The 2005 Rockford Criterium will take place on Saturday, August 27, in downtown Rockford, Michigan (10 miles north of Grand Rapids), courtesy of Advantage Benefits Group, Wynalda Litho, and BISSELL Homecare, Inc. The downtown Rockford course over 0.8 miles features a climb and subsequent descent, with over 400 cyclists from around the Midwest, Canada, and Australia expected to compete in various categories.
Advantage Benefits Endeavour Cycling Team rider, Brian Sheedy (from Rockford) will be joined by Advantage Benefits Endeavour teammates Karl Menzies from Australia (4th ranked rider in the U.S.), Richard England from Australia, and Graham Howard (Grand Rapids). They will try to defeat the defending Navigator's team rider Kirk O'Bee and other talented riders including former teammates of Lance Armstrong's Tour de France team. This race featured a fierce battle between O'Bee and Sheedy last year. With Sheedy being joined this year by fellow Advantage Benefits Endeavour teammates, the race promises to be a real duel for an $8,000 purse.
