Criterium bike race rolls into Winfield this weekend
Winfield Criterium organizers are calling for sudden strong winds this weekend.
With some of the nation's top cyclists riding at speeds up to 40 mph, the 10th annual Winfield Criterium Weekend is expected to create a breeze with more than 500 bikes rolling through town.
The two-day event is expected to draw a few thousand people to watch racers ranging from novices to pros.
For those outside the biking world, a criterium is a style of race where the course is less than a mile and a half long and riders do multiple laps, said Mike Ebert, the race organizer and a bicycling enthusiast.
Organizers expect about 250 riders on Saturday and as many as 500 on Sunday.
"It's like standing on the platform when a big train goes rolling through," said Tim Allen. Allen is a criterium volunteer who has organized a lawn viewing party for Saturday's race through the Winfield Heights subdivision north of Central DuPage Hospital near Oakwood Park.
Allen expects 150 people at his house to watch the race. Partygoers will scrape together pocket change and other donations for several primes - cash prizes for the winner of a particular lap.
The event is part of the 2009 Tour of Illinois and Wisconsin Rider of the Year competition.
Saturday's race starts on Winfield Scott Drive near Birch Street and runs counterclockwise south to Oakwood Street to Ethel Street and turns left to Cloos Court and heads right and turns left again onto Winfield Scott Drive.
Sunday's races start and stop near Winfield School on Winfield Road and travel in a rectangle from Winfield Road to Beecher Avenue to Summit Drive to Washington Avenue.
Ebert, who will race category one with the top riders in the country, said Winfield's race is unique because it goes through neighborhoods lined with cheering people. Many races take place in industrial parks and other unpopulated areas, he said.
"Having people cheer you on all the way around the courses is unique and very exciting," he said. "It gives you a lot of motivation."
A children's parade takes place at 1:30 p.m. Saturday on the course. Registration starts at 12:45 p.m.
Kids' races start at 1:30 p.m. Sunday. Children 10 and under can bring a big wheel or bike to race. Registration, which is $3, opens at noon at the gazebo in Creekside Park.
To register, visit active.com. ABR. licenses are required for all categories. One-day licenses will be available on-site for $5 a day or annual licenses for $25.
For more details and registration information, visit www.ABDcycling.com.
<p class="factboxheadblack">Winfield Criterium</p> <p class="News"><b>When:</b> Races start at 3 p.m. Saturday and 8:15 a.m. Sunday</p> <p class="News"><b>Where:</b> Oakwood Park Saturday and downtown Winfield Sunday</p> <p class="News"><b>Info:</b> Visit <a href="http://www.ABDcycling.com" target="new">www.ABDcycling.com</a></p>