May 27, 2004 – Last year one of the most popular events at the annual CHIN Picnic was the bicycle racing. Absent from the event lineup for a number of years, the
fast, spectacular series of circuit races made a welcome return to the
Picnic due to the efforts of the Midweek Cycling Club.

This year’s event is special because it is also the provincial criterium
championship and an Ontario Cup event., features that will attract a
top-class field from across eastern Canada and the north-eastern USA.
Plans are also in place to invite teams from some of the countries featured
on CHIN Radio International.

For those unfamiliar with criterium racing, it’s a high-speed cycling
event on a closed circuit with the riders averaging over 40 kph and
finishing sprints of 70 kph plus. The distances vary with the categories
of rider but the senior pro/am event is over 100K and will take
just over 2 hours. Total prize purse for the day is over $6,000

Racing on the fully barricaded 1K course starts at 7:00 a.m. with the
40+ age group doing a 1 hour event. These masters riders are followed by a
series of I hour races for senior 3′ juniors and women. The showcase event,
featuring the top performers, with teams from Ital Pasta, Midweek Elite,
Gears Racing and Jet Fuel starts at 11.45 a.m. with nationally ranked men
battling for the CHIN Picnic and Ontario championship honours.

As added value for the large number of spectators, the riders in some of
the events will contest intermediate “primes.” Prizes for these
mini-contests are offered by the crowd and some of the race sponsors.

So come out on Canada Day and make the CHIN bike race a must on your race itinerary.

For more info, visit: www.midweekclub.com.