Online registration closes at 11:59 p.m. Tuesday, June 5, for the CyclingLawyer.com Criterium.
KALAMAZOO, Mich.—Registration is open for Western Michigan University's annual CyclingLawyer.com Criterium set for Saturday, June 9, on the Parkview Campus, home to the Business Technology and Research Park and College of Engineering and Applied Sciences.
To register, visit USA Cycling and type "BTR Park Criterium" in the event search box. Online registration closes at 11:59 p.m. Thursday, June 7.
The day of competition—which attracts 250 to 300 cyclists from the Midwest and awards $5,000 in cash prizes—is the Saturday event of the SW Michigan Cycling Weekend planned in collaboration with Race for Wishes, which will host a road race on Sunday, June 10, in Lawton. Cycling skills and racing clinics for kids and juniors will kick off the weekend on Friday, June 8.
The CyclingLawyer.com Criterium begins at 8 a.m. and features a 1.1-mile circuit around the College of Engineering and Applied Sciences' Floyd Hall. The circuit has three 90-degree turns and multiple sweeping turns that excite spectators as well as racers.
This is the 13th year WMU and its BTR Park will host a criterium—a series of timed races lasting 45 to 90 minutes across several categories for men, women and juniors. A free kids' bike race for youth 12 years of age and under will occur around noon with no registration required.
Gift cards valued at $25 will be awarded to the first 25 new cyclists to register for the race. Additionally, all returning cyclists who register will be entered in a raffle to receive a $100 Visa gift card, courtesy of Discover Kalamazoo.
Smoked Down BBQ will serve as the official food vendor of the race and will be on-site from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. offering food and beverages.
Kids' cycling clinics
On-bike cycling skills clinics for children and teens utilizing the race circuit will be staged on the evening of Friday, June 8, and hosted by racing professionals from Team Athletic Mentors/Greenware USA. The clinics provide a great opportunity to learn basic skills for kids and group riding and racing skills for teens. Pre-registration is $5 for the clinics for children and $10 for the teen group, or an additional $5 the day of the clinics, space permitting.
For more information, including race and clinic registration and information on sponsorship and volunteering opportunities, visit the 2018 CyclingLawyer.com Criterium event page.
For more information about the 11-mile Race for Wishes—one of only two road course races in Michigan—visit Race for Wishes on Facebook.
For more WMU news, arts and events, visit WMU News online.