July 15, 2021
Mundelein Grand Prix-Intelligentsia Cup Professional Bike Race Rolls into Town July 19…Full Day of Racing and Family Friendly Activities

The "Intelligentsia Cup," a nationally renowned professional bike race is on its way to Mundelein! On July 19, the Mundelein Grand Prix-Intelligentsia Cup bicycle race features a full day of amateur and professional racing starting at 10 a.m. and continuing until 8:15 p.m. The START/FINISH Line will be at Hawley Street and Seymour Avenue. There will be over 10 races in different rider categories ranging from juniors to professionals in both men's and women's categories. The event also includes a beer garden, children's games, a community ride along, live music, art activities, Touch-A-Truck, and more. It’s a great community-builder event. 

According to the Intelligentsia Cup race organizers, “Mundelein’s course design will make for exciting racing, with both technical sections and a wide finish stretch.” Also, as the racing progresses throughout the day, each subsequent race increases in difficulty, leading into the men’s and women’s professional races in the evening. Races conclude by 8:15 p.m. 

PARTICIPANTS AND SPECTATORS
Event organizers anticipate 500 race participants and team members to participate. Mundelein is planning for hundreds of spectators to watch the races and participate in the festival offerings. To date, the Mundelein Grand Prix-Intelligentsia Cup has 429 racers planning to compete from 30 states, plus DC, 4 provinces of Canada, Italy, Chile, Germany, Belize, Mexico, and Spain! With up to 100 racers on the course at once, races will be action-packed and thrilling at every turn. Pro Tip: Be sure to watch some of the race from the turns at Plaza Circle and PNC Bank–these turns are extremely technical and fast, and will require incredible control by the racers to navigate in a crowded race!
BEER GARDEN/LIVE MUSIC
The Beer Garden will be located near the Start/Finish line. Hours are 12 p.m. to 8 p.m. Live music will be provided by AREA Coffee near the outdoor dining on Park Street.

FOOD TRUCKS
Mundelein is pleased to partner with Lucky Burger and Smokin’ BBQ on 45 who are providing delicious food available for purchase. All the food trucks will be located along Hawley Street in the event area. 

COMMUNITY RIDE
As part of the race day festivities, the Mundelein Park District will host a FREE Community Ride to give everyone the opportunity to experience the thrill of riding their bicycles on an actual cycling racecourse. 
Bicyclists of all ages are invited to ride the Grand Prix closed course for one half-hour following the Women's Pro Race. To join in the fun, complete a waiver at the check-in table located near Hawley and Seymour Avenue prior to the ride start. Be ready to go with your bike and helmet at 6:15 p.m., SHARP! The MPRD Community Ride is presented by Heartland Real Estate Partners.
Pro Tip: complete your waiver before arriving for a speedy check-in. Form Available Here.

RACECOURSE EXCITEMENT
The Mundelein Grand Prix is a professional and amateur bicycle race featuring cyclists who will compete on a short circuit racecourse in Downtown Mundelein along Seymour Avenue, Hammond Street, Chicago Avenue, and Park Street. Additional roads in the vicinity will be closed to vehicular access to ensure a safe event for all. Cyclists will complete as many laps as possible within the allotted time. There are prizes for winning each race category, mid-race sprints, and the entire Intelligentsia Cup series. Pro tip: unlike long-distance cycling events such as the Tour de France, these races are on a short-loop course which allows spectators to watch the action all day long!

COURSE MAP
RACE DAY ROAD CLOSURES AND DETOURS 
To make way for the THRILLING Mundelein Grand Prix-Intelligentsia Cup Bike Race, several downtown streets will be closed from 7 a.m. to 10 p.m. Absolutely no vehicles will be permitted on the closed roads during this time. Impacted streets include Hawley Street, Seymour Avenue, Park Street, Chicago Avenue, Hammond Street, and Plaza Circle. PLEASE NOTE: Hawley Street traffic will be detoured to Lake Street - Maple Avenue - Prospect Avenue. Always obey posted road closure signs and utilize detour routes where possible.
CHALK ARTISTS 
Amateur, professional, and student artists will be on hand to create temporary chalk art displays on race day to entertain visitors and beautify Mundelein. Art will be created on all the crosswalk spots and several wall spots along the course. This is a great way for the Mundelein Arts Commission to showcase and celebrate Mundelein’s artistic talents! 

BIKE DECORATING RAFFLE
the Mundelein Arts Commission is also hosting a FUN Bike Decorating Raffle event. To participate, simply bring your decorated bike to Park Street from 4 p.m. to 6 p.m. and enter it into the contest for a chance to win a GREAT raffle prize. Then, stay for the Community Ride! Be Creative!!!

