Arlington Heights, IL--June 2005--The speed, agility and excitement of professional and amateur bicycle racing will power through the streets of downtown Arlington Heights Saturday, July 30, during the fourth annual Arlington Classic Criterium presented by the Village of Arlington Heights, and sponsored by ComEd and Northwest Community Healthcare. Registration for the Arlington Classic Criterium is available online at www.arlingtonbikerace.com.

The 2005 event promises to be bigger and better than ever thanks to the largest single day prize purse for amateur riders in the Midwest, and a new, longer course just south of the Downtown Business District. The 1.2-mile course is sanctioned by U.S.A.Cycling and starts and finishes on S. Highland Avenue, between South Street and Grove Street, adjacent to Cronin Park (see www.arlingtonbikerace.com for a course map).

"Our new course will offer racers from across the country a challenge because of its length and technical difficulty. And, it's a great course for spectators who can view two different sprint straight-aways from Cronin Park," said Jim Inman, race director and owner of Elite Athletic Development, one of the event sponsors.

Inman said he expects riders to exceed 35 m.p.h. on S. Vail Avenue and S. Highland Avenue, the two longest stretches of the course. He also expects ample excitement on E. Park Street thanks to two-way race traffic.

Event organizersaefour volunteers who live and work in Arlington Heightsaewill also bring back two popular events from the 2004 Arlington Classic Criterium: the ComEd Men's Pro / Cat 1-2 race and the family-friendly and free Northwest Community Healthcare Kids Races. Kids, ages 5-10 years olds, who enter the race will compete on the same course as the adult racers, a feature unique to the Arlington Classic Criterium.