Director Alison Powers and the CWEC Composite Team at North Star Grand Prix, 2017
CWEC is a non-profit organization is designed to support and develop top-level cyclists in the Chicagoland area. We champion a composite team of elite women, competing nationally among professional ranks. If you meet the rider criteria listed below, and want the opportunity to contribute to a team effort, then apply now!
Application deadline is December 6, 2017
Helpful Links
- More about our program and why it exists
- Take a look at the 2017 Composite team
- Review the 2017 Race Calendar for an idea on what races CWEC might be doing in 2018
- Not yet a Category 1/2 racer but still want to get involved? Please fill out the 2018 Rider Application if you're extremely motivated to move up to the elite ranks. We'd love to help you on your journey.
Chicago Women's Elite Cycling Rider Criteria
Rider Selection
CWEC accepts applications to join the race team from Chicagoland Women holding USAC Pro, Category 1 or Category 2 licenses. Selection to the CWEC Composite Race Team is based on the following criteria:
- Consistent race history in preceding year
- Commitment to race the CWEC selected races
- Commitment to train and keep up fitness
- Willingness to be a team player and take direction
- Agreement with teammates on team charter
- Support the CWEC Mission/Vision and organization actively
The CWEC Board finalizes the rider selections with input from the Team Director and current riders. Selections are made by the end of November so that the CWEC race calendar can be finalized, allowing for sufficient time to plan the upcoming season.
Rider Benefits
CWEC provides high-level team racing experiences to help develop strong Chicagoland athletes who bring their learnings back into the community. To reduce the financial barriers to racing, as available, CWEC will provide riders with necessary needs. The CWEC composite team racers are the first priority for available benefits. We offer elite women support that includes, but is not limited to:
- Entry into UCI and nationally-ranked races that would not otherwise be accessible to solo riders, like North Star Grand Prix, Joe Martin Stage Race, USA Pro Criterium National Championships
- Professional race-day support and team camp with nutrition, food, ice packs, trainers, and more
- Professional Director Sportif (3x National Champion and coach Alison Powers, Masters Track World Champion and coach Jen Sharp)
- Development focused on effectively racing with a team, executing team tactics, and team learning sessions after every race
- Mentorship from professional guest riders (Amber Pierce, Colavita Bianchi)
- Team Training Camp
- Host housing/hotel at races
- Travel arrangements and expenses
- Professional mechanic support
- Sponsor equipment
Local Team Benefits
Most elite women racers (category 1/2) in the Chicagoland area are spread out amongst multiple local teams. This is excellent for the local racing community. However, these racers are ineligible to enter nationally-ranked races as solo riders—nor would they be able to race as effectively alone, or benefit from the professional support and learning opportunities offered by CWEC. We’re providing your rider with an experience that will elevate their racing and benefit the entire community.
- Exposure for local teams on the national stage, including logo representation on CWEC jersey
- Social Media posts about our riders’ local teams and why they love them so much
- CWEC tent welcomes local riders with a place to set up and hang out
- When CWEC team members become mentors, they pass along their experiences and learnings to their teammates and encourage other local racers to excel
Guest Riders
Some riders may not meet all the requirements of the race team, but may want the opportunity to race and train with the team. CWEC accepts those requests as well. As race opportunities arise, these alternate racers will be asked to join the CWEC team with a willingness to be a team player, embrace the philosophies of the team charter, and take direction from the Director. CWEC might also extend invitations to Chicagoland Women Cat 1, 2, or 3 racers to join the team for a particular race or race series as a guest rider.
Check-In
Athletes must be responsive to team manager and director communications and attend meetings when needed. Athletes must keep up on Facebook group discussions and events.
The makings of a CWEC athlete
- Positive Attitude
- Good Sportsmanship
- Mentor
- Ambassador / Role Model
- Fit & Competitive
- On-time
- Responsive & Engaged
- Hands-on
- Promoter & Outreach
- Team Player
- Committed
