There are times I’m really, really happy to have a job. And then there’s this week.

Three weekday races make their debut, starting with the Soldier Field Cycling Series and continuing with the first two stages of the Tour of America’s Dairyland. Wednesday’s races will run clockwise in the south parking lot of Soldier Field, directly off the bike path in a 1-kilometer, U-shape course with six turns. Parking-lot crits are nobody’s favorite, but this should be a great location and atmosphere. Registering for the entire series by tonight gets you free parking. (Otherwise, parking is $10 at the Waldron parking deck, across from the race course. Riders with roof racks should be mindful of Waldron’s short ceiling and take advantage of a drop-off area at the north end of the race course.) Juniors race for free and receive certificates for free Chipotle burritos. The inaugural Tour of America’s Dairyland kicks off Thursday with what is shaping up to be its queen stage: The Blue Mounds Race of the Future, held on a course being considered for the 2016 Olympics. Buzz is fever-pitch for this 22-mile circuit, which has has 2,200 feet of climbing per lap, including a brutal 3-mile finishing stretch. I’ll be curious to hear how the racing plays out: Will anyone be aggressive enough to make moves in the rollers, or will everyone just recover and let the climb sort things out? Friday the series continues with the Waterloo Classic in Trek’s backyard. The 1.6-mile circuit has a steep kicker at the beginning of each lap, then a shallow descent leading to a flat finish.

Wednesday Soldier Field Cycling Series USCF criterium Chicago Distance from Chicago: 0 hours

Thursday ToAD: Blue Mounds Race of the Future USCF road race Blue Mounds, Wis. Distance from Chicago: 3 hours

Friday ToAD: Waterloo Classic USCF criterium Waterloo, Wis. Distance from Chicago: 2.5 hours