BEVERLY — The Beverly Hills Cycling Classic returns to Beverly Friday afternoon after two years of being run through the Southwest Side neighborhood on a Thursday.
The move makes Beverly the first stop in the Prairie State Cycling Series, which also races in South Chicago on Saturday and concludes with the SRAM Chicago Criterium on July 26 in West Town.
The Beverly race has enjoyed considerable support over the years as the Beverly Area Planning Association also coordinates an area for casual fans to eat, drink and enjoy the race with live music.
This main viewing area is near the starting line on the grounds of Beacon Therapeutic Diagnostic and Treatment Center at 10650 S. Longwood Drive in Beverly. The festival area is being expanded this year to include the new playground at the special-needs school.
It's free to enter the viewing area at Beacon Therapeutic. And organizers are promising more kid-friendly food this year. For the adults, craft beer from Argus Brewery will be available.
This year's Beverly race will include categories for pro men and pro women, plus a children's big wheel race and a masters race for top cyclists 35 and older.
"The amateurs in the Chicago area are sort of champing at the bit to race in Beverly," said Marco Colbert, race director for the Intelligentsia Cup.
The masters race is new this year. Colbert believes the category will attract high-level cyclists from the Beverly area, including riders with the Beverly Bike–Vee-Pak Inc. racing team.
Indeed, Beverly is unique among the other Midwest courses as racers are forced to climb a steep hill just past the starting line. And for skilled riders, the course can pay off, as $6,350 worth of prize money is available to racers across all categories.
"Beverly is a tough, tough course," Colbert said.
For information call 773-233-3100 or email bapa@bapa.org. For information on the Prairie State Cycling Series, visit www.intelligentsiacup.com.
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