Wisconsin man wins Elgin Cycling Classic
With two-time winner Eric Marcotte deciding not to defend his title in Sunday's Elgin Cycling Classic's men's pro am race, the field was wide open for a new champion.
He came in the form of 26-year-old Frank Dierking of Madison, Wisc., who races his bike in competitions all over the country with his six-member team Great Dane Velo Club.
"I'm very happy about it, it's nice to earn some money for the team," he said after winning, adding that in total, the team won $2,500.
But the race, which is the cycling classic's marquee event, was not without drama.
Not only was it a tight one for Dierking to win, but it also included at least three crashes, with a shouting match ensuing between a pair of cyclists during one of the pileups over who caused the other to topple.
Nobody was seriously injured in any of the collisions, said Dennis Jurs, the race chairman, director and a participant.
This year, Lords Park and its surrounding neighborhood hosted the cycling classic to help ease congestion associated with FoxFireFest, to free up police resources and to avoid road construction in the downtown and the Elgin Historic District, site of the race last year.
Lords Park will be the site of the 2009 Elgin Cycling Classic as well, since it impacts fewer people than other past locations, Jurs said.
"Everybody loves the location and the neighborhood embraced the event," he said.
Friends, families and residents lined the milelong track through the park to cheer on their favorite racers.
While some residents sold refreshments to hungry and thirsty race-goers.
Mark Clemens and his family and friends had a front-row seat.
He, his wife, Kaye, daughter Bridget and friends Bobbi and Rick Eskey of Bolingbrook set up camp in the Clemens' front yard that bordered one of the sharp turns the riders took.
It was the site of multiple collisions throughout the day, he said.
"I have to turn away, it's a little bit too scary," he said.
Roughly 250 people turned out to race in the Elgin Cycling Classic overall.
It included races for amateur men and women according to their age group, children and professional women cyclists.
Complete results will be posted later this week at www.elgincyclingclassic.com.