criterium Archives - Tailwind Cycles Chicago

MARCH 2026 CYCLING EVENTS IN CHICAGOLAND

Ullr, the Norse god of winter, hung up his crampons and stowed his toboggan for the year, which means the thaw is officially underway, and for Chicago cyclists that means one thing: it’s time to trade the indoor trainer for the open road. From the social miles of Wauconda to the brutal gravel grind of the “Hell of the Wind,” March is packed with opportunities to test your legs and fortitude. Whether you’re looking for a high-speed criterium or a muddy post-season cyclocross challenge, here are the key events hitting the Midwest calendar this month.

St. Patrick’s Day Ride — March 15

https://wheelmen.com/st_pats.asp

This fun, social road and general ride takes place in Wauconda, IL, celebrating St. Patrick’s Day with cyclists of all levels. The ride is a community favorite that embraces the seasonal transition into spring and leverages festive energy for a group outing.

Hell Of The Wind — March 28

https://www.bigrivergravel.com/about-1

Held in New Liberty, IA, Hell Of The Wind is a challenging gravel ride that pushes participants over variable terrain typical of early spring gravel seasons. Riders can expect rougher roads, wind exposure, and a strong testing ground for the upcoming cycling calendar.

Melting Mann — March 28

https://meltingmann.com

The Melting Mann event in Vandalia, MI is a spring gravel ride designed to shake off winter rust. It tests riders’ endurance across melting terrain and often muddy conditions as routes loosen with warmer temperatures approaching.

Autobahn Omnium — March 28 – 29

https://www.bikereg.com/autobahn-omnium

The Autobahn Omnium in Joliet, IL is a criterium racing event where riders compete in high-speed circuits around a closed course. As part of the spring racing calendar, this event attracts both local and competitive racers seeking fast laps and tactical competition.

Return to the Hills CX — March 29

https://www.bikereg.com/return-to-the-hills

Return to the Hills Cyclocross in Rockford, IL can be seen as the earliest cyclocross race of the season, or the latest race of last season, or just a thing of its own. Either way, It’s an off-road challenge that combines grass, mud, and technical obstacles. If you didn’t get enough cyclocross during the Chicago Cross Cup, here’s a second chance at glory.

Great Lakes Rando — March (Date TBD)

https://glr.greatlakesrando.org/stats/pages/myClub.xhtml

The Great Lakes Rando in Barrington, IL is a long-distance randonneuring event where cyclists ride extended courses at their own pace. With routes that test endurance and navigation skills, this ride embraces the tradition of unsupported, self-paced cycling.

There’re more events to come, keep checking the site for updates!

Tailwind’s Pit Tips for Criterium Racing

What is the Half Acre Cycling Skyway Crit?

Who and What: The Half Acre Cycling Team puts on an annual two-day road bike racing event called the Skyway Criterium. It’s a lap race open to anybody at any skill level. Prizes come in the form of medals and pride.

When: Saturday & Sunday, April 19 & 20, 2025

Where: The road and area around the Calumet Park gymnastics building, on Chicago’s southern edge. The course goes in a bean-shape on S. Ave G, Crilly, and 100th Dr.

Racing past the Tailwind Cycles pit tent.

Tailwind Neutral Support at the Race

We are extremely happy to be given the opportunity to help out with the Half Acre Cycling Skyway beginner Criterium series this upcoming April 19th and 20th. The importance of Half Acre Cycling’s commitment to inclusivity and effort to bring new bike racers into the Chicago racing scene is huge!

@boxwrenchben has been a race mechanic for twelve years now, having gone to the US Olympic Training Center in Colorado Springs to obtain a professional mechanic’s license in the fall of 2012, and worked Neutral Support professionally for the first time for NRS and Events in the Spring of 2013. He has worked as a neutral support race mechanic or pro team mechanic at races every year since 2013.

