And now, a word from your local USA Cyclocross National Championships organizing committee…

Hello from the local organizing committee for the (now) 2021 USA Cycling Cyclocross National Championship. We are excited to be able to bring this event to the Chicago area and show-off how we do ‘cross here!

To say it has been a challenge to get to this point would be an understatement; but thanks to the DuPage Convention & Visitors Bureau, as well as Cantigny Park and USA Cycling, it’s a go. 

We know there are a lot of questions about the event, and we will have answers as we learn them. USA Cycling came for its first site visit in late March and is working on the course design; but the canvas they have to work with is definitely exciting. For those that don’t know what Cantigny Park is, we encourage you to visit this spring or summer! (But leave the bike at home so we can keep it fresh for December.) The gardens and museum and great, and there is a ‘tank park!’

Many have asked about volunteering and helping with the event (some of you really like pounding posts!), and that is going to be a key component in the success of this event. We will be putting out a formal call for volunteers with a sign-up in the coming months as the event details come into focus, since most of these roles will be the week before and during the event. For anyone looking at helping at a higher level and earlier, reach out to the LOC.

Meanwhile, the biggest help the event needs right now is sponsorship to help with the expense of producing an event of this size and stature. It’s no surprise that the pandemic has struck the tourism industry especially hard, so the reliance on outside funding via sponsors is more important than before. Besides the traditional expo spaces there are major branding opportunities with the course features. Anyone interested in sponsorship for this unique event should contact the LOC for more information.

Our goal is to make this nationals one of the best to date, from a high-quality competition to the overall atmosphere and festivities that go along with it. Ideally, we’ll bring new fans to this sport that can also help our local series flourish. We know the Chicago cyclocross community is capable of helping achieve this goal. Stay tuned for more details!