Elgin bike race location moved
The Elgin Cycling Classic, a Pro-Am bike race held annually in downtown Elgin, has been moved to a new location. This year's race will be held in Lords Park from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Aug. 3, with registration beginning at 7 a.m. in the Lords Park Pavilion, 100 Oakwood Blvd., Elgin.
The decision to move the event is due to a combination of factors, said Tonya Hudson, executive director of the Downtown Neighborhood Association of Elgin.
"The Elgin Cycling Classic falls on the same weekend as the city's largest event of the year, Fox Fire Fest," said Hudson. "The proximity of these two events in a downtown that is under construction creates some major traffic flow issues and demands an incredible amount of police enforcement. The move to Lords Park requires considerably less police and allows us to utilize more volunteers."
The race's start-finish line will be set up on the corner of Grand Boulevard and Park Street on the western edge of Lords Park. The route continues south on Grand and turns west on Forest Street into the Lords Park neighborhood, then north on Preston Avenue and east on Franklin Boulevard to finish the approximately one-mile loop.
Lords Park residents who live on or within the race route and need access to their vehicles are encouraged to park on the east-west side streets between Preston Avenue and Route 25. These streets will be open to local traffic only beginning at 7 a.m. that day.
The Lords Park Association and neighborhood churches will be selling food and beverages along the route to raise funds for their organizations. Registration and medical facilities will be housed in the pavilion.
A trolley will be running between the Elgin Cycling Classic at Lords Park and the Fox Fire Fest at Festival Park in downtown Elgin throughout the day so that guests may enjoy both events.
A complete race and prize schedule and information on how to register is available at ElginCyclingClassic.com. For information, contact Tonya Hudson at the Downtown Neighborhood Association of Elgin at (847) 488-1456 or thudson@elginil.org.