2024 State Championships Update

The votes have been tallied. The Elmhurst Cycling Classic on June 8, 2024 will be our State Criterium Championship.

We have added a State TT championship as there is now 1 TT scheduled under USA Cycling for the year under the Autobahn Omnium. The following are our current State Championships for 2024

TT: Autobahn Omnium hosted by South Chicago Wheelman March 30/31

Criterium: Elmhurst Cycling Classic June 8th

Gravel: Little Apple, August 4, Manhattan, IL

A note on voting: when we have voting for State Championships we allow 1 vote per team. We do this to help balance out the state. The overwhelming majority (at times upwards of over 80%) of licensed racers in the state live in the greater Chicagoland area. At times some of the teams in that area have been so large (some of the largest in the country) that if we allowed individual votes we might as well simply ask those teams what they want as their numbers would decide the outcome on their own. By making the vote 1 vote per team we are effectively reducing the large teams into a single and equal vote.

If as an individual you feel that your voice isn’t being heard then we highly encourage you to join a club/team so that you may help that team to vote when it comes time.

Participation in this year’s vote was low enough that the board refrained from voting.

Speaking of the board we have a new Secretary: Kaiwen (Kai) Luan (Indigo Cycling)

Also here’s a reminder regarding State Championship Jerseys. USA Cycling took steps about 3 years ago to massively change the funding each Local Association receives. The old model used to include getting a portion of each license payment. Under the new system a small portion of each rider day is sent to the LA. This has effectively cut the funding of the ICA to a small fraction of what used to be received. It no longer allows for us to pay for a free jersey for every single State Championship winner and still be able to maintain the LA resources such as the reg computer, 2 way radios used at each event, finish Lynx camera system, lap counter, etc. As such we are slowly working through the remainder of the jerseys we have in inventory. When they are gone they are gone. Working with Pactimo we will occasionally have an open “store” where a jersey in the needed size can be ordered by any winner who wishes to purchase one on their own.

If you ever win and want to purchase a jersey on your own then please let us know so that we can include you on an email when that store is opened the 1 or 2 times a year it will open. You can email us at ilcyclingassociation@gmail.com

Final Illinois Cup schedule is near completion so please look for it here when it is available.

ICA Race Directors Meeting 2024

Illinois Cycling Association is inviting you to a scheduled Zoom meeting.

Topic: ICA Public Monthly Board Meetings
Time: Feb 11, 2024 01:00 PM Central Time (US and Canada)

The 2024 ICA Race Director’s meeting will be held at 12pm on February 11 on the 2nd floor of the site of the Chicago Bike Swap in the Kane County Fairgrounds (525 S Randall Rd, St. Charles, IL 60174).

All are welcome. We cover information that race directors will find useful for the upcoming season. New or perspective race directors or even club members looking to learn information to take back to their club are welcome.

Join Zoom Meeting
https://us02web.zoom.us/j/84802395579?pwd=SUpQcGU4U2srYXo4N1k2VUcwcitBQT09

Meeting ID: 848 0239 5579
Passcode: 312847

Find your local number: https://us02web.zoom.us/u/kn3dd1PQu

2024 Early News

With the 2024 season quickly approaching we have quite a few things to go over.

Applications for the 2024 State Championships are now open. Races can put their name in the hat for selection by sending an email to ilcyclingassociation@gmail.com and including their race name, date of event, a flyer if available, and a couple of paragraphs that will be sent to all voting teams for consideration. The following championships are now open for application through Jan 27, 2024:

  • Criterium
  • Road Race
  • Mtb
  • Gravel
  • Time Trial

Voting will then take place from Jan 28 through Feb 9th. Each registered club with USA Cycling will be allowed 1 vote as a club. The board of the ICA will be allowed to vote as a “club” with a total of 2 votes (discussed and confirmed during the last open board meeting). Due to the ongoing low number of races applying we will once again forego having a State Championship Committee for 2024.

Track championships will once again be a part of the programs at the Ed Rudolph Velodrome. Refer to https://www.northbrookcyclecommittee.org/ for any pertinent information as it develops throughout the season.

We will open applications for the 2024 Cyclocross State Championship in June 2024.

Speaking of the board we have 3 board positions that are currently up for vote:

  • Treasurer: Currently held by Brenda Feehrey (South Chicago Wheelmen) who will run for the position again.
  • Vice President: Currently held by Michael Kelly (South Chicago Wheelmen) who will run for the position again.
  • Secretary: Currently held by Kevin Pietka who has stated he will continue to fill the role if no one steps up but would like to see someone new step up to take it over.

To nominate someone please send your nomination in to ilcyclingassociation@gmail.com through Jan 27, 2024. Do us all a favor and please discuss your nomination with the individual you are nominating before submitting it and save everyone some time and refrain from submitting it if that individual has no intention of filling the role. Voting will take place at the same time as the Championships voting.

All Clubs must be in currently good standing with USA Cycling and a member of the Illinois Cycling Association as their Local Association designator in order to place a vote.

Our annual Race Director Meeting will once again be held during the 2024 Chicago Winter Bike Swap. Interested parties may attend in person or virtually. Please use the following link to RSVP for the event so we are prepared. http://tinyurl.com/ICA-RD-Meeting At these meetings we usually cover upcoming changes in store for race directors in 2024, answer questions and generally share ideas and contacts, etc.

