This coming brings us the Hillsboro Roubaix, marking the opening road race of The Pavé Liga championship. Road race tactics differ significantly from criteriums where you can stack multiple entries and multiply your points haul. Check out the current PL standings to see who's in the hunt. Registration deadline is Thursday—get your pre-registration in now! Here's a breakdown of registered teams and rider counts for Hillsboro Roubaix:
The 13th annual Hillsboro-Roubaix is almost here—Saturday, April 26th. Make sure you're pre-registered, and if you need transportation, check out our rideshare options.
The Course: View the full course map. Don't let the profile fool you—this route packs over 750 feet of climbing per lap, mostly consisting of power-sapping rollers. While volunteers excel at course sweeping, expect farm road conditions with scattered gravel and potholes. The opening 10 miles fly by as large fields jockey for position. Wind typically dictates race dynamics, with late-first-lap breakaways proving crucial. The approach into town features an extended power climb that frequently causes selections. If a substantial group survives to the finishing circuit, expect criterium-style racing.
The Finish: The finishing circuit demands technical skill and patience. The roughly 2-mile loop includes a sharp stair-step climb followed by a blazing descent onto rough pavement and brick cobbles. The steep, narrow ascent sees climbers advancing position, with a quick final pitch and tight off-camber left leading into a 35+ mph descent. Power riders reclaim position as the field hits a jarring transition onto the bricks—crash risk runs high here and at the penultimate corner with its jagged brick surface. The brick pavé drag rewards pure power as riders establish position for the final corner. The 300-meter sprint typically goes to whoever nails the last turn—most competitors are in survival mode by then.
Teams to Watch: Check current registration. Hillsboro-Roubaix draws Midwest talent from across the region. Strong Missouri and St. Louis representation expected. Pre-registration leaders: xXx=19 (PL standings: 1st), Half Acre=12 (PL:19th), Wild Card=11 (PL:24th), VeloForce (Mo.)=10, Quantum Mesa=9, BFF=9. Notable Pave Liga contenders: Bonkers=8 (PL:3rd), Burnham=7 (PL:7), EGO=3 (PL:2). The Pave Liga Team Championship could see significant movement!
The legendary Hillsboro-Roubaix takes place , April 26th. Haven't registered yet? Sign up today. Limited rooms remain at the Litchfield Holiday Inn, plus additional options in surrounding areas.
As the second Pavé Liga event, we're coordinating a rideshare program to transport racers to the venue! We'll arrange sufficient vehicles and split costs evenly. Some drivers plan Friday afternoon departures, others early morning. If you can Offer a Ride or Need a Ride, leave a comment or contact us directly.
Team Name: EGO p/b Sammy's Bikes
Website: egopbsammysbikes.com
Location: St. Charles, IL
Categories: Elite Cat 1/Cat 2; Cat 3; Women Elite
Sponsors: EGO Power+, Sammy's Bikes, Assurance Cleaning and Restoration, Colonial Bag Corporation, Colnago Bikes, Castelli, Kaenon Eyewear
Team Background: Founded in 2012 by Sammy Radi and Dustin Morici, the Sammy's Bikes road program has experienced remarkable growth, doubling in size annually. In 2026, title sponsor EGO Power+ came aboard, unifying the road squad with the already-successful triathlon program. EGO Power+ manufactures innovative lawn and garden equipment—mower, string trimmer, blower, and hedge trimmer—all powered by a groundbreaking 56-volt lithium-ion battery system. This pioneering power supply revolutionizes the battery-operated tool market. Learn more at egopowerplus.com and find products exclusively at The Home Depot.
2026 Objectives and Results: Targeting regional and national competition across Elite Men Cat 1 & Cat 2, Elite Men Cat 3, and Elite Women categories. Key events include Joe Martin Stage Race, Tour of America's Dairyland, Prairie State Cycling Series, Illinois Cup, and The Pave Liga Team Championship. Notable 2026 results: Sean Metz (1st Pro/1/2 Spring Super Crit); Alex Voitik (2nd Pro/1/2 Spring Super Crit); Danielle Smith (1st Women 3/4 Spring Super Crit).
