Competitive cyclists across the Midwest will turn the ignition keys for their 2011 campaigns on Saturday, March 26, when the 4th Annual Burnham Racing Spring Super Criterium returns to Blackhawk Farms Raceway in South Beloit, Ill. The highly-anticipated event remains the only sanctioned non-motorized competition to take advantage of this historic and scenic facility. Additionally, the 2011 Spring Super Criterium will mark the opening of a new-look Illinois Cup, a season-long points-series that crowns the State’s most-consistent and successful bike racers. The Spring Super Criterium is co-hosted by Chicago’s Burnham Racing and Spidermonkey Cycling programs.

Beginning with the Super Criterium, nearly every stop on the Illinois Cup calendar will include consistent category offerings, as well as cash prize purses for fields other than the junior/10- 14 age group. At the conclusion of the 2011 road racing season, the Illinois Cup will recognize champions in 11 total categories, including independent women’s Category 4 and Category 3 fields. Promoters may still elect to offer additional fields at their events, such as the Spring Super Criterium’s Men’s Category 5 race, which will be an ideal entry point for those who are new to the sport.