The streets of downtown Evanston will be alive with activity as the NorthShore University HealthSystem Grand Prix of Cycling rides into town Sunday, July 19.

The race, billed as the largest free-to-the-public professional sporting event on the North Shore, is one stage of the 17-day-long Point Premium Root Beer International Cycling Classic, which features 20 stages in cities throughout Illinois and Wisconsin.

The area around Fountain Square will be closed to four-wheeled vehicles as more than 500 cyclists from across the country and beyond are expected to participate in the day’s contests, which begin at 9 a.m. with amateur races of 15, 20, 25 and 30 miles, followed by four separate children’s races for ages nine and younger.

The professional races begin at 4 p.m. with the women’s 31-mile race. Then at 5:30 p.m., the men take to their bikes in 62-mile race that will see them make 72 laps around the course.

Organizers expect the race to generate anywhere from 15,000 to 20,000 spectators, making for a busy weekend with the Evanston Ethnic Arts Festival also scheduled in Dawes Park.

“It’s events like this that define Evanston as a lively, engaging, fun place to live, work, study, dine, shop and play,” said Evanston Mayor Elizabeth Tisdahl. “Nowhere else can you see art, music, dance and cyclists from all over the world showing their best within a few blocks.”

Tisdahl said the race reinforces Evanston’s image as a green city, adding that the city has taken steps to encourage bicycle riding by installing bike lanes and racks.

“In the professional men’s race, we’ll watch 150 top-level cyclists ride 62 miles in a little over two hours,” Tisdahl said. “Cycling at this level is beyond my ability and the ability of most Evanstonians; however, it makes the idea of riding two or four miles to work, school or shopping in 10 to 15 minutes seem very doable.”

With so many people expected to attend, organizers were touting the race’s positive impact on local businesses, especially restaurants.

As executive director of Evmark, the organization that manages and markets downtown Evanston, Carolyn Dellutri said downtown restaurants were gearing up for the race.

“There’s 30 restaurants with food service within the bike race itself,” she said, “with 20 more within a mile.”

According to Dellutri, roughly 68 percent of race spectators are expected to dine in one of the 85 downtown restaurants. Additionally, Dellutri estimated that 3,000 of the race’s expected spectators would be making their first visit to Evanston.


While at the race, chief sponsor NorthShore University HealthSystem is hoping to inform spectators about the importance of preventative health screenings, especially cancer screenings.

“Even though we may not be able to cure most cancers,” said Dr. Daniel Shevrin, director of NorthShore’s Kellogg Cancer Care Center, “we have found decades of research that education about cancer prevention and cancer screening does save lives. It’s critical that everyone above the age of 20 get regular health exams.”

For more information about the NorthShore University HealthSystem Grand Prix of Cycling, go to www.northshoregrandprix.com.

By Jonathan Bullington/Triblocal.com reporter