Hillsboro-Roubaix stands as an iconic Midwest spring classic and the second event in the Pave Liga Team Championship. Now entering its 13th year, this International Christian Cycling Club (IC3) hosted road race takes place , April 26th in Hillsboro, IL. Pre-registration is live, with fields filling quickly. We spoke with race director Todd Harris to get the inside story on this premier event.
WCC: Share some history and background on Hillsboro-Roubaix
Todd Harris: Rich Pierce launched the race thirteen years ago, then I joined about eight years back. Rich wanted to create something similar to the European Spring Classics. He inquired around about towns with pavé or brick surfaces, and someone mentioned Hillsboro. He connected with the local newspaper, who were seeking someone to organize a bike race to compete with their rival newspaper's biathlon event. They partnered with us and the race has grown tremendously since. We're now celebrating our thirteenth year.
WCC: Describe the course for us
Todd: The race starts and finishes in Hillsboro, Illinois, roughly an hour south of St. Louis and about 3:45 from Chicago. The course profile looks deceptively easy—you think it's central Illinois, so it must be flat. But this is farm country with power rollers. There aren't massive hills, but wind usually determines the outcome. In thirteen years, we've had maybe one or two group sprints—breakaways typically decide it. The Pro 1/2 fields get absolutely shattered. Out of 100+ starters, maybe 35 to 40 finish. Wind just destroys the field. Two climbs appear as you enter town, just before hitting the pavé. After cresting the left turn at the hilltop, you descend onto the bricks. The coolest feature: halfway down the hill, there's a cross-street where the grade flattens then drops again. You can hit that at 30 mph and launch into the air, landing on the bricks. First-timers find it nerve-wracking. Another left turn leads to a half-mile false flat before the final left to the finish. The total loop measures 29 miles—we added 7 miles three years ago to spread fields and prevent excessive lapping. Previously it was 22 miles.
WCC: Tell us about your sponsors and volunteer corps
Todd: Town support is exceptional. The Montgomery County Cancer Association is a major sponsor, providing around 70 course volunteers—basically a volunteer at every corner. Our other key sponsors include the Hub Bicycle Shop in Webster Groves, Missouri, Hammer Nutrition, and the Holiday Inn in Litchfield. It's fundamentally a grassroots operation. None of our sponsors provide cash—Hub supplies pace car drivers, Hammer Nutrition contributes product, and Holiday Inn assists with officials. Our break-even budget is $15,000, so there's substantial expense despite volunteer support. Rider entry fees generate the entire budget.
WCC: What's the typical rider count?
Todd: Our peak year brought approximately 650 riders. Typically, we see 500 to 550 participants. We reduced field sizes about four years ago for safety reasons. Some farm country backroads become extremely narrow. Especially this year, running later in the season puts us into planting season, so encountering a tractor or two on course is likely.
The town truly showcases its community pride. What racers don't realize is that residents go out the weekend before and clear all trash along the route. They also sweep every corner free of gravel. It's a massive undertaking they perform for us—we couldn't host the race without the Montgomery County Cancer Association's support.
WCC: What's your ideal scenario for this year's race?
Todd Harris: Temperatures in the 80s with steady south winds to really make riders suffer on the course backside. Long stretches run straight south into the wind—that's usually where decisive action happens. The windier, the better, in my opinion.
With the official racing season launching this weekend, we're seeking media content contributors. We've assembled a crew of videographers covering the races and need GoPro footage, sideline videos, still photography, etc. to enhance their coverage. Contact us if you'd like to contribute. Professional photographers welcome—we're happy to provide referrals.
Fire up your race engines! Two premier events in the Chicago area (plus northern and southern options):