LAJORS series comes to Chicago

Chicago's XXX Racing-AthletiCo has announced that its Alderman Shirley A. Coleman's 16th Ward Sherman Park Criterium on Saturday, September 3, 2005 will be part of the Lance Armstrong Junior Olympic Road Series (LAJORS). The race will be one of just three LAJORS races in the Midwest this year.

The Sherman Park Criterium is one of just three major bike races to take place in the City of Chicago each year. A full day of competition for all age and ability levels will start at 8:00 a.m., with registration beginning at 6:30 a.m. In one of the event's annual highlights, children ages 9 and younger who have a bike and a helmet will be invited to race for free over various distances beginning at 2:15 p.m. The day's racing will culminate with the Women's Open race at 3:00 p.m. and a Pro/1/2/3 event for the men at 4:30 p.m.

The LAJORS program promotes quality junior and espoir racing, with the aim of providing a clear path for riders to follow from beginning racing experiences through training camps to National Teams. Riders aged from 15 to 22 have the opportunity to qualify for USA Cycling Regional Camps by finishing in the top five places of LAJORS races. More details are available at www.usacycling.org/lajors.

For more information on the Sherman Park Criterium see www.xxxracing.org.