CHAMPAIGN – As Mark Swartzendruber traveled the national cycling circuit during the past decade, the Champaign native heard the question over and over.

"What about that race in Champaign? Do you think that will ever come back?"

Now, Swartzendruber has a definitive answer:

The new Tour de Champaign is about to break from the starting line.

Ten years after a national-caliber cycling race last wound its way through downtown Champaign, bicyclists again will rule the streets July 11 in the Rockin' Champaign Downtown Cycling Grand Prix. One day later, the Tour heads to the University of Illinois for the South Campus Research Park Bike Race and Celebration.

"I thought now's a good time to do it," said the 46-year-old Swartzendruber, an organizer of the event and a competitive cyclist since 1998. "I've been racing for a long time and I'm getting close to the point where I probably am going to be doing this much more as a hobby than something that takes up every single weekend and 20 hours a week.

"I just think that having ... a nice, high-quality event would be a good legacy to give to Champaign."

Swartzendruber and other members of the Verizon Wireless Cycling Team and Champaign-based Wild Card Cycling have worked with a variety of groups to make the Tour a reality: the Champaign Downtown Association, the City of Champaign, the University of Illinois, an assortment of business sponsors, and about 35 to 40 volunteers.

The executive director of the Champaign Downtown Association cites the success of the Illinois Marathon, which debuted in April, as an indication that the timing's right for an event like the Tour de Champaign.

"I think more and more people are getting interested in sporting events like this and actually getting involved," Mary Dennis said.

When Dennis' organization was approached by Swartzendruber, it agreed to assist in getting the word out about the new race and put organizers in touch with city and UI officials. The location of the event, of course, is a compelling reason for the CDA to get involved.

"Our mission is to raise the quality of the downtown experience," Dennis said. "Having special events like this just enhances the whole downtown experience. It brings more visitors downtown, and hopefully they will visit our shops and explore the downtown and the businesses we have."

The City of Champaign will provide security and handle street closures for the downtown race. The cost to organizers of those services still is being calculated, according to City Planner T.J. Blakeman.

Blakeman said the city decides whether to issue permits to events of this type on a case-by-case basis. The Illinois Marathon – which experienced few, if any, logistical glitches – did not influence the city when it was approached by Swartzendruber's group.

"I think they all stand alone," said Blakeman, who also serves as the city's liaison to the Champaign Downtown Association. "Just because of the success of one event, we wouldn't entertain doing a bunch of them. ... But I think the (Illinois) Marathon was very well put together, and that kind of organization is what we would expect from large events like this. That's where the success lies.

"We felt comfortable the bike race coordinators are doing a good job of what they need to do."

Feedback among cyclists leads Swartzendruber to believe the Tour has legs beyond this year. He expects at least 300 entrants – including several current and former national champions – from as far away as California and Georgia.

"The (national) riders know us," said Swartzendruber, a member of the 21-cyclist Verizon Wireless Cycling Team. "And they know that when we're putting on an event, it should be a pretty good time."

The Tour de Champaign is a successor to the Saturn Criterium, which debuted in 1994 in downtown Champaign. Swartzendruber competed in the last such event in 1999. He vividly recalls the hold the race had on an audience as it was leaving the downtown Virginia Theatre following a stage performance.

"People didn't go to their cars and go home," Swartzendruber said. "They just stuck around and watched. When you have 75 guys lined up going 30 mph-plus – for the first time when you see that, it sort of blows them away."

He's confident the Tour de Champaign can attract similar interest that extends beyond the Twin Cities' core of cycling enthusiasts. And he points to the Illinois Marathon as proof that Champaign-Urbana can support a variety of sports events.

"I think we can get an event like this to take off and be a highlight of the summertime calendar for the community," Swartzendruber said. "Champaign and Urbana are very, very primed for having an event like this every year."

Taking a spin

What: Tour de Champaign cycling races.
Events: Rockin’ Champaign Downtown Cycling Grand Prix on July 11; South Campus Research Park Bike Race and Celebration on July 12.
Where: Downtown Champaign and University of Illinois Research Park.
Schedule: July 11 races begin at 9 a.m., with final race scheduled for 2:45 p.m.; July 12 races begin at 8:45 a.m., with final race scheduled for 3:30 p.m.
Registration: Entry fees vary by division from $20 to $35; No fee for July 12 kids races (12 and under); Registration for a second race is $15 below original entry fee. Online preregistration through Monday at www.truesport.com; Race-day registration adds $5 per race and closes 20 minutes before each race.
Volunteers sought: Contact Karl Crapse by e-mail at quickkarl@gmail.com