MILAN – Intelligentsia Coffee will continue as the title sponsor of the Intelligentsia Cup bicycle racing event, a ten-day omnium race series around Chicagoland during mid-July and one of the biggest race series in the country. This is the third time Intelligentsia Coffee has renewed its entitlement support of the series and of American bike racing.
“Coffee and cycling go hand-in-hand and the Intelligentsia Cup is a great way of highlighting that symbiosis,” said Intelligentsia Coffee president and CEO James McLaughlin. “We especially enjoy this partnership as a way to give back to the cycling community.
Our goal of offering exceptional coffee and tea aligns with the quality of the series events, both in terms of the racing experience as well as the way it engages our community with a message of health and wellness through activity.
Beginning as the Prairie State Cycling Series in 2012, Intelligentsia Coffee joined a year later, renaming the series as well as expanding the event to seven race venues. Now with ten continuous days of racing in both Chicago and surrounding suburbs, the eighth year of the series will feature eight criteriums and two road races, including the Illinois State Road Racing Championships for the fifth time.
Racers from 38 states and 12 foreign countries participated in the 2018 series, with more than 4500 total entries from beginners and juniors to elite and professional women and men.
“Our partnership with Intelligentsia Coffee is a key part of our goal to become the biggest cycling race series in the country,” said series partner and former Olympian Tom Schuler. “Intelligentsia’s long-term commitment to supporting high-level bicycle racing is what makes our series the quality event that it is.”
Registration for the series is open with an early registration discount program running until May 1.
About Intelligentsia Coffee
Intelligentsia Coffee was founded by Doug Zell and Emily Mange in 1995, in the pursuit of extraordinary coffee. 24 years later, Intelligentsia remains one of specialty coffee’s most pioneering and innovative companies. The Intelligentsia Direct Trade sourcing model has created opportunities for thousands of smallholder coffee farmers around the world and has been adopted by specialty coffee roasters everywhere. Known for their In-Season program and unique single-origin and rotating blends, Intelligentsia provides exclusive, remarkable coffees consumers won’t find anywhere else.
There are 13 Intelligentsia coffeebars around the U.S., six located in their hometown of Chicago, four in Los Angeles, two in Boston and one in New York City. Forthcoming coffeebars in 2019 are the TWA Hotel at JFK (spring) and Austin (mid-summer). Follow at @IntelligentsiaCoffee on Facebook/Instagram, and @Intelligentsia on Twitter.
About the Intelligentsia Cup
Founded in 2012 as the Prairie State Cycling Series, the Intelligentsia Cup brings competitive bicycle races to the Chicago metro area, featuring top-level professional and elite amateur athletes. Each race venue includes exciting racing complemented by healthy and fun family activities, a lifestyle expo, as well as food and beverage from local vendors. For the complete schedule, please visit: www.intelligentsiacup.com
