The Workout: Pro-Cycling Comes to Glencoe

When you think of world-class professional cycling, you may not think of Glencoe. But on Saturday, June 2, cyclists of all levels will invade this otherwise sleepy hamlet to ride through the streets as part of the annual Glencoe Grand Prix.

The event is a criterium road race, which means cyclists will race through the streets of town on a circuit, in this case a 1.3 mile loop that includes 10 turns and a hill. The first race starts at 8:15 a.m. and events continue throughout the day, with the professional women at 4 p.m. followed by the pro men at 5:30 p.m. The riders take multiple laps on the spectator-friendly course so there are plenty of great viewing spots.

The event is a fundraiser for the Glencoe Educational Foundation, raising far more money than the traditional bake sale. In addition to supporting a great local cause, it allows residents to see some top-level competitive cycling, with riders coming from all over the United States and the world. Yes, the world.

Earlier:

I chatted about the event with Kendra Mirasol, a Glencoe resident who has hosted riders for the past three years. This year she's hosting racers from Argentina, which begs the question: why would someone come all the way from South America to ride in suburban Illinois? Well, the race is part of the National Criterium Calendar, and it's a desirable stop on the U.S. tour for professional criterium riders.

I asked Ms. Mirasol what these international riders think about our quiet little town.

“They love it,” she said. “They are so grateful to have local accommodations while racing, but most of all, they are happy to have a garage to store their equipment. And hosting is a great experience for our whole family. It's fun for my kids to meet riders from other countries, and they get to practice their Spanish.”

In addition to attracting pro-cyclists from all over the world, elite riders from Illinois love having a professional event right in their own backyard. Francine Hass, a top local racer who's also known for her women's cycling programs, praised the event as well-organized.

“I would first credit Jon Knouse with the vision and determination to make the GGP a national caliber event," Hass said. "Because of his efforts, the race has been able to attract top professional athletes as well as local racers. The course is well thought out, with some technical corners and a challenging hill. It's not just a bike race, though. It's an event that the entire community embraces. As a racer, it's great to be welcomed by a town and it's even better to have options for things to do before and after a race.”

Local cyclist Amelia Katz, gearing up to do her third Glencoe Grand Prix, echoed those sentiments.

“It's one of my favorites,” she said. “Everything is so professionally done. The course, the food, the drinks, the bleachers, the setup, all of it.”

But if you're more interesting in movie stars than world-class cycling, you'll be glad to know that Golden Globe Award-winner Matthew Modine is the event's Grand Marshall. See? There's something for everyone. So check out the calendar of events and the course map at the Glencoe Grand Prix website and take advantage of this premier athletic event right here our own backyard.