We are sorry to announce that the 2020 edition of the Intelligentsia Cup is canceled due to COVID-19. This decision was not taken lightly and included input from venue partners, local municipalities, sponsors and riders. Ultimately, the safety of our participants, spectators, volunteers, staff and the residents of the communities that welcome us every year is paramount. We look forward to seeing you all next summer when the series returns July 16-25, 2021.
Many participants expressed their hope that the series would go forward this year, and communicated their intent to attend with great fervor. We appreciate the affinity our ridership has for the series, as well as the desire to return to some sort of normalcy. However, there are still far too many unknowns with COVID-19 to ensure the event could run in a safe manner and be the same quality experience for everyone involved.
“This was an extremely difficult decision to make, particularly after our enormous success in 2019 that saw the series become the largest USA Cycling road event,” said series partner Tom Schuler.
“Since the beginning of this pandemic we have held out hope that the situation would improve enough to hold the Intelligentsia Cup in a safe manner, and we have worked since to find a way forward. Unfortunately, the current facts at hand and expert guidance say otherwise.
“We are grateful to our title sponsor Intelligentsia Coffee for supporting the series by rolling the sponsorship forward to next year. As well, all of our sponsors and venues have committed to returning. We hope our riders stay safe and are able to join us next July!”
FAQ
Why not postpone the event?
As our series covers ten venues across eight municipalities, moving calendar dates is prohibitively difficult. Further, given the current information, it is unclear if mass participation events like the Intelligentsia Cup could happen in our communities in the months following the original series dates.
What about a shortened series outside of Chicago proper?
While only three of our venues are within the city of Chicago, current information suggests that the surrounding areas where our other venues are located are likely to follow a similar timeline of phased re-opening.
My local race is happening, why can’t the Intelligentsia Cup?
The Intelligentsia Cup is a national-level event that features large field sizes across many categories, with competitors from around the country and even the world, moving between ten different venues each day. As such, the safety concerns are exponentially higher for this event.
Why did you cancel now and not wait to see if the situation improves in the coming months?
Due to the complexity of producing the series — along with our venues, municipalities and vendors — a reasonable amount of lead time is required to produce the event. We waited as long as prudence allowed before making the decision to cancel.
Will all the venues be back in 2021?
All of our local venues have stated their intent to have a series race in 2021! Please save the dates: July 16-25.
Where can I buy the best fresh roasted coffee without having to leave my home?
Stock up on your favorite Intelligentsia seasonal single origin coffees and carefully assembled blends, along with at-home brewing essentials and equipment, branded swag and more from their online store.
Free shipping is being offered on all orders. Stay up to date on the latest news, like their updated coffeebar opening hours and special offerings, by following on Instagram @intelligentsiacoffee.
Iām still going to be riding and training for the 2021 series, what is the best nutrition for this?
Science in Sport is the official nutrition partner of the Intelligentsia Cup and has a wide range of products to keep you powered on your rides, whether they are online/indoors or proper socially distanced outside.
Visit theirweb site for a 20% discount (excludes special offers and clearance) using code: INTELLIGENTSIACUP20