On a very cold December morning, cyclocross racers from IL, IN, MI, MN & OH showed up for the final race in the inaugural Chicago Cyclocross Cup series which also served as the Illinois State Championships. A fun twist to the event was riders could earn extra points for cross- dressing and there were a couple of guys racing with dresses and even one in a cheerleading outfit. A couple of women raced with men's suits.

Fifteen riders lined up for the Men's A competition. Bobby Williamson, who recently moved to Illinois, was the overall winner and state champion.

Describe as "one heckuva tough course" the riders had to cross these barriers just as they started the incline of Cricket Hill.

Erik Weisenburger, who races for XXXRacing-AthletiCo, races to an Illinois State Championship title for Men's B Class.

Chicago's Debbie Dust finishes third in her group and second in Illinois standings.

ABD's Sarah Tillotson took the lead out right away in the women's A/B category and didn't look back. She finished in first place.

One of the many challenges of this cyclorcross race---to jump or not to jump over this gulley!