(CHICAGO, June 14, 2005) -- On Friday, July 8, the Beverly Hills Cycling Classic -- the first leg of the 17-day International Cycling Classic Superweek Pro Tour and Chicago's only professional bike race -- returns to the Beverly Hills/Morgan Park neighborhood, bringing the thrill of professional bike racing to thousands of spectators.

More than 125 professional and elite amateur cyclists are expected to compete in the 100K criterium through the hilly and historic southwest side neighborhood. The Beverly Hills Cycling Classic is the first race in the 36th annual International Pro-Am Cycling Classic, a National Racing Calendar event. Professional and elite amateur cyclists from Europe and the United States are expected to compete for prize money and primes (prizes awarded for winning individual laps), riding 62 miles in a circuit just over a mile in length. The race will take about two hours to complete with the cyclists traveling an exciting average speed of 32 miles per hour -- and much faster on the straight-aways.

"The Beverly Hills Cycling Classic is a tremendously successful and exciting summer event," said Willie Winters, Executive Director of the Beverly Area Planning Association (BAPA), the local organization that facilitates the Classic. The International Cycling Classic attracts riders and racing teams from 20 countries to 12 cities in northern Illinois, the greater Milwaukee area and eastern Wisconsin. Many riders go on from this race to compete in world class events such as the Tour de France.

In 1996, Lance Armstrong competed in the Superweek Pro Tour. Last year's Beverly Hills Cycling Classic winner Robbie Ventura, is a world class rider and member of the US Postal Service racing team lead by Armstrong.

BAPA is working with the pro-am race organizers to present the 3rd Beverly Hills Cycling Classic and to organize two local biking events to be held in conjunction with the race. The Tour de Beverly Family Ride, sponsored by William Blair & Company, offers 5- and 10-mile family-friendly rides through the historic Beverly Hills/Morgan Park neighborhood. It will begin at 4 p.m. At 5:15 p.m., tots are invited to participate in the Longwood 100 Big Wheel race sponsored by Sports Ortho Physical Therapy & Sports Medicine. The Beverly Hills Cycling Classic begins at 6 p.m. All three events will start/finish at 107th and Longwood Drive, adjacent to the event,s festival area on the grounds of Beacon Therapeutic School.

The Beverly Hills Cycling Classic will kick off at the Beverly Arts Center, 2407 W. 111th St., Chicago, at 7 p.m., Thurs., July 7, with a reception with riders and a special screening of "The Triplets of Belleville" a charming animated film about a rider in the Tour de France who is kidnapped, and whose grandmother, aided by three sisters, sets off to rescue him.

The Beverly Hills Cycling Classic is presented by The McTigue Financial Group, title sponsor.

Host families for pro-am cyclists are being sought. The families are asked to provide a place to sleep, shower and bike storage for one or more riders. Hosts are not expected to provide food or transportation. Families and groups are also invited to adopt a rider to cheer for on race day.

For more information visit www.bapa.org or call BAPA at 773-233-3100.