The pre-race expo and post-race festivities are all hosted from the Venetian Club. The race start and finish line is conveniently located just aside the Venetian Club, on Elmwood Rd. After you depart from the Venetian Club, ride north to the loop through Winnebago County. Medium distance athletes will complete the loop once, long distance athletes will be racing the loop twice.

Enjoy fast racing over rolling hills in summer conditions through scenic northern Illinois. You’ll ride past the incredible nature: Nygren Wetland Preserve, Williams Tree Farm, The Pavilion at Orchard Ridge Farms, Colors Sands Bluff Nature Preserve, Ferguson Forest Preserve and across and along the Pecatonica, Sugar and Rock Rivers.

Take advantage of long straights in the first half of the loop to cover the distance quickly with your group. The early miles on the long straight roads will lead to attacks, stay near the front of the pack to cover attacks and keep company for the recovery.

The return portion of the loop has small, winding roads and turns, making your peloton positioning an important part of your race strategy. Because of the twists and turns, the attacks will become decisive race moments that will fragment groups.

Luckily, being in peak summer form, your legs are able to cover the speed and effort variations. Enjoy the pelotons coming together and splitting apart and ideal long distance racing conditions to make the most of your summer fitness at GFNY Rockford.