Competitive cycling comes to Elgin, Fox River Grove this weekend
The streets of Elgin and Fox River Grove will be overrun with professional cyclists from throughout North America and the world during two days of competitive cycling this weekend.
The Fox River Omnium, which includes the Elgin Cycling Classic and Fox River Grove Criterium, is Saturday and Sunday.
Sponsored by PSIMET Custom Wheels in East Dundee and sanctioned by USA Cycling, races begin 8 a.m. in Elgin, and 10 a.m. in Fox River Grove.
Last year's omnium was a three-day affair with an inaugural early evening race in East Dundee. The East Dundee Twilight Criterium was canceled this year due to conflicts over scheduling and its location, said Rob Curtis, PSIMET owner.
Village officials cited complaints from downtown bar owners about streets being blocked off for the race, held on a Friday night, Curtis said.
Downtown streets were closed for about four hours last year until just before dinner time, according to Curtis.
"I was told in no uncertain terms that we would not be having the race downtown using the course that we had used in the past," Curtis said.
Curtis said village officials offered to allow him to move the race to another area in town or to have it on a different day.
"There's no other place, other than downtown, where the race could have been held due to USA Cycling's course requirements," Curtis said.
Moving the race to another day also wasn't feasible because it would have conflicted with the other two long-standing races - the Elgin Cycling Classic and the Fox River Grove Criterium are marking their fifth and 10th year, respectively.
"There is no chance of switching those around," said Curtis, adding residents of both towns are used to having the races and come out in force to show support.
A consolation for area cyclists is another group is organizing a one-day race in downtown West Dundee.
The West Dundee criterium, scheduled July 20, is part of the 2016 Intelligentsia Cup, an eight-race series around the Chicago area.
"It's across the river, but I've been talking to them about course layouts and setup there," Curtis said.
Last year's omnium drew roughly 250 amateur and professional racers daily. Organizers expect participation numbers will be similar this weekend.
For the first time this year, the professional men's and women's races will be of the same duration - about an hour. Previously, the men's races were an hour long and women's races were 40 minutes, though race purses were equal.
"For the first time, we are paying an overall prize purse for the omnium - $600 split three ways for each race," Curtis said, adding prizes will also be awarded to the top three cyclists in the men's and women's fields each day.
The Elgin course starting at Lords Park, 100 Oakwood Blvd., is a roughly 0.8-mile technical course with a combination of rolling elevation and cornering. By contrast, the Fox River Grove course begins at Norge Ski Club, 100 Ski Hill Road. Races will last until about 5 p.m.
Preregistration closes Thursday on Bikereg.com. Race day bib pickup and registration begins at 7 a.m. in Elgin and 9 a.m. in Fox River Grove and closes 30 minutes before racing begins. For more race details, visit usacycling.org.