St. Charles, IL, May 1, 2012 – Bike racing is coming to St. Charles, IL, on July 29th. The promoter of the Tour of America’s Dairyland (ToAD) presented by Wisconsin Milk Marketing Board, an 11-day omnium in Wisconsin, June 21-July 1, is bringing a one-day race to Illinois this July.
The Sammy’s St. Charles Prairie State Criterium on Sunday, July 29, will be the kick-off race to the Prairie State Cycling Series, which will expand to multiple Illinois communities in 2013.
“We had a vision to bring a high-quality bike racing series to northern Illinois, and Sammy’s Cycling Club along with Sammy’s Bikes embraced the idea with the incredible support of the City of St. Charles,” said Race Director Marco Colbert, an Illinois native.
The 4-corner, clockwise course will showcase the charm and beauty of St. Charles, which is located an hour west of Chicago in the Fox Valley. The eight-tenth of a mile course will start and finish in front of Sammy’s Bikes and offer some challenges. A slight incline will lead racers into the final turn, which launches into a long straightaway crossing the scenic Fox River for the second time. A minor descent and the tease of a chicane will make for an exciting, fast finish.
“We’ve heard nothing but positive feedback surrounding the ToAD races so we’re thrilled to have St. Charles hosting the first Prairie State Cycling Series event,” said Hans van Delft, President of Sammy’s Cycling Club and local organizer of the criterium. “It’s a great way to promote the community and a perfect way to initiate the new club while celebrating the fifth year of Sammy’s Bikes in St. Charles.”
Racing will start just after 10:00 a.m. with the Cat 3/4 Women followed by Masters 35+ Cat 3/4, Cat 2/3, and Masters 35+ Cat 1/2/3. Pro Women will take the line at 3:20 p.m. leading into a local, fun family event organized by the St. Charles Park District. Pro Men will race for 90 minutes beginning at 5:00 p.m.
“I have no doubt that other communities will be impressed by the high energy, family fun day that Sammy’s will put on for St. Charles,” said Colbert.”Look for the Prairie State Cycling Series to hit at least a handful of northern Illinois communities next summer.”
For more information and to register, please visit www.PrairieStateCyclingSeries.com
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About Midwest Cycling Series, LLC
Midwest Cycling Series, LLC, founder and promoter of the Tour of America’s Dairyland, comprises six avid cyclists and successful entrepreneurs including U.S. Cycling Team Olympian and Team Sports, Inc. President Tom Schuler, Olympic Road Race Trials qualifier and former Nova Cycle Sports Foundation President Bill Ochowicz, Milwaukee Junior Cycling Team co-Executive Director Bill Koch, National Senior Olympics competitor Jim Michler, Paul Weaver, founder of one of Wisconsin’s longest running multi-sport teams, Team Geargrinder, and Jack Hirt, former executive director of the Bike Federation of Wisconsin, who leads day-to-day operations as Executive Director. www.TourofAmericasDairyland.com
About Sammy’s Cycling Club
Founded in November 2011, Sammy’s Cycling Club is an all-volunteer, educational and recreational non-profit cycling organization that offers its members rides at all pace levels, weekend rides, a nationally recognized spring training program, monthly meetings featuring important speakers in the field and a full calendar of special events. Sammy’s focuses on introducing cyclists to new and interesting places to ride, history, new cultures, cycling advocacy, social interaction and activities, training, and safe cycling instruction. http://www.sammyscyclingclub.org
For more information, please contact:
Marco Colbert
Executive Director
Ph: 847.644.0277
marco@intelligentsiacup.com