Criterium article in The Sun

A recent article in The Sun magazine written by an Augie professor.
https://www.thesunmagazine.org/issues/524/first-place

Race Videos

Great videos from Scott Nagel and Mike Fitzgerald of the Kids Race and the Criterium.

Thanks!

Post-race coverage

We had great, positive coverage again this year. Here's some of the press from Monday's race:

KWQC with Tom Schuler video and article
KWQC with John Harrington video and article.
KWQC Facebook live video
QCTimes Mens Pro article
QC Times photos - lots from the Koehler Electric Kids Race
QC Times Women’s Pro article
QC Times results article
WVIK article
Criterium cookout article
Dispatch/Argus pre-race article

Steven Tappa - Criterium caps holiday's huge cycling weekend

More than 600 cyclists from around the country are expected to invade the Village of East Davenport again on Monday for a local Memorial Day tradition.

The 54th annual Kwik Star Criterium runs 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., and again serves as the crescendo to four holiday weekend bicycle races in the region.

The QC Bicycle Club's signature event has been coupled for more than four decades with the downstream Burlington Road Races (today), and Criteriums in Burlington (Snake Alley on Saturday) and Muscatine (Melon City on Sunday).



Read more at the Dispatch-Argus.

Criterium cook-out helps support Kids Eat Free meals

Quad-Citians are invited to enjoy a front row seat to the Kwik Star Criterium on Memorial Day while helping support the Kids Eat Free meal program.

Scott County Supervisor Ken Croken and his wife Kathryn will be serving brats and hot dogs from 2 to 5 p.m., Monday, May 27, at their home at 29 Hillcrest Ave., Davenport, along the route of the bicycle races.

Donations will be accepted for Kids Eat Free, a collaboration between Supervisor Croken and the Davenport Schools Foundation. Proceeds will be used to feed kids in the community who rely on school-based nutrition programs, Croken said.

Read more at the QC Times.

Women's and Men's Pro Race Awards are equal again
Village of East Davenport, Iowa, May 24, 2019-For the second time in its 54-year history, The Kwik Star Criterium will have equal cash awards for both Women's and Men's Pro racers.

"The Kwik Star Criterium is awarding equal cash prizes to Women and Men Pro racers," said Race Director, Tom Schuler. "Prize equalization for pro racers is finally starting to happen throughout US pro bicycle races. This year all 15 top women and men will equally split $8000 in cash prizes. We hope that we'll attract more women racers and, to be honest, it's the right thing to do."

The Kwik Star Criterium was first run as the Moline Criterium in 1965 and has evolved over the years, eventually landing on Memorial Day in 1975. Since then it has joined with other area races to form the Iowa Memorial Weekend Cycling Classic. This year's event will be held on Memorial Day, May 27.

John Harrington Quad Cities Bicycle Club jwhjkh@gmail.com 563-940-6023

Tom Schuler Race Director tjsplow@gmail.com 414-899-9048

Koehler Electric Kids' Race gets more challenging
Village of East Davenport, Iowa, May 24, 2019-The Koehler Electric Kids' Race is at 3:10 PM on Memorial Day, May 27 in the Village of East Davenport. The race is open to boys and girls ages 3-9 and will take place on the actual Kwik Star Criterium racecourse. This year, 9-year old racers will enjoy a longer race to test their racing skills. There will also be a Mississippi Bend Trykes Division. Admission is free and each rider gets a River Bandits baseball ticket, an ice cream from Lagomarcino's and a medal. Registration is from 10 AM until 2:30 PM at the Village Theatre, 2113 East 11th Street on Memorial Day. A parent or guardian must sign a waiver and helmets are required.

"We are so pleased that Koehler Electric is not only a major sponsor but also the Race Director for the Koehler Electric Kids Race," said Quad Cities Bicycle Club member John Harrington.

"Koehler Electric is celebrating 50 years of lighting the Quad Cities, and 5 years of being involved with the Criterium. This year we are expanding the course for the 9-year old racers to allow them to ride a longer race, increasing their challenge and perhaps getting them excited to continue biking and racing!" said Robin Rollins, Koehler Electric CEO.

The Kwik Star Criterium was first run as the Moline Criterium in 1965 and has evolved over the years, eventually landing on Memorial Day in 1975. Since then it has joined with other area races to form the Iowa Memorial Weekend Cycling Classic.

John Harrington Quad Cities Bicycle Club jwhjkh@gmail.com 563-940-6023

Robin Rollins Koehler Electric rrollins@jwkoehler.com 563-484-3202

Kwik Star Criterium to hold Respect for Service Ceremony
Village of East Davenport, Iowa, May 24, 2019-The Kwik Star Criterium will hold a Respect for Service Ceremony on Memorial Day.

