Saturday we have the honor of inaugurating a new national championship course as Glencoe picks up where Downers Grove left off to host the 2010 USPRO National Criterium Championship. As an added bonus, it’s close enough that most of us can ride there.

It’s a new and interesting course that will keep riders on their toes with 10 turns, narrow stretches and a short pitch up South Avenue. Be sure to study the video beforehand. (Note that juniors and the lower categories will do a shorter, less-technical course.) I expect the area between South and Hazel will be a popular place to watch, and Hazel may be where attacks are launched coming out of that kicker.

In addition to primes, many of the races will have three sprints for points. Winners of the most points will earn either a watch or a $200 gift certificate from EJ’s Place. Consult the technical guide for complete details.

There are also some great purses: $7,500 for the women P/1/2’s, $5,000 for the 1/2’s. (At current registration levels, the last-place woman will take home $135.)

It will be a strong field for the pro men. Among them will be the world’s hottest crit racer in the world at the moment, Jonathan Cantwell (Fly V Australia), who won six times at Superweek before winning twice at the Tour of Elk Grove and again this weekend in North Carolina. Other hot riders to look for include Karl Menzies (UnitedHealthcare), David Veilleux (Kelly Benefit Strategies) and last year’s winner at Downers Grove, Ben Kersten (Fly V Australia). None of those riders are American, however

will the national championship once again go to 2nd or 3rd place?

Former champions include Brad Huff (Jelly Belly) and Rahsaan Bahati (Bahati Foundation). With his team in disarray, however, Bahati comes with only two riders in support. Also look for the Cuban Missile, Ivan Dominguez (Jamis), who for the second year races as a U.S. citizen, and expect UnitedHealthcare to focus on Jake Keough, who finished 2nd to Cantwell this weekend and was the third American to finish in 2009.

Unfortunately, the women and elite men settled their national championships earlier this summer in Bend, Ore., so those races won’t be as cracking as they used to be. Nonetheless, the women’s P/1/2 race has large representation from the Vera Bradley Foundation and Tibco, the latter of which includes University of Chicago product and two-time Glencoe winner Devon Haskell. Also appearing will be former national champions Laura Van Gilder (Mellow Mushroom) and Theresa Cliff-Ryan (Colavita).

Note that there are several Glencoe-related events going on this week. Vera Bradley Foundation is hosting a clinic for women on Friday. Earlier that day, Start 2 Finish will host a casual ride with members of Fly V Australia.  And Friday afternoon there will be an interesting seminar on going from an amateur team to UCI Continental.

Saturday Glencoe Grand Prix USAC criterium Glencoe, Ill. Distance from Chicago: 0.5 hours Previous wrap-ups: 2007, 2008, 2009