Week 5: Chris Mosora Memorial Points Race s/b Bouledogue Tout Noir
CHRIS MOSORA MEMORIAL POINTS RACES in memory of local legend Chris Mosora whom the world lost in 2020.
Chris was well known throughout the Chicagoland area as an accomplished track and road racer and was never one to turn down any race, especially those with “individual” and “time trial” in the title. Indeed, Chris was known to show up to road time trials with a fixed gear bike, both baffling and garnering awe from his competitors. On any given Thursday night, Chris could be found at the velodrome, likely at the pointy end of the field and launching seemingly endless attacks, which was his style. He also was known for tinkering with his position and gear, and we’d like to think he pioneered the extreme shallow drop bars which are prevalent today. Chris was always in the mix in the Category 1/2 Rider of the Year competition, handily winning the competition in 2010. He achieved local legend status when he won the 2010 Roger DeLanghe Trophy Race against a stacked field of strong local and regional racers, previous champions, and even an Olympian.
Off the bike, Chris was soft-spoken with a witty and dry sense of humor that always would leave a smile on your face. Chris was an admitted audiophile and a jazz lover, who took tremendous pride in his home's sound system. He was a person who always had something wise to say, and when he gave advice, you listened.
Chris and his wife, Stacy, had relocated to Tucson, where they continued their tradition of spreading love and happiness via the bicycle with their coaching business, On The Box Coaching.
Bouledogue Tout Noir — Racing with Precision and Guts since 2007
One cold, wintry day, a handful of cyclists were discussing the challenges they faced living and training in Chicago. Instead of bemoaning the daily commute, the rides on pot-holed streets strewn with glass, and the miserable winters; they decided to band together and turn these challenges into strengths.
On the race course, the team aims to prove that one can build a competitive amateur cycling team regardless of the environment and careers of its members. The team name, Bouledogue Tout Noir, translates to “All Black Bulldog” (considered a fault in pure-bred bulldogs), and reflects both the tenacity and interests of the team’s riders. Riders have placed in and won Elite National, Masters National, and countless State Championship events, showing that high-level goals are not just limited to full-time athletes.
While Bouledogue riders always race to win, they have found that victories come more often in an environment of mutual support, friendship, and solidarity.