Chicago Criterium Hits Grant Park Tomorrow
By Prescott Carlson in Arts & Entertainment on Jul 26, 2008 9:04PM
Not content to keep the Grant Park clusterfuckery limited to next weekend, Mayor Daley, a big cycling fan (he has the body of Lance Armstrong under those frumpy suits, we swear), is turning the streets around the park into a 1.1 mile criterium bike race course tomorrow, July 27th. For the uninitiated (like this particular Chicagoist), a criterium race is held on a closed loop of a short distance, which -- like it will here -- often takes place on closed-off city streets. The first ever Chicago Criterium kicks off with a series of races starting at 7:00 a.m. with scores of "cycling's elite" competing for $40,000 in prize money. Wow, that's some serious spandex shopping money!
Race registration is closed, but spectators will have plenty to do besides watching racers whiz past Buckingham Fountain, including a sports expo, vendors, and a Big Wheel race for the kiddies. The race will take place along Columbus Drive to Jackson, then south on Michigan to Fascist Drive, and back to Columbus.