The 2019 Intelligentsia Cup cycling series begins on Fri., July 19 with the Beverly Area Planning Association’s (BAPA) 17th annual Beverly Hills Cycling Classic and Bikes and Brews Festival. The race start/finish line and festival site will be located at the St. Barnabas Parish parking lot, 10100 S. Longwood Drive.
Day one of the 10-day Prairie States Cycling Series Intelligentsia Cup racing series features events for professional and elite amateur riders competing in men’s women’s, masters’ and juniors’ races. The 1.54 kilometer criterium course takes riders down Longwood Drive to 100th Street to Winchester to 101st Street to Seeley to 102nd Street and back to Longwood Drive, andincludes hills that attract professional riders from around the world. The festival opens at 4 p.m. and races begin at 4:15 p.m.
Spectators around the race course are encouraged to cheer on the riders who whiz by at speeds of more 30+ mph.
The Festival
The popular family-friendly Bikes & Brews festival continues until 10 p.m. Serving beer for the 21+ crowd are local brewery favorites Open Outcry Brewing Co., Horse Thief Hollow, Blue Island Brewing Co. and Argus Brewery, as well as Lagunitas. Food and treats will be available from Original Rainbow Cone, Americanos, America’s Dog & Burger, Franconello, Misericordia Hearts & Flour Bakery, Calabria, Home Run Inn, 9-1-1- BBQ Shack, Two-Mile Coffee Bar and Swanson’s.
The festival area also features the Kids Zone with a game truck, face painting, and more, and a bike valet. The evening will include live music, the annual raffle for a Giant bike donated by Beverly Bike and Ski, and more. will perform following the races, about 8:30 p.m.
Get In on the Action
In professional bike racing, riders make their living by winning prizes. To attract the best riders to the Beverly Hills Cycling Classic, BAPA needs to offer primes – cash prizes awarded to the winners of individual laps in a race. Only one rider can win the top prize; several riders can win the primes. Area residents and businesses can sponsor primes at $200, $100 and $50 levels. Donors have their names announced over the public address system during the race. 100% of the money donated for primes is awarded to riders and the deadline for donating is Mon., July 8. Sign up for primes at www.bapa.org or request one via email at reception@bapa.org.
Summer Bike Raffle
Once again, Beverly Bike and Ski has donated a brand new Giant Cypress bike to be raffled off. Tickets are $5 each or three for $10 and available at Beverly Bike and Ski as well as at the Bikes and Brews Festival.
The Sponsors
The lead sponsor of this year’s festival is Beverly Bike and Ski, 9121 S. Western Ave. The shop has been serving the community since 1921, and has been a partner in sponsoring the Beverly Hills Cycling Classic since the beginning of the event’s history. Other sponsors are Mike Haggerty Buick-GMC-Volkswagen, Beverly Bank & Trust, Sports and Ortho Physical Therapy, CIBC, Beverly Hills Animal Hospital, County Fair, 19th Ward Youth Foundation, Smith Village, Uhlmann Home Improvement, Chesterfield Awning, PRP Wine, State Farm Insurance – Zach Betley agent, Allstate Insurance – Josh Mercer agent, and The Beverly Review.
Be a Volunteer
People are needed to help out as course marshals and at the festival on race day. Sign up at bapa.org or call 773-233-3100.
