Lake Bluff Twilight Criterium Draws Rave Reviews

As a cyclist, resident Bob Ruggles loved the feel and noise of the crowds.

As one of the principals responsible for the development of starting with Inovasi restaurant, Ruggles witnessed a perfect mix of business and pleasure all wrapped up in one event.

The Lake Forest resident’s two interests merged at last Friday’s which combined professional cycling races with the town’s signature Block Party in its inaugural run.

“Lake Bluff got treated to a first-class event,” Ruggles said. “To have the community committed and participating is great. Hopefully, it will become contagious and we’ll see more of it.”

In the five years he has been village administrator in Lake Bluff, Drew Irvin said he can’t remember hearing so much positive feedback for one event across a wide spectrum of people.

“I’ve heard from everyone,” Irvin said. “I’ve had emails from racers, people have stopped me on the street. It was well-executed and well-planned.”

Though no official attendance figures were available, Irvin estimated the crowd at more than 3,000, ranging from small children to adults.

“It’s tough in any event to get every demographic to come,” Irvin said, “but this race accomplished it. We got kids home from college to come out, and that doesn’t happen too often.”

Community Takes 'Leap of Faith'

Just a year ago, Irvin joined race promoter Marco Colbert at the criterium race in Glencoe to gain a feel of how such an event is put together. Irvin and Lake Bluff shop owner Nick Christofalis had been talking previously about a cycling race zipping through the village’s streets, and Colbert helped them bring it to fruition.

“It took a leap of faith on Lake Bluff’s part,” Colbert said. “I was at the right place at the right time. Drew was instrumental in fostering the idea.”

Incorporating the Block Party provided a popular event to anchor the unproven newcomer. Colbert said Deb Dintruff, who heads the Block Party in addition to her duties as president of the , also was instrumental in helping to build anticipation before the event.

“She did a monumental amount of work,” Colbert said. ”She’s a tireless worker, very creative and gets things done. The best thing of doing this race was getting to know a great person like that.”

Tight Course Favored by Cyclists, Fans

Ruggles competes in nearly 30 cycling races a year in the Masters Men 35+ categories. Most are tucked away from communities, often held in industrial parks vacant on a weekend, he said. The crowds tend to be other cyclists, their families and friends.

Lake Bluff’s event brought the races right into the community, and even people who knew nothing about cycling couldn’t help but stand by the race barricades and watch the cyclists zoom past. The three-quarter-mile course didn’t leave a lot of lag time for the fan to see the cyclists make their way around.

“Lake Bluff’s was as good as any race I have been in, especially for an inaugural event,” Ruggles said.

The women’s pro race field included nearly 50 cyclists, while the featured men’s pro race attracted more than 90. The course had six turns, and as much as Ruggles wanted to soak in the crowd, he kept his eyes on the course.

Colbert said tight courses are appealing to a majority of the cyclists. “It challenges them and keeps their attention,” he said.

While so much of the event ran smoothly from public safety, public works to registration, Colbert said there are lessons learned to take forward into next year, such as extending the registration for the popular kid races up until the actual running. Registration was cut off at noon Friday.

Irvin said he has had preliminary talks with Colbert about bringing back the event next year.

“I think it would be a disappointment if we didn’t do it again,” Irvin said.

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