Wauconda leaders to discuss possible bike race event

Organizers of a popular cycling competition want to create an event in Wauconda, but village officials say it will only happen if local business owners and volunteers lead the project.

Linda Kraniak, the village’s director of economic and community development, said the village has been approached by racers in Wisconsin who want to stage an annual criterium bike race in the village.

Kraniak said the village doesn’t have the funds to sponsor such a project, but wants to talk to local business leaders and volunteers to see if they’d be willing to do the necessary leg work.

The community events meeting is set for 7 p.m. at village hall, 101 N. Main St.

“So, we are taking the idea to our community leaders to see if support is there,” she said. “The village is unable to sponsor it. We just don’t have the money or the personnel to run it by ourselves.”

A criterium bike race is considered a short course race, usually less than five kilometers, and often run on closed off city streets.

It’s popular among cyclists because the race is only a short time — usually less than an hour.

The race is also popular because it’s the easiest to organize, does not require a large amount of space, and is fun for live spectators because the cyclists roar past multiple times on the short street track.

Kraniak said about 80 Wauconda business owners and community leaders have been invited to village hall Thursday to discuss the race proposal.

If support for the race is shown by the volunteers, the village will pursue the idea further, she said. However, if interest is waning, village leaders would pass on the idea.

“If there is consensus among business owners and volunteers to hold it, then we’ll pursue it,” Kraniak said. “But it has to be run by volunteers and the businesses. We can’t afford it.”

She said similar criterium races are held in Evanston, Elk Grove Village, and Grafton, Wis.

The organizers of the criterium, who she refused to name at this point, host similar events in Wisconsin.

“The group heard about us because of the triathlons we hold,” she said. “The other places in Illinois that hold similar races do real well with theirs, so it’s an excellent opportunity for us. But, it would have to be a very enthusiastic group of volunteers that step up to run it.”