On Friday, July 24, the Elmhurst College campus will be at the center of the 3rd Annual Elmhurst Cycling Classic, a day of professional and amateur bike racing that will draw cyclists from across the country and around the world.
The Elmhurst Cycling Classic is held on a course that encircles the Elmhurst College campus. The Start/Finish line is on Prospect Avenue across from the Wilder Mansion, and the course 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 Elmhurst Cycling Classic is part of the Intelligentsia Cup, a tour of bike races in cities around Chicagoland that attracts top-tier professional riders. The Classic will feature a series of criterium races for different classes of riders throughout the day and into the evening. This year’s Classic also will feature “twilight criterium racing”—high-speed racing after work and after dark.
“Introducing twilight racing to the Elmhurst Cycling Classic is going to increase the excitement factor in Elmhurst on race day,” said Race Director Tim Radcliff. “Not only will four of the fastest races occur after 5 p.m., allowing more spectators to see the action, but the professional men will actually be racing the course under the stars. Twilight racing is among the most exciting and well-attended types of cycling event in the country. The community and racers really love it.”
This year, Elmhurst College will provide lodging on campus to about 40 cyclists, including riders from Canada, Germany and across the U.S. Proceeds from the Elmhurst Cycling Classic benefit area charities. The event has donated more than $21,000 in just its first two years to beneficiaries including United Community Concerns, Yorkfield Food Pantry, Elmhurst Children’s Assistance Foundation, Elmhurst Walk-In Ministry, District 205 Foundation, Elmhurst College Light of Knowledge Scholarship Fund and more.
The Cycling Classic begins at 11:00 a.m., with the first race starting at 11:20 a.m. The Family Fun Ride, which begins at 7:20 p.m., opens the course to anyone who would like to try it on her or his own bike. (The Fun Ride is free to riders who pre-register, and $5 per rider for day-of registration.) Admission to the Cycling Classic is free and open to the public.
Chartwells will sell a variety of food and beverages throughout the day and into the evening—the tent will be located just south of the Start/Finish line, on the west side of Prospect Avenue at the edge of the Elmhurst College campus. For spectators who’d like to ride their bicycles to the Classic, the Elmhurst Sustainability Task Force will host a free Bike Valet inside the fenced tennis courts in Wilder Park. For more information, see Elmhurst Cycling Classic. Elmhurst College is a sponsor of the Elmhurst Cycling Classic.
Here’s how the race will affect Elmhurst College faculty, staff and campus guests:
- Traffic: No vehicular traffic will be permitted on the race course between 10:30 a.m. and 10 p.m. on race day.
- 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. Public parking on campus will not be available.
- 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, both 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.
- For people picking up children attending summer camps or programs at Elmhurst College: Park in the lot on the north side of Alexander Blvd. (enter on Walter Street from Prospect or Myrtle Avenue) and walk to meet your child.
- 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 24th, College employees are encouraged to walk, take public transportation, carpool or ride a bike to campus that day. For questions about the event, please contact Bruce Mather, Executive Director of Facilities Management (630-617-3180); Desiree Chen, Managing Director of Public Affairs (630-617-3033); or Jeff Kedrowski, Executive Director of Security & Emergency Management (630-617-3042).