Rain, mud, snow. Run, jump, bike. Cyclocross demands fitness, technical prowess, courage and a ripe sense of humility. Throughout fall riders compete around Chicagoland in a 10-race series for the crown and the State Championship Jersey. The only thing tougher than the riders are the fans who brave brutal weather to cheer their favorites while warming around a blazing barbeque!
One kilo. An oval. How hard can it be? Don’t let the simplicity of velodrome racing deceive you. While some disciplines reward brute strenght, on the velodrome the spoils often go to those with patience and guile. Tactics reign supreme on the track and all summer long, under the lights in Northbrook riders try and out play eachotehr in pursuit of valuable points and a ticket to compete in the National Championships.
The so-called race of truth. No tactics, no team, no drafting, nothing but the rider, the bike and the clock. Time trials are the ultimate equalizer and force a rider to push themselves harder and farther than perhaps they thought possible. And while some riders eek out seconds with faster wheels, aeroynamic helmets and measured positions there's no denying the fact that the strongest rider wins.
One rider, one jersey, everything on the line. Everyone wants it and will throw everything at it to walk away with the coveted jersey. The winner wears it for the next season, a trophy for the accomplishment and for some a painful reminder of what wasn’t.
Throughout the season riders compete ina 12-race series throughout Illinois to crown the best overall riders. From long, hard early-season road races in the cornfields to technical cage-match criteriums in Downtown Chicago points are up for grabs. To win the Illinois Cup is affirmation of the long hours spent training during the winter, the sacrifices made to travel around the state, and the commitment to becoming the best.
Races | Jun 25, 2009 | by The ICA
This weekend is the State Criterium Championship also known as the Proctor Cycling Classic. State Championship...
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Races | Jun 18, 2009 | by The ICA
The first of six Soldier Field Cycling Series happened last night and was an overall success. The category 4/5 fields was sold out and in the Pro 1-2 race, Ara Oggoian from Bicycle Heaven took the win in a strong and...
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Races | Jun 16, 2009 | by The ICA
This weekend brings two back-to-back Illinois Cup races . To make things really rewarding, the winners of every race will win free entries to Superweek. The winners of the Pro 1-2 Men and Womens races will win five free entries to Superweek races. The winners of every other race...
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ICA | Jun 12, 2009 | by Julian Baumgartner
Along with a face lift the new ICA website brings to cyclists several new and powerful tools to the computers of Illinois' cycling community.
The ICA has worked hard to assemble an ever-growing calendar of events. This calendar includes information about the races, maps...
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Races | Jun 7, 2009 | by The ICA
The Soldier Field Cycling Series starts on Wednesday June 17, 2009 and will continue every other Wednesday through August 26, 2009. This series is open to all level of riders and focuses on development and junior racing.
Junior riders ages 10 through 18 race FREE of...
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