"The Kwik Star Criterium is proud to continue a Memorial Day tradition by honoring those that have served our country," said Race Director, Tom Schuler. "In recognition of Memorial Day and remembrance of our fallen, we welcome all active, inactive and retired military personnel to join us at the Kwik Star Criterium. At 4:15 we'll meet at Mike and Molly Newell's house, the first house uphill from the start/finish line. Look for the large American flag hanging from the front porch. At 4:30 the race announcer will call all active and inactive military personnel. We'll walk on the race course a short distance to the start/finish line for the National Anthem before the Men's Pro race."

The Kwik Star Criterium was first run as the Moline Criterium in 1965 and has evolved over the years, eventually landing on Memorial Day in 1975. Since then it has joined with other area races to form the Iowa Memorial Weekend Cycling Classic.

John Harrington Quad Cities Bicycle Club jwhjkh@gmail.com 563-940-6023

Tom Schuler Race Director tjsplow@gmail.com 414-899-9048

Kwik Star Criterium to Donate to Quad Cities Disabled American Veterans

Village of East Davenport, Iowa, May 27, 2019-The Kwik Star Criterium will donate $1,000 to the Quad Cities DAV. Commander Robert Ledtje will receive a donation from Kimberley Keil of Kwik Star at the Start/Finish line (Jersey Ridge Road and 11th Street) at approximately 4:20 PM on Memorial Day, May 27. Robert and Kimberley are available for interviews after the short ceremony.

"We are pleased to donate to Quad Cities DAV on Memorial Day," said Quad Cities Bicycle Club member and former president, John Harrington. "Our club has a history of donating to great charities, so with over 40 years of racing on Memorial Day we thought we'd give to the Quad Cities DAV. They are a non- profit 501c3 organization and do a fantastic job honoring our local disabled veterans. We also encourage the Quad Cities bicycling community to consider donating at dav.org."

"We at Kwik Star are inspired that DAV empowers veterans to lead high-quality lives with respect and dignity. It only seems appropriate on a holiday dedicated to the remembrance of our nation's war dead that we thank those who offered the same sacrifice and yet are still with us today. Thank you to Quad Cities DAV for making this possible" said Carl Rick, Public Relations Specialist and Third Generation Owner.

"We are excited to be a part of the Kwik Star Criterium. We thank them for their support of our Quad Cities DAV and look forward to a great event" said Commander Robert Ledtje.

The Kwik Star Criterium was first run as the Moline Criterium in 1965 and has evolved over the years, eventually landing on Memorial Day in 1975. Since then it has joined with other area races to form the Iowa Memorial Weekend Cycling Classic.

John Harrington Quad Cities Bicycle Club jwhjkh@gmail.com 563-940-6023

Carl Rick Kwik Trip, Inc. crick@kwiktrip.com 608-791-7344

Robert Ledtje Quad Cities DAV

Kwik Star Criterium set for Monday, May 27

VILLAGE OF EAST DAVENPORT, Iowa, February 26, 2018 - The Quad Cities Criterium, an annual Memorial Day weekend tradition run by the Quad Cities Bicycle Club, will be known as the Kwik Star Criterium this year and 2019 as Kwik Trip, Inc. has re-signed as title sponsor.

"Kwik Star is proud to increase our commitment to the Quad Cities Criterium. The race has a great history and long tradition. We are grateful for the opportunity to help support an event which benefits the Quad Cities and our surrounding communities," said Carl Rick, Public Relations Specialist and Third Generation Owner of Kwik Trip, Inc.

"We are excited to have Kwik Star as the title sponsor of the Quad Cities Criterium for the next two years. Kwik Star's commitment allows us to grow our event to make it more appealing to racers and fans," said Quad Cities Bicycle Club member John Harrington. "While our races draw racers from all over the country, the core of our ridership and spectators are from Iowa and the surrounding states."

The Quad Cities Criterium was first run as the Moline Criterium in 1965 and has evolved over the years, eventually landing on Memorial Day in 1975. Since then it has joined with other area races to form the Memorial Day Bike Race Weekend series.

In 2014 the race moved to its current location in the Village of East Davenport and features a challenging hilly circuit.


About Kwik Trip, Inc. Kwik Trip, Inc. operates its Iowa stores under the Kwik Star banner and is one of the largest independently held convenience store chains in the United States, with more than 630 Kwik Trip and Kwik Star stores in Wisconsin, Minnesota and Iowa and employs over 21,000 people. In 2017, Kwik Star was ranked #2 on the Des Moines Register's Top Work Places list by its 1700 coworkers in Iowa. They currently operate eight Kwik Stars and one Tobacco Outlet Plus Grocery store in the Quad Cities area.

John Harrington Quad Cities Bicycle Club jwhjkh@gmail.com 563-940-6023

Carl Rick Kwik Trip, Inc. crick@kwiktrip.com 608-791-7344