Volunteers Needed!
Help Us Make the Grand Prix of Cycling...Grand!
Be a part of the coolest event in downtown Evanston. Help make the largest free-to-the-public sporting event on the North Shore a smashing success. Support Evanston as we host professional cyclists from more than 40 states and 20 countries. With your help we will transform downtown Evanston into one of the most exciting stages of the International Cycling Classic (aka “SuperWeek”).
In order to make this event a success, we need volunteers — over 120 of them — to work three- to four-hour shifts. Volunteers play a crucial role that will ensure riders’ and spectators' safety and help transform downtown Evanston into a spectacle that people will talk about for months. There are many volunteer positions still available and a variety of shifts to fit everyone’s specific schedule.
As a volunteer, you'll receive an event T-shirt (volunteering is the ONLY way to get this T-shirt), a coupon for a light lunch at Whole Foods (which you can use anytime for anything they sell), bottled water, and the chance to work with a great crew as we make this amazing event happen. We will provide detailed instructions and an orientation so you will know what to do and how to do it.
But more important than any of that will be the knowledge that, working together, we'll have pulled off a grand event for the city of Evanston.
Thank you for your support.
To volunteer, contact Brendan Cassidy at 847.475.9724.
Volunteer Categories
1. Set Up Crew: 17 people needed
6:00 am to 9:30 am
Work with the International Cycling Classic's (ICC) Road Crew to set up barricades and other elements of the course necessary to ensure rider and spectator safety. Requires physical labor, ability to lift 40 pounds. Pitch in early, then enjoy racing the rest of the day.
2. Tear Down Crew: 14 people needed
8:00 pm to 10:30 pm
Work alongside the ICC's Road Crew to dismantle barricades and other course elements to facilitate the return of downtown Evanston to its usual good order. Requires physical labor, ability to lift 40 pounds. Let's keep our city fresh and tidy.
3. Crossing Marshals: 14 people for each of 3 shifts (42 total)
8:30 am to 12:15 pm
OR 12:15 pm to 4:15 pm
OR 4:15 pm to 8:15 pm
Ensure safety of the public by working in pairs to control one of seven course crossing points. Requires persistent attention to the race, ability to command public respect. Help racers and spectators stay safe.
4. Flag Marshals: 5 people for each of 3 shifts (15 total)
8:30 am to 12:15 pm
OR 12:15 pm to 4:15 pm
OR 4:15 pm to 8:15 pm
Support a pair of Crossing Marshals by raising a flag when cyclists and/or the pace car come into view, so the Crossing Marshals further around the course know to close down their crossing point. Requires persistent attention to the race, executional discipline. Watch the race with a purpose.
5. Volunteer Care: 1 person for each of 3 shifts (3 total)
8:30 am to 12:15 pm
OR 12:15 pm to 4:15 pm
OR 4:15 pm to 8:15 pm
Hitch a trailer to your bike, load it with chilled bottles of water from Whole Foods Market and deliver them to volunteers, race staff and police officers around the course keeping them cool and hydrated on a July day. In each shift, 200 bottles of water should be delivered to 32 volunteers, 30 members of the race staff and 16 police officers. It is best if you can supply your own bike; we'll supply the trailer.
6. Maintenance Crew: 1 person for each of 3 shifts (3 total)
8:30 am to 12:15 pm
OR 12:15 pm to 4:15 pm
OR 4:15 pm to 8:15 pm
Keep tabs on the barricades and snow fencing around the course, check the portable toilets, monitor the trash cans around the course. Make minor repairs/adjustments to these facilities or call for help to keep everything in good working order.
7. Volunteer Support/Floaters: 3 people for each of 3 shifts (9 total)
8:30 am to 12:15 pm
OR 12:15 pm to 4:15 pm
OR 4:15 pm to 8:15 pm
Walk the course to check in on volunteers, provide training materials, make sure they have the resources they need to do their jobs well, answer their questions, stand in if they need to take a break, and pitch in to solve unforeseen circumstances. Be the "go-to" guy or gal.
8. Bike Valet: 4 people for each of 2 shifts (8 total)
8:00 am to Noon
OR Noon to 4:00 pm
Monitor the arrival of racers at the Benson Avenue entrance to the Sherman Plaza Parking Garage. Provide racers with an event information sheet and program. Assist racers in removing bikes from their roof racks. Keep bikes secure until the rightful owner returns to retrieve them.
9. Announcer Support: 1 person for each of 2 shifts (2 total)
9:00 am to 3:00 pm
OR 2:30 pm to 7:30 pm
Work on the race stage with the announcer, assisting however needed. Ensure the announce completes all scheduled sponsor announcements and primes. Screen the general public seeking to the announcer's attention. You'll be at the hub of all the action on the Start/FInish line.
10. Survey Takers: 2 people for each of 2 shifts (4 total)
12:15 pm to 3:15 pm
OR 3:15 pm to 6:15 pm
Clipboard in hand, you'll ask spectators questions about how they are experiencing the event and gather some demographic data about the crowd. Requires friendly, outgoing personality with ability to engage with people, listen carefully and take clear notes.
Sign Up TODAY
To sign up for any of these positions, please contact Brendan Cassidy at 847.475.9724. Thank you.
Help Promote the Bike Race in Evanston
Download the poster and pass it around:
photos by evanston photographic studios