Road cyclists lined up to race Half Acre Skyway Beginner Crits

The Skyway Crit Series is great for new racers because the course is beginner friendly and the focus is on the lower categories, rather than some of the bigger race series in the area that cater to Category 1 and 2. A big part of crit racing that is often overlooked by new racers is how the race pit, technical assistance, and free laps during the race all work. The foundation of providing neutral support at a race is being able to provide technical assistance to the racers while at the same time adhering to the rules of the race, and also helping racers re-enter the race safely after taking a free lap. One of the requirements of obtaining a USA Cycling mechanics license is to take and pass the USA Cycling Officials license test. This ensures that the mechanic can work with the race officials to make sure everyone can race safely and fairly.

A lot of bike racers (new and experienced) don’t actually have a great understanding of how neutral support, the race pit, and free laps work at a race. We’ll go over some of the fundamentals here, and don’t be afraid to ask the mechanic(s) in the pit (whenever they aren’t busy) or any race official (same) if you have any questions. You can also go to the USA Cycling website and download a pdf of the official 2025 rulebook. Criterium racing rules are covered in chapter 3:

Any and all technical support must take place in the pit, no matter what point it is in the race. No rider is allowed to take a new wheel or have their bike worked on anywhere on the course other than the pit.

Don’t, under any circumstances, run into the pit and just grab a wheel for yourself or any other rider! (thankfully nobody has done this at Skyway any of the years I have worked it) You have to be given a spare wheel by the mechanic in the pit. If there was a big crash and there are multiple riders in the pit, this is especially important. It can be hard to be calm when your heart rate is up and your adrenaline is pumping. I can assure you though, if you just grab a wheel without permission and re-insert yourself into a race, you’ll be disqualified and that’s the end of your race.

You are expected to have your equipment in reasonable racing shape before the race. Neutral support is not a replacement for regular maintenance. If you come to the pit with a non-race incident mechanical, you will not be given a free lap. You can still re-enter the race, but you will either be chasing the field or you will be a lap down. Incidents where I have seen a racer not allowed a free lap include, but are not limited to: Bike stops shifting because derailleur cables are corroded. Bike stops shifting because it has electronic shifting and the rider forgot to charge their battery. Chain is skipping badly because it is so worn out it won’t engage cogs properly. Bike got a flat tire, but tires are worn way past the point they should have been replaced. Tubular tire comes off due to glue being old, or tubeless tire goes flat due to sealant being old and dried up. Bars, stem, or seatpost slip due to having damaged bolts or not having been tightened properly. Don’t be that person. Bike shops like Tailwind are here to inspect your bike before the race. If you have a race incident during the race and it is still in the part of the race where free laps are available, you are instructed to make your way to the pit as quickly and safely as possible.

A race incident is defined as a mechanical failure not caused by lack of maintenance, or a crash the rider was involved in. Being involved in a crash is defined as actually ending up on the ground. Stopping or slowing down to avoid a crash unfortunately doesn’t make the rider eligible for a free lap.

In most criterium races (including Skyway) you are allowed to cut the course or travel against the race direction (not on the course) to get to the pit.

At the line before the start whistle, the race officials will announce which race lap free-laps will end. Please pay attention to that announcement. You will also be told when you arrive at the pit whether you are getting a free lap or not.

If you come into the pit alone, you will be pushed back into the race by the mechanic. The intention is to get you back into the race pack in the same position as you left the group for the incident. Please wait for instruction on when to start pedaling and take the push. Either all of the riders re-entering the race get a push, or no riders get a push. At Skyway, there is only a single mechanic in the pit, so if there is more than a single rider re-entering the race, those riders will need to stand and wait to be told by either the mechanic or officials when to start pedaling to re-enter the race.

Come on down and check out the races! The cost of entry is low and day-licenses are available at registration, but we recommend you pre-register to make sure you get a spot.

Here’s a shot of Ben pushing a rider back into the field during the Tour of America’s Dairyland.

Tag: criterium

MARCH 2026 CYCLING EVENTS IN CHICAGOLAND

Tailwind’s Pit Tips for Criterium Racing

What is the Half Acre Cycling Skyway Crit?

Tailwind Neutral Support at the Race

/TAILWINDCYCLES