Cyclists to hit Winfield streets for weekend Criterium
Top professional and amateur bicycle racers from across the Midwest are expected to compete at this weekend's bicycle races in Winfield.
The Winfield Criterium will be hosting the American Bicycle Racing National Criterium Championship. American Bicycle Racing, along with USA Cycling, is a regional governing body that sanctions and tracks cycling races.
Race organizers moved the event up by two months this year in hopes of avoiding a crowded racing schedule and attracting more racers who will be competing later this summer in similar races in Elk Grove Village, Downers Grove and Chicago.
"There's definitely a fresh, new energy to this year's race," said Mary Lee Geraghty, whose Athletes By Design bicycle club co-sponsors the event along with volunteers from the Winfield Chamber of Commerce.
"This is going to be the best year yet."
Kenny Labbe, a member of the U.S. Postal Service team during several of Lance Armstrong's championship Tour de France races, will be announcing the races all weekend.
The timed championship races for both the men's and women's divisions will be Sunday on a .9-mile course around Creekside Park.
Races also will be Saturday on a separate timed course of the same length along neighborhood streets surrounding Oakwood Park.
About $8,000 in total cash prizes await winners in many of the races.
Four races start Saturday beginning at 3 p.m. along Oakwood Street, Ethel Street, Kloos Court, Churchill Road and Winfield Scott Drive.
The races Sunday follow a more challenging course along Winfield Road, Beecher Avenue, Summit Drive and Washington Avenue.
In addition to the adult races, organizers will hold races for children 12 and younger at 1:30 p.m. Sunday.
Parking will be allowed Saturday along Winfield Road. On Sunday, parking will be available at downtown commuter train lots.
If you go
What: Winfield Criterium
When: Saturday and Sunday
Where: Oakwood Park and Downtown Winfield
Cost: Free to watch; each race has an entry fee
Visit: www.abdcycling.com
Winfield Criterium
Two days of races will bring cyclists to Oakwood Park Saturday and Downtown Winfield Sunday. For details, visit www.abdcycling.com.
Saturday -- Winfield Twilight Criterium at Oakwood Park
3 p.m. Beginner/Category 5 Men, 20 minutes + two laps
3:35 p.m. Men 4, 30 minutes + three laps
4:20 p.m. Men 2/3, 35 minutes + five laps
5:10 p.m. Masters 50+ Women Open, 25 minutes + three laps
5:50 p.m. Men ½ & Pro, 50 minutes + five laps
Sunday -- Downtown Winfield Criterium IX & 2008 ABR National Championship
8:15 a.m. Beginner/Cat 5 Women, ABR Women 30+40+50+60+70+, five laps
8:40 a.m. Beginner/Cat 5 Men 40 & over, 20 minutes = 2 laps
9:10 a.m. Prairie Path Cycles Men 60+65+70+75+80, 20 minutes + 2 laps
9:45 a.m. Midwest Neurosurgery & Spine Specialists Beginner/Cat 5 Men 39 & under 20 minutes + three laps
10:20 a.m. Winfield Wood Healthcare, Women 1/2/3 Women 4, 30 minutes + two laps
11 a.m. Masters 50+, 30 minutes + three laps
11:45 a.m. DuPage Medical Group Men 4, 30 minutes + three laps
12:30 p.m. ABR Boys & ABR Girls 17-18, 25 minutes + one lap
12:30 p.m. ABR Boys & ABR Girls 15-16, 25 minutes + one lap
1 p.m. ABR Boys & ABR Girls 13-14, 20 minutes + one lap
1 p.m. ABR Boys & ABR Girls 10-12, three laps
1:30 p.m. Kids races
2:15 p.m. Winfield Community Bank Men 3, 40 minutes + three laps
3:10 p.m. Central DuPage Hospital Men ½ & Pro, 40 laps
4:45 p.m. DuPage Oncology Center Masters 30+40+, 40 minutes + 2 laps