Chicago, IL - Chicago's XXX Racing-AthletiCo, one of the largest amateur bike racing teams in the Midwest, is proud to announce that it will host Alderman Shirley A. Coleman's 16th Ward Sherman Park Criterium on Saturday, September 3, 2005. For the first time in the event's history, the Sherman Park Criterium will be included on the Lance Armstrong Junior Olympic Road Series (LAJORS) calendar. This USCF-sanctioned race will mark one of just three Midwest stops for LAJORS this year.

LAJORS promotes quality junior-and-espoir-age bicycle racing while providing opportunities for the success and advancement of developing riders. This program helps to provide a clear path for riders to follow from beginning racing experiences through training camps to National Teams. Athletes ages 15 to 22 will have the opportunity to qualify for USA Cycling Regional Camps by finishing in the top five places of LAJORS races. More details are available at www.usacycling.org/lajors.

The Sherman Park Criterium is one of just three major bike races to take place in the City of Chicago each year. A full day of competition for all age and ability levels will start at 8 a.m., with registration beginning at 6:30 a.m. In one of the event's annual highlights, children ages 9 and younger who have a bike and a helmet will be invited to race for free over various distances beginning at 2:15 p.m. The day's racing will culminate with the Women's Open race at 3 p.m. and a Pro/1/2/3 event for the men at 4:30 p.m. Sherman Park was one of ten revolutionary Chicagoland parks which opened to the public in 1905. Sherman Drive, a tree-lined 0.9-mile road within the park, has been the backdrop for generations of bike racers since the 1930s. The park is located on Garfield Blvd. between Loomis and Racine.

Alderman Shirley A. Coleman's 16th Ward Sherman Park Criterium is proudly supported by AthletiCo, YojimbosGarage.com, Clif Bar, the Chicagoland Bicycle Federation, Maxxis Tires and Goose Island Brewery.

For more information visit www.xxxracing.org