Speaking of race directing a new web series is being hosted by USA Cycling for all who are interested. Topics and dates are as follows:

  • Tuesday, January 23: CHAMPIONING USA CYCLING’S SAFE SPORT PROTOCOL AT SANCTIONED EVENTS
  • Tuesday, February 20: DIVERSITY, EQUITY, AND INCLUSION 101
  • Tuesday, March 19: EVENT INSURANCE
  • Tuesday, April 16: STRATEGIES TO ELEVATE YOUR EVENT
  • Tuesday, September 17: STRATEGIES FOR MARKETING YOUR EVENT
  • Tuesday, October 15: STAFFING YOUR EVENT FOR SUCCESS
  • Tuesday, November 19: BUILDING ROBUST CLUB AND COLLEGIATE CYCLING PROGRAMS

More information about the series as well as registering is available at https://usacycling.org/2024-event-organizer-webinar-series

Illinois Cup is being finalized but may see as many as 7 events take part in this years series so keep your eyes open for announcements.

State Cyclocross Championships 2023

Montrose has won the voting for State cyclocross Championships for 2023. Look to their race flyer for State Championship information.

Cyclocross State Championships 2023

After a long process we have 2 races that have requested to be the Illinois State Cyclocross Championships for 2023. As such we will post a statement from each race here and open voting up to the teams in Illinois. Each team gets 1 vote. In order to vote a team has to be a currently registered club with USA Cycling. Voting opens 8/14/23 and will close at 5pm on Monday 8/21/23. Votes may be submitted in email to ilcyclingassociation@gmail.com or via the contact form on this site. Please spread the word to all you know.

Option 1 – Pumpkin Hop Cross – Beardstown, IL Oct 7
“Greetings, cycling teams of Illinois and beyond! I’m Nathan Carls, and I’m the race director for Pumpkin Hop Cross in Beardstown, IL. In 2021, we were fortunate to be able to host the state championship races. I was so pleased to have such a great representation of riders from across the state. It was a privilege for me to be able to show and share this event that I love so much with a lot of new folks. We held two days of races, making the trip a little more worth it for those traveling longer distances. This year will be no different, and in fact even better. Night races will be on offer again (after being off for a few years) on Friday evening, followed by full days of racing Saturday and Sunday. We are running October 6th through the 8th this year, on multiple courses, and plenty of race opportunities for everyone! Since 2021 was still a little iffy regarding distancing and such, we didn’t offer food. But last year we brought that back and fed everyone! And our facilities are the tops, as well. Not luxurious, of course, but, “hot showers,” surely says a little something. For lodging, there are several AirBnB properties around, as well as hotels/motels in and around Beardstown (and camping at the park). Last year, I offered a one-price-race-all-day entry fee, and I am working on a similar model for this year, likely a weekend rate. If selected as the host venue for the Illinois State cyclocross championships, those races will be held on Saturday, October 7th. Pumpkin Hop Cross: if you know, you know. If you don’t…you should. Thanks so much for considering adding us to your CX racing schedule for 2023. Be sure to visit the Pumpkin Hop Cross Facebook page and @mid_life_cxrisis on Instagram.”

Option 2 – Montrose Harbor – Chicago, IL Dec 3
“The Montrose Beach CX race committee  is asking to be considered for the Illinois State Cyclocross championship event. The event last hosted the championships in 2018. As the largest cyclocross event in the state year-over-year, both by overall participation and by Illinois residents, it is an ideal event to crown worthy champions.

As well, the December date, the week before nationals and the end of the domestic racing season, gives participants a sense of finality to the season. The event itself has both high production value and a challenging course. The natural sand dunes provide a challenge not found at any other venue in the region. Since it last hosted the State championship the event has served as the Midwest Regional championship, and in doing so added a pavement start and expanded the pit to upgrade the racing experience to be in line with international standards.

For these reasons, along with its history as the state championship, the race committee will ensure a competitive and high-quality experience for all racers.”

Voting is now open. Please submit your votes as quickly as possible.

ICA BOARD MEETING 5-11-2022 IS CANCELLED

Due to a complete lack of new business, officiating the Skyway and other we are going to cancel the tonight’s board meeting . If you have any business that you would like for the us to consider before the June meeting then please contact us here.

Illinois Cycling Association Promoter Meeting 2-13-2022 @ 12:30pm

Join us on February 13, 2022 to shop at the Chicago Bike Swap then attend the ICA Promoters meeting at 12:30pm to get information on Illinois ‘cycling’ everything!

​The Chicago Winter Bike Swap will be held at Kane County Fairgrounds 525 S. Randall Road Saint Charles IL 60174, inside the Prairie Event Center.          https://www.chicagowinterbikeswap.com  Enter through the main doors at the center on the north side of the building

  • what does the ICA have planned for 2022? (Illinois Cup, State Championships)
  • USAC updates, including how to become an official!
  • an opportunity to speak with fellow promoters, a chance to get a sneak peak on the events they are promoting and a great time to network to host a race of your own!

Details and agenda will be updated soon! 

If you can’t join in person, please join by Zoom.  Link to be updated soon!

Chicago Winter Bike Swap – 2/13/2022

Click the link below for more information – 

Chicago Winter Bike Swap

February 13, 2022 9:30 am – 3:30 pm

https://www.chicagowinterbikeswap.com/

Tonight’s ICA Board Meeting rescheduled for 12/15/2021 8pm

12/8 ICA board meeting has been rescheduled for 12/15 @ 8pm.