Watching a Bike Race

Watching a pro bike race is loads of fun but there's lots going on. Here’s how to make sense of it and key places to watch the action:

Sprinters vs. Endurance
A criterium is fundamentally a contest between sprinters and endurance riders. Endurance riders keep a fast, steady pace and aim to break away from the pack to win. Sprinters conserve energy by keeping the pack together so they can hit a sudden burst of speed at the end to win.

Drafting
Bicycle race strategies revolve around the wind. A cyclist riding closely behind another can save over a third of his energy. That's why most racers stay in a group, known as “the pack” or “peloton.” Cyclists sometimes work together, taking turns at the pack's front and sharing the work of “breaking the wind”. The pack's shape tells you how hard and fast they are going. When single file, everyone’s working as hard as possible. When the pack is 3 or 4 riders abreast, they’re taking a few moments to recover.

Teams
Riders compete in teams and work together. Riders have different roles and develop strategies that fit their team's goals for the race.

Strategy
A common team strategy is for 1 or 2 members to try to get into a breakaway group early, while the team’s sprinter takes it relatively easy in back, out of the wind. If an endurance rider successfully establishes a breakaway group, the rest of the team will try to disrupt the pack’s efforts to chase them down. But if the breakaway group is caught, the sprinter will take over and use a “leadout” to set him or her up for a bunch sprint at the end.

Where to Watch

The course offers great spots to see pro bike racing at its best:

The Eye of the Storm
The race passes all around Fountain Square. From here you can see racers coming and going from many angles, visit sponsor tents, talk about the race with other fans, talk to riders and celebrate riders' victories.

Graceful Cornering
Witness high-speed cornering at Sherman/Grove, Grove/Chicago, and Chicago/Davis. These first three corners are wide, sweeping left-hand bends. Riders will take these at close to full speed.

Breakaway Point
The tight right turn from Davis onto Orrington is where the rhythm of the first turns come to a crushing halt. Watch for riders to break away here by accelerating off the pack just before the turn. If they slip through and accelerate up Orrington, they can leave the pack behind.

Jockeying for Position
Orrington to Clark is where sprinters will angle for position. Whether for “prime” money, sprint points or to win the race, they will find a "lead-out" rider to take them through the tight turn onto Clark Street.

Tricky Turns
The corners of Clark may be the liveliest venue to see sprinters jockey for final position and riders pushed to their limits. Riders will take the tight corners at terrifyingly high speeds to launch their final sprint down Sherman to the Start/Finish line.

Pure Speed
Riders will reach top speeds racing down Sherman Avenue. Riders will spread out on this wide street — a great place to cheer them on!

Thrill of Victory
The Start/Finish Line, Announcer's stand and podium are on Sherman at Fountain Square. Riders will go all out to reach the finish line first during the race to win Sprinters Points or Primes, but will pour their hearts out at the end to win.

Best Seat in the House
EVERYWHERE! No matter where you choose to watch the race you have the opportunity to dine at some of Evanston's finest restaurants — many with outdoor seating or great window views. There really isn't a bad seat in downtown Evanston. Check out the Downtown Evanston Map (PDF) for restaurant locations around the course.

Make Some Noise
Remember to make some noise as riders race by, riders feed of the energy of the crowd. Do anything that lets they know you are watching, clap, shout, whistle, ring a cow bell, heck put a bunch of pennies in an empty water bottle and rattle it as they go by! Let the riders know that downtown Evanston is hopping.

Please only cross at designated crossing areas and only when given the OK
from the Route Marshal. A pace car will lead the way letting you know the riders
are on their way.