13th annual Northwestern Medicine Lake Bluff Criterium sees over 500 Cyclists compete on Saturday

Chicago Tribune

28-07-2025

Under the threat of rain, over 500 racers took part in the 13th annual Northwestern Medicine Lake Bluff Criterium in downtown Lake Bluff on Saturday, for an all-day racing event from 11 a.m. until 8 p.m.
The Northwestern Medicine Lake Bluff Criterium was the ninth race in the Chicago Grit 10-race series, offering courses across greater Chicagoland, from West Dundee to Winfield, Elgin, and Fulton Market in Chicago, and taking place over 10 consecutive days.
'Lake Bluff not only provides a bucolic backdrop for Saturday's race, but this is a town where residents rally around their public events, like the block party tradition which takes place on the Village Green in tandem with the Criterium,' Drew Irvin, administrator for the Village of Lake Bluff, said.
Saturday's full-day racing lineup featured 9 pro and amateur men's and women's bicycle races with cyclists from more than 42 states and many foreign countries.
'Over the years, the Criterium brings thousands of cyclists and sporting enthusiasts into our town on race day, elevating exposure to our entertainment and business district, and giving little Lake Bluff a chance to showcase all it has to offer,' Irvin said.
Jan Van Mieghem of Evanston says he is an avid racer with two sons in Saturday's first race, in the Men's Novice category.
'We've been watching the weather closely; the threat of rain can make the course more challenging, and if the corners get slick, it really increases the crash threat,' Van Mieghem said.
Ron Oesterlein is co-director of the Northwestern Medicine Lake Bluff Criterium and owner of Lake Bluff Hub & Cycle.
'The Grit strength race is so exciting to watch, every 45 seconds or so, you can see 100 racers come past you – the racers just fly by,' Oesterlein said.
Families were encouraged to join in the Criterium fun by participating in the Family Fun Ride, sponsored by Lake Forest Bank & Trust, Lake Bluff, at 6:15 p.m. on the pro racecourse.
'Biking really brings our community together, and the Family Fun race is a big deal for the kids because they get to experience a professionally run track, and the high energy of the crowd — quite a thrilling moment for them,' Oesterlein said.
Oesterlein says Northwestern Medicine was the title sponsor and official healthcare provider for the Lake Bluff Criterium.
'We believe good health starts with strong, healthy communities and are hopeful that this world-class sporting event inspires our neighbors to lead more active, health-focused lifestyles.' Seamus Collins, president of Northwestern Medicine Lake Forest Hospital, said in a news release.
Northwestern Medicine also provided on-site healthcare professionals to care for racers and spectators in need of medical attention, all part of their first-aid station set up at the Lake Bluff Fire Station.
In addition to Northwestern Medicine, title sponsor for the 13th consecutive year, other sponsors included: pace car sponsor Knauz Automotive Group, Lake Forest Bank & Trust, Lake Bluff; ULINE; Lake Forest Country Day School; DiVinci Painters; Pasquesi Home & Garden; and EJ's Place Restaurant.
The Lake Bluff Crit Party took place on the Village Green from 4 until 8 p.m., featuring live music by the Nic Barnum Band, Lake Bluff food vendors Bangkok Tokyo and Duffer's Pub, plus the Sweet Memories ice cream truck. Craft beer from Nightshade and Dark's Pandemonium Brewery – with a special batch of IPA brewed just for the event called 'Drunk and in Charge of a Bicycle,' with a portion of the proceeds from beer sales donated to the Roberti Community House in Waukegan.
Twenty-year-old Marcus Van Mieghem of Evanston took first place in the Men's Novice race.
'I learned early on how important it is to try and conserve energy during the race while staying among the group of lead racers,' Van Mieghem said.
'I prepared for the Criterium, with hard 20-minute training to build a strong base and build the stamina to take on the longer 30-minute course,' Van Mieghem added.