Officials said Monday night that Downers Grove should continue to subsidize the pro criterium bicycle race held annually in the village even though the race is not financially self-supporting, as organizers originally promised.
Although this year’s Sports Grand Prix International Criterium bike race has a sponsore and will be run by Chicago Special Events Management, the village’s Visitors Bureau has asked commissioners to allocate $30,000–$3,000 more than last year’s amount–from hotel-motel tax funds to help sponsor the Aug. 9-10 race.
In addition to the race, the event will include an in-line skating event, a family bike tour and a village-run Sports Prix Family Fest that could feature food, games, sand volleyball, skateboarding, wall-climbing and other activities, officials said.
“I think it does enough on its own for the community to warrant the expenditure,” Commissioner Michael Gilbert said.