By Luke Seemann

The Illinois Cycling Association on Friday announced its 2011 state championships. The road race returns to the popular (if far-flung) O'Fallon Grand Prix on Saturday, June 4, while after a long run in Peoria the criterium moves to the Glencoe Grand Prix on Saturday, June 25.

Earlier this month the ICA released a preliminary lineup for the Illinois Cup. In addition to the date change for Glencoe, the Peoria Cycling Classic moves to late August, and the Sherman Park Criterium moves to early April in order to free the June 11-12 weekend for the inaugural Tour of Galena, a three-stage omnium that XXX Racing-AthletiCo is planning. Fields have been realigned, too, reviving the 30+ 4/5's and introducing a separate 3's field for women. To make room for that, however, the 40+ and 50+ have been consolidated into a 45+ 1/2/3 race. Registration is already open for the first Illinois race of the season, the South Chicago Wheelmen's Spring into the Autobahn on Sunday, March 20. Meanwhile, ABR is starting to publish its calendar, with the traditional three-weekend series in Kenosha starting March 13. I'll start populating the Chicago Bike Racing calendar when I have some free time next week.