On Tap...

Welcome to another installment of what's "On Tap..." for this weekend. Since I'm writing from the Midwest, let's start off with the races for the International Cycling Classic Superweek Pro Tour or simply Superweek.

Fri, July 20
Green Lake Criterium* New Race!
Green Lake, WI
Sat, July 21
Carl Zach Cycling Classic presented by Couri Insurance Agency*
Waukesha, WI
Sun, July 22
Evanston Northwestern Healthcare Grand Prix of Cycling* New Race!
Evanston, IL

If you're still not sure about participating, and perhaps need a little goading, check out the article from Chicago Tribune Staff Writer and my former xXx Racing-Athletico teammate, Luke Seemann. Luke also recently started up a site, Chicago Bike Racing [link also on our right navigation bar], that is based off a similar resource for racers in Minnesota. Both the article and the site provide the perfect snapshot of what racing is on the ground level; for every day people who have a passion for cycling but don't necessary make a living from it. And if you want an in-depth race report from the ENH Grand Prix, you probably won't find one finer than at CBR.

If you can't make it to Wisconsin or the Chicagoland area this weekend, here are some races for you in certain select regions of the country.

07/20/2007
3rd Friday Marysville Grand Prix
Marysville, OH
The Bicycling & Womens Health Magazine Int Womens
Trexlertown, PA
French Broad Cycling Classic -2007
Marshall, Henderson County, and Asheville, NC
NAS-Track #5
Mike Walden Velodrome
Rochester Hills, MI

07/21/2007
VA Age Graded Road Race Championship
Richmond, VA
Watsonville Criterium
Watsonville, CA
Nicole Reinhart Memorial Tour de FCCC
Maxatawny/Trexlertown, PA
2007 YLNI Pancake Race
Woodburn, IN
SCNCA Masters Track Cycling Championships
Encino, CA
Troy Classic on the Square
Troy, OH
Maillot Jaune Road Race
Fenton, MI
Robert Fulton Road Race
Peach Bottom, PA

07/22/2007
Ontario GP-9th Annual
Ontario, CA
Team Time Trial Presented by Volkswagen
Richmond, VA
Albany Criterium
Albany, CA
Tour d'Burg
Miamisburg, OH

07/23/2007
The International Tour de 'Toona
Altoona, PA

Support for these races and these riders is always greatly appreciated, so go and check out the action...you may just see the "next" great thing in cycling in one of these races.

For results and photos from most of the races, go to Truesport.com

Across the Pond
If you're somehow stuck to the sofa this weekend, Le Tour promises to live up to its hype this weekend [and through Monday] as three crucial stages should help sort out the contenders from the pretenders for the GC crown.

The most interesting shake outs will come from Discovery Channel and Rabobank. Both teams have their leaders [Leipheimer and Menchov] and their up-starts [Contador and Rasmussen] high on the GC standings. Depending on how the weekend plays out, we could see a complete role reversal in the third week with Leipheimer and Menchov out on the attack or even perhaps blocking some wind for their teammates.

Locally
There's always NAS-Track tonight...but the main attractions in "A" deux are the Ann Arbor Art Fairs [plus the opening of a new bike shop]. I can already feel the heat burning that proverbial hole in my pocket. I'll be one of the many randoms wearing a Red Sawx (lot of East Coast kids at UM) cap cruising the scene.