year’s finish already, and here’s a good one from the post-race interview. Better bring your blinkies, gentlemen!

Mail-in registration is available.

Mail-in registration is also available at the Tour of Elk Grove with online registration promised April 20. Check out that $3,000 purse for masters 3/4’s!

Finally, I couldn’t help but notice that the flier has been released for Chicago’s own Sherman Park Criterium, and online registration for the June 14 event is open now.