On Friday, July 25, the Elmhurst College campus will be at the center of a daylong bicycle racing event that will draw amateur and professional cyclists from across the country and around the world.
The Elmhurst Cycling Classic, organized by the Elmhurst Masters Competition Cycling group, is part of a multi-day series of bicycle races taking place throughout the Chicago area.
The course for the Elmhurst Cycling Classic encircles the Elmhurst College campus, with the Start/Finish line located on Prospect Avenue, across from the Wilder Mansion. The course then runs south along Prospect to Elm Park Avenue, heads west on Elm Park to Grace Street, runs north on Grace to Alexander Boulevard and then returns to Prospect.
The Cycling Classic begins at 11:00 a.m. and will feature a series of criterium races for different classes of riders throughout the day and into the evening. At 5:50 p.m., during the Family Fun Ride, the course will be open to anyone who would like to try it on her or his own bike.
The 90-minute professional race begins at 6:30 p.m. and will include riders from the U.S. and abroad. The corner of Elm Park and Hagans Avenue is expected to be an exciting spot for viewing, as racers vie for position through the tight back-to-back turns.
Food and beverages, provided by Chartwells, will be available for purchase. The food tent will be located just inside the Elmhurst College gate, on Prospect.
Admission to the event is free and open to the public. Public parking on campus will not be available. For more information on the race, visit www.elmhurstcyclingclassic.com.
Here’s how the race will affect College faculty, staff and guests:
- Traffic: No vehicular traffic will be permitted on the race course at any time throughout the day and evening.
- Parking: All College employees, students and guests should park their vehicles at either the east end of the Alexander parking lot or in the lot behind the Mill Theatre. Access to the Alexander parking lot will be restricted to the entrances off of Walter Street.
- Access to campus: Vehicular traffic to the main campus, with the exception of security vehicles and vehicles carrying disabled people, will be prohibited because it would involve crossing the race course. Pedestrian access to the campus will be limited to specific crossing points: on Prospect Avenue, near the College gate, and on Alexander Boulevard at the main campus entrance by Circle Hall and at the driveway west of the football field. Volunteers will be at all of these locations to help pedestrians cross the streets between races and during races, when no racers are coming.
- Emergencies: In the unlikely event of an emergency on campus requiring police or emergency vehicles, any races going on would be stopped to allow full access to those vehicles.
Because parking will be limited on the day of the race, College employees are encouraged to walk, take public transportation, carpool or ride a bike to campus that day.
A team of College employees has been working with local government and public safety officials, as well as race promoters and the local sponsoring group, to bring about what should be a great event. If you have any questions or concerns, please contact Bruce Mather or any other member of the team:
- Bruce Mather, Facilities Management (630) 617-3180
- Desiree Chen, Communications and Public Affairs (630) 617-3033
- Jeff Kedrowski, Campus Security (630) 617-3042
- Mica Matney, Conference and Guest Services (630) 617-6185