PARKING
Please park at the Mundelein Metra Station Lot. Directions from Route 45/Lake Street: take Division Street east to parking lot. Please be courteous of our neighbors and save all other parking lots for business customers, residents, and employees.

FINAL THOUGHTS
“We are looking forward to welcoming all the cyclists and spectators to Mundelein for a thrilling day of professional and amateur cycling. We are honored to have been selected as a host community. I know everyone will have a great time at the event as we have planned a full day of family-oriented activities to help make this event a truly special day for the community and competitors. See you all on race day for the thrills and excitement of professional bicycle racing right here in Mundelein,” said Steve Lentz, Mayor. 

“The Intelligentsia Cup is one of the biggest cycling events in the nation and is one that elite racers are always sure to circle on their calendars. Bicycling Magazine recently included it as one of the ‘must watched events of this year.’ I am grateful to our sponsors, volunteers, the Intelligentsia Cup race organizers, Mayor Lentz, and the Board of Trustees for their support and enthusiasm. This will be one of those events that will be memorable to everyone involved. I encourage all Mundelein and Lake County residents to stop by and experience this event first-hand. Whether you know the names or not, it’s not every day that you get to watch professional athletes compete in your own hometown,” said Taylor Wegrzyn, Planner and Village Liaison-Mundelein Grand Prix-Intelligentsia Cup.

“Mundelein’s course design will make for exciting racing, with both technical sections and a wide finish stretch,” according to the Intelligentsia Cup race organizers. 

THANK YOU TO OUR MUNDELEIN GRAND PRIX SPONSORS
Lead Sponsors
• Lennar-PRESENTING SPONSOR
• Mundelein Community Bank
• Sysmex America, Inc.

Sponsors
• Senator Adriane Johnson
• Accounting Freedom, Ltd Luke’s of Mundelein
• Bosacki's Brewery
• Lakes Apothecary
• Midwest Masonry
• Mundelein LGBT Alliance & Allies 
• Super 8 Motel
• Smokin’ BBQ on 45
• RUSH Physical Therapy
Mundelein Grand Prix-Intelligentsia Cup Bike Race 
AT-A-GLANCE

  • The Mundelein Grand Prix Bike Race on Monday, July 19 is the fourth stop on this year’s Intelligentsia Cup series which features 9 THRILLING days of elite bicycle racing across Chicagoland. The series is the largest of its type in the nation and for this reason it attracts the biggest names in the sport. We are excited that Mundelein is a 2021 host city, and we invite EVERYONE to attend this event. We guarantee the entire family will have a great time. Please watch this video message from Mayor Lentz to learn more about the race day events and best places to watch! Let’s show our Mundelein Pride! 

  • This is truly a spectator-friendly event. Since the races are all on a short-circuit course, you can watch nearly non-stop action from anywhere along the course. There are 10 professional and amateur races throughout the day…the first race is at 10 p.m. and the last race finishes by 8:15 p.m. The professional races are the highlight of the evening, with the Women’s pro race starting at 5 p.m. and the Men’s pro race at 6:45 p.m.

  • To get the full experience, watch the race near the Start/Finish line and the stage which will be located at the intersection of Seymour Avenue and Hawley Street. Other great places to watch include the corner at PNC Bank and the corner at Village Hall which will provide some of the most technical and daring racing as 80+ racers try to navigate these tricky corners at incredible speeds.

  • Over 430 racers have registered for the day’s races, coming from literally across the nation and across the globe, including: 30 different states, 4 Canadian Provinces, and 7 countries (Italy, Spain, Belize, Germany, Mexico, Canada, US)…And these racers are fast! During the Pro events, racers will navigate the course, shoulder-to-shoulder at speeds pushing 40 mph!

  • A beer garden will be open from Noon until 8 p.m. with New Belgium Brewing and Tighthead options available.

  • A Bike Decorating Raffle will take place from 4 p.m. to 6 p.m. next to AREA Coffee. Bring your decorated bike and check in for a chance to win a gift basket including gift cards to M&M Cyclery, Bill’s Pizza, and bike accessories from REI.

  • Additional activities include live music, Old #1 historic fire engine, inflatable games, food trucks, Touch-A-Truck, and art demonstrations by the Mundelein Arts Commission.

  • Bring your bike and helmet and join MPRD for a casual community ride along the racecourse from 6:15 p.m. to 6:45 p.m. – enjoy the thrill of riding along the professional course to great fanfare.

  • Parking is available at the Mundelein Metra Station parking lot.