Franz Nietlispach, known around the world for his skills as a wheelchair racer, has switched to handcycle competition and will race in the USHF Handcycle National Championship on Sunday, July 7, in Elgin.

The Swiss athlete has won Boston and paralympic gold numerous times. In his first year in handcycling, the equivalent of bicycle racing for disabled athletes, he already is at the top of the sport. Earlier this year, he beat John Mayerhoffer of Austria, who had been the sport's top competitor.

The handcycle race is at 10:45 a.m., and is part of the day-long Four Bridges of Elgin, which includes international cycling, inline skating and running.

There will be 13 competitive events with competition from 8 a.m. through 2:30 p.m. Themain event is the 72-mile international cycling race at 2:30 p.m. Sanctioned by the U.S. Cycling Federation, the race will feature 80 young (ages 19-22) Olympic, national and world champion athletes.

New this year is an 8K run at 8:01 a.m., right after the start of the inline skating challenge.

For complete information, log onto www.chicagoevents.com.