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.)