Northwestern Medicine sponsors bike race

The 7th annual Northwestern Medicine Lake Bluff Criterium and Block Party takes place July 21 in downtown Lake Bluff, with races starting at 9 a.m. and lasting into the evening.

The Block Party on the Lake Bluff Village Green will begin midafternoon and continue until long after sunset. The event is free and open to the public.

Guests at the event will have an opportunity to witness 13 bike races that include world class cyclists from more than 30 states in the U.S. and 15 foreign countries. The racers will be competing for prize money and the kids, ages 3 to 9, in a race sponsored for them by Lake Forest Bank & Trust, will be competing for fun.

"Northwestern Medicine Lake Forest Hospital is proud to serve as the principal sponsor of the Northwestern Medicine Lake Bluff Criterium & Block Party for the seventh consecutive year," stated Thomas J. McAfee, President Northwestern Medicine Lake Forest Hospital. "Our new hospital is honored to provide the community with a state-of-the-art destination for health and wellness, and this annual bicycling event is a perfect opportunity for local residents to participate in some family fun, while being active and promoting a healthy lifestyle."

Northwestern Medicine will also serve as the official health care provider for the event, and will have on-site health care professionals to care for participants and spectators who may need medical attention during the event. A full first-aid station will be set up in the ambulance bays at the Lake Bluff Fire Station.

Lake Bluff's Grand Tour will be lead off by the all new BMW X2, on loan for the day from Knauz Automotive Group, Lake Bluff.

New to the festivities this year is the Chris Clark Bicycle Stunt Show with performances at 3:45 and 7:05 p.m. Clark will be on hand after the shows for autographs and photos.

For more information, go to intelligentsiacup.com/schedule/lake-